The Gospel of Peace, The Covenant of Peace

The Gospel of Peace

The Covenant of Peace

Isaiah 53 graphically describes the exchange that took place on the cross.

It depicts the terrible suffering that Jesus endured for our sakes.

Then, chapter 54 begins to explain the new covenant that will go into effect as a result of that exchange.

Isa 54:7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you; but I'll gather you with great compassion.

Isa 54:8 I hid my face from you for a moment in a surge of anger, but I will have compassion on you with my everlasting gracious love," says the LORD your Redeemer.

Before God could have fellowship with man, He had to settle the sin problem.

Sin had to be judged.

Righteousness demands the judgment of sin.

God, in His great love for man, judged the sin of the world in Jesus.

Because His wrath and righteous judgment have already taken place, man is now free to enter into a peaceful relationship with a holy God.

Before His wrath was appeased, the consequence of sin was the main thing that kept men walking upright.

The fear of penalty may change one’s actions, but it will not change one’s heart.

The heart is changed by love.

Since God is a heart God, He desires a relationship.

1Sa 16:7 The LORD told Samuel, "Don't look at his appearance or his height, for I've rejected him. Truly, God does not see what man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart."

Now that judgment has been satisfied, God can love us into a heart relationship.

Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

The word repentance is not grieving or weeping.

Two kinds of repentance:

-         One is an afterthought because of consequences like that of Judas before committing suicide.

-         One requires a change of mind.

The judgment message may make one sorry for the results, but it will not change the heart.

If we have a loving relationship with God:

-         That relationship will draw us into change of mind.

-         It will bring us to the place where we do not desire to sin.

Isa 54:9 For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.

In His covenant with Noah, God swore that He would never judge the earth by water again.

God has faithfully kept that promise.

Now He says, “This is just like My covenant with Noah.”

In other words, this covenant is just as sure as His covenant with Noah.

This covenant says, “I will never be angry with you or rebuke you.”

This is what God has sworn to us, and this covenant is as sure as any He has ever made.

This is a covenant of peace.

Isa 54:10 For the mountains may collapse and the hills may reel, but my gracious love will not depart from you, neither will my covenant of peace totter," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

The exchange made it possible for God to be at peace with man.

Sin has been judged in Jesus.

We have been made righteous in Him; now we have peaceful fellowship with God.

He swore that His kindness and peace would not depart from us.

This new covenant of peace was sealed in the blood of Jesus.

If God violates this covenant, then He has denounced the blood of Jesus.

A violation of this covenant would be total rejection of the blood, the death, and the resurrection of His Son.

But this covenant is sure.

Our top priority as Christians should be to know the new covenant.

We are to live, worship, and minister by this covenant.

God swore that He would be at peace with mankind.

This means both believers and nonbelievers.

Jesus did not appease the wrath of God for the sins of the church.

He appeased the wrath of God for the world.

So at the present time, God is judging no man for his sin.

Isa 54:14 “In righteousness you'll be established; you will be far from tyranny, for you won't be afraid, and from terror, for it won't come near you.

Not the righteousness of man that comes by works, buy the righteousness of faith that comes by the Lord Jesus.

Isa 40:2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.

The war is over.

God saw the problem, and He did all it would take to solve it through Jesus.

Because this thing is of God, it is sure and consistent.

What about the message that says God is judging you?

What about the message that makes one feel God is the source of all his pain and affliction?

Isa 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

The tongue that pronounces the judgment of God on man is a lawless tongue.

We can no more accept the message of God’s wrath being poured out on man at this time than we could accept the prophecy of another worldwide flood.

This is why the angel sing!

Luk 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

There is a rationale that says, “If I violate my covenant, then God is freed from His side of the covenant.”

We must understand that God did not establish His covenant with us; He established it with Jesus.

Gal 3:16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. It doesn't say "descendants," referring to many, but "your descendant," referring to one person, who is the Messiah.

The promises were made to Jesus.

The covenant was with Jesus.

Because I am in Him, I qualify to participate in the covenant.

We have a covenant of peace, and it is sure.

It is sealed with the blood of Jesus.