Isaiah 7:14 (ESV) - Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Why did Jesus come?

Jesus came to give hope

Biblical Hope = confident expectation. God has delivered on 100% of His promises and He will continue to do so.

Romans 15:13 (ESV) - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Jesus came to give peace.

What is peace?

Peace is a desired blessing of God for and among His people.

Apparent Conflict...

John 14:27 (ESV) - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Matthew 10:34 (ESV) - “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

What is the peace Jesus gives?

We are enemies of God and of the cross (Col 1:21; Romans 5:10; Phil 3:18-19; John 15:18-19).

We cannot make peace ourselves.

We need Christ to make peace for us (Ephesians 2:14 - "For he [Christ] himself is our peace...").

We find peace when we receive, by grace through faith, the peace of Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).

What is the peace Jesus gives?
1. The peace that Jesus gives is positional and relational peace with God the Father

Romans 5:1 (ESV) - Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. When we take hold of this positional and relational peace with God, it leads to inner personal peace

Colossians 3:14–16 (ESV) - And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

The peace of Christ transcends circumstances. The peace of Christ is the deep, abiding assurance that no matter what happens, God is in control.

Philippians 4:5–7 (ESV) - Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

3. Peace with God and this inner personal peace enables us to pursue interpersonal peace.

Ephesians 2:11–17 (ESV) - Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.

4. Peace with God and this inner personal peace enables us to pursue interpersonal peace focusing one another on eternal peace, which is rooted in Christ.

What is the sword Jesus brought?

Romans 12:18 (ESV) - If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Matthew 5:9 (ESV) - “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Discussion Questions
1. As we celebrate the Christmas season with decorations, gifts, and gatherings, how can we balance these cultural elements with the true anticipation of the birth of Jesus? How can we ensure that the spiritual significance of Advent remains at the forefront of our celebrations?

2. Peace. Share what comes to mind when you hear this word. Is it world peace, personal peace, or something else, and why?

3. Jesus spoke about peace in John 14:27 but also mentioned bringing a sword in Matthew 10:34. Are these contradictory statements? Why or why not? Describe your understanding of the peace Jesus offers as different than the peace the world offers.

4. According to verses like Romans 5:1, the peace that Jesus gives is both positional and relational. That truth is something to both know and experience. How do you experience this peace in your relationship with God and within yourself? Can you give examples of how this peace has shown in your life amidst difficult circumstances?

5. What things do you need to let go of in order to experience more of the peace of Christ?

6. Read Colossians 3:12-16 and Philippians 4:5-7. What spiritual practices do these verses encourage so that the peace of Christ rules in your heart (Colossians) and the peace of God guards your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians)?

7. How can you be a peaceful person in the midst of an unpeaceful circumstance?