The Place of Peace
David Peterson / General
Atonement; Jesus’ Death; Peace; works of the flesh / Romans 8:1–10
Sermon type: Textual-Topical
Proposition: Peace isn’t a mystery. It comes with living in tune with God and by drawing our life from him. Christ’s atonement makes such peace possible.
Introduction
I. Righteousness brings Peace (Romans 6:6b, 10)
1. The story of Cain
5 but for Cain and his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his face [c]was gloomy. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why is your face [d]gloomy? 7 If you do well, [e]will your face not be [f]cheerful? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” (Gen. 4:5-7 NASB)
7 If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? (NASB95)
a. There is a right way (NIV). We are to seek it. It leads to lifting up.
i. Right paths lead to green pastures and still waters
b. Sin must be mastered. YOU, that which is more than our desires, must master it.
2. The sinful nature of Romans 8 is connected to Romans 7 and sin living in us.
Romans 7:20 NIV1984
Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
3. The mind set on flesh/sinful nature is death, disorder, hostile (v. 7)
Life at the Bottom: The Worldview That Makes the Underclass by Theodore Dalrymple
II. The Source of true peace (inward as well as outward) is the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:6b)
1. The Bible assumes we can master (i.e., manage) our sin nature. We can create relatively decent societies. And yet, it is a constant struggle. It lacks something
2. A new inner disposition and desire, coupled with enablement which comes from the Spirit. Christ in us.
3. This peace is of such a different kind it’s like night and day.
III. The Basis is Work of Christ which brought peace with God (Romans 6:3)
1. We have the Holy Spirit because we have God in our lives.
2. The Sin that separated us from God has been dealt with.
3. Christ and his shed blood is the place of our peace.
Conclusion
O the love that drew salvation’s plan
O the grace that brought it down to man
O the mighty gulf that God did span
At Calvary
Mercy there was great and grace was free
Pardon there was multiplied to me
There my burdened soul found liberty
At Calvary
Songwriters: William R. Newell, Luke Woodard
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