A Savior Is Born! Glory to God and Peace to Man

Published by Stanley Pouw in 2014 · 14 December 2014

Luke 2:1-2, it happened on a day in history when Caesar Augustus was the emperor of Roma and Quirinius was governor of Syria. It was a day planned in eternity before the creation of the world. Indeed the whole universe with billions of galaxies was created for this day and for human history. Colossians 1:16 says, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”

Galatians 4:4, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.” It happened on a perfect day, in the fullness of time, appointed by God before the foundation of the world. It happened in a real city that exists today called Bethlehem, the City of David, the great King of Israel, six miles from Jerusalem.

The City that was prophesied in Micah 5:2, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrata, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” If you have ever sinned against God you need a Savior. Matthew 1:21 says, “you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” Only God can forgive sins against God.

That is why Jesus said in Matthew 9:6, “The Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins.” Therefore a Savior was born. Luke 2:11-12 says, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” So one angel announced this great news and pointed toward the animal shed where the baby Jesus lay.

But it took an army of angels to respond to that news and to declare the meaning of that news and to pronounce the ultimate outcome of that news. Luke 2:13-14 says, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward whom He is pleased.” The angels gave us two great purposes, Glory to God and peace and goodwill toward those whom He is pleased.

First, God is glorified because this Child is born. Second, peace is given to whomever receives this Child. God created the world and sin destroyed a portion but God came to reclaim the world in Jesus Christ. The point of creation and redemption is that God is glorious and should be praised for His glory by a new peace-filled humanity. Only the people who receive Christ and trust Him as Savior will experience the peace that He brings.

There are three relationships in which God wants you to pursue this peace and enjoy this peace. First it has to start with peace with God, then peace within you own soul and finally peace with other people as much is humanly possible. True peace does not mean the absence of conflict, true peace means the presence of joy and tranquility and rich interpersonal relationships.

The peace of God or the peace of Christ can never be separated from God or Christ. If we want peace to rule in our lives, God must rule in our lives. Christ does not give you peace separate from Himself. His purpose is to give you peace by being united with the most glorious Person in your life. So the key to peace is keeping together what the angels said, glory to God and peace to man. And what holds the two together is believing the promises of God by Jesus. Romans 15:13 says, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.”

Peace with God comes from “being justified by faith” (Romans 5:1) meaning having faith in Christ causes God to declare you to be just by imputing to you the righteousness of Jesus. And this comes through faith alone, not by works, not by tradition, not by baptism, not by church membership and not by living a good life. After having been justified, God adopts us in His family, He is our Father and we are His children and we have true peace.

Peace with ourselves comes from having peace with God. As we grow in the enjoyment of having peace with ourselves we will lose that sense of guilt and anxiety that gives us a sense of hopelessness. Peace with God gives us the ability to trust in His promises and that will glorify God. Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Peace with others is what we have least control over. Paul says in Romans 12:18, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” Some of you this Christmas will experience awkward or painful relationships, but God says to make peace no matter how difficult. Ephesians 4:31-32, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

Be amazed that in spite of all your sins God has forgiven you of all your sins from the past, present and future. This amazement makes our hearts tender, kind and forgiving. It may be not accepted, but that is an issue between the other person and God. You be obedient and by doing that you glorify God, do not focus on your effectiveness in peacemaking. And you will be like the angels glorifying God in the highest, so that God would get all the glory forever, Amen? Let us pray.