Being well into the Christmas season with Christ being our focus in this and every season, it is with immense joy this morning that we consider the Christ of Christmas. May we come to greatly rejoice in Jesus as we reflect upon the magnificent and unfailing peace he grants us who trust in him. The peace Christ offers us is remarkable in its own right, but Considering how sinful and disoriented their present world is, Christ's peace is more than amazing, as it is perfect and to be possessed here in this imperfect, sin-laden world. This present world is in a time of pronounced turmoil, have you noticed? And there appears to be no solution by which natural man can bring lasting peace. The divisions are so strong and irrational that it is impossible to come together and reason intelligently. There are wars and rumors of wars. Issues grow ever more desperate as certain peoples and nations attack others seeking internal and international division. Many long for world peace, while the world in itself has no true peace. Sinful passions are devoid of peace. There are terrorist attacks abroad and here at home. Senseless crimes and assaults take place over trivial matters and sometimes for no known reason. And with our presidential election less than a year away, we may wonder if there is any hope in that. May God save us, amen. Then there is the economy and our financial stability. In 1982, and I'm dating myself a bit here, but in 1982, I wondered how we as a nation would survive as our national debt reached $1 trillion. Now it has raised past 33 trillion and adding a million dollars of debt about every 31 seconds and not far from being $34 trillion in debt. And sadly, families are divided as the family unit disintegrates. Immorality runs rampant. Substance abuse is widespread. The innocent are aborted by the millions. We live in a world of sin which produces unrest, turmoil, and chaos. And yet, my dear family, in a world gone mad with unrest, in a world of people who seek world peace but don't have peace in their own heart, In a world that is sin-laden, growing in darkness, filled with uncertainties where solutions are scarce, it is scarcer yet for someone brave enough to implement a solution. Yet, dear one, I want to tell you today, peace is available. This true and enduring peace is an inner peace that so rests the mind, calms the heart, and soothes the soul that it stands unwaveringly even in the midst of the tumultuous storms of this world. This internal peace is not a manufactured peace, but a real abiding peace that is found in our Lord Jesus Christ. And so it's my desire to share Christ Jesus with you this morning, that you may know peace from this day forward, even while the world is in unrest. That even in the darkest hours of the eternal, that even in the darkest of hours, the eternal enduring peace of God would be your ever-present comfort and joy. So please join with me as we open our Bibles to Isaiah 7, 14 and 9, 6. That's Isaiah 7, 14 and 9, 6, where we will read as the prophet foretold of the coming Christ. And as we do here at Redeemer Bible Church, please stand for the reading of the word. This is the word of the Lord. The prophet Isaiah wrote, Chapter seven, verse 14. Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call his name Emmanuel. And of course we know, as Matthew 1.23 teaches, the name Emmanuel translated means God with us. This child who was to be born of the virgin would be named God with us. And then in the ninth chapter of Isaiah, the prophet further foretold of the coming savior by describing his work character in excellence. And he wrote this, Isaiah chapter nine, verse six. For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us, and the government will rest on his shoulders. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Let us bow our heads in prayer. Our Heavenly Father, you are the Almighty God. We come before you in the name of your only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. And we come before you with hearts filled with adoration, worship, and thanksgiving. We praise our eternal God, three in one, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We praise you for you alone, our God. and we come to you seeking your help. Help us in days of sickness and health, in days of discouragement and encouragement, in days of weakness and strength, in days of trial and persecution to ever have our heart and mind set on you, to glorify you in all things with all thoughts and intentions, with all our words and deed. Lord, as you well know, I'm about to try to teach of the peace of your son, Jesus, as he affords it to those who trust in him. The truth and peace of your incarnate son is too wonderful, too deep and too high, too wide and vast, too divine for us to comprehend except that you would enlighten us. So Lord, I please ask you to enlighten us. Give us a glimpse of your glory shown through your son, Jesus. And I pray that as a result of this biblical teaching, by the working of your Holy Spirit upon us, that we will be wondrously comforted by the peace you give us in Christ Jesus. For your name's sake, oh Lord, for your name's sake be glorified. This we ask in Jesus' name, for he is the Christ of God. And all the church said, amen. Amen, God bless you, you may be seated. Having read the word of the Lord, let us learn of the person of peace, the place of peace, and the phenomenon of peace. The person of peace, Isaiah 9, 6 foretold, a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us. First of all, concerning this verse, the NASB translation, which I read from and preach from, is not the best here. As the NESB has this statement in the future tense saying, the child will be born to us, a son will be given to us, that is not the way Isaiah wrote it. As most translations have it, Isaiah wrote this in the present tense saying, for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. And then Young's literal translation correctly translates this, as that which has already been determined, saying, For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us, speaking of what God had ordained in the past. As Isaiah wrote these spirit-breathed words, the prophecy was given as many prophecies are, as that which God had already accomplished. So sure was it that God would send His only begotten Son to be the Savior of the world that the prophecy was stated as accomplished. Nothing would prevent it, for God ordained it. My sisters and brothers, sure are the promises of God, for in Christ all His promises are yes and amen. There is surety in what God says for what He promises He brings to pass. You can trust God. Now, I did not say he will give you everything you want in the way you want it, but what he promises he brings to pass. You can trust God at his word. God does not fail, he fails not. As Psalm 138, two states, God has magnified his word according to all his name. Church, what God says he does according to all the glory and power and might of his name. We might wait for the realization of the promise, but as far as the heavens are concerned, what he ordains is as good as done. Church, have confidence in God and you will have peace in every situation, good and dire. Secondly, the word says, for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. It is clearly communicated that it is unto us that the child is born and unto us whom the child is given. For unto us a child is born, that is, the child is born for our benefit, for our advantage, to redeem us from our sin, to save us from sin to himself. There was no need in God for which he needed to send his son, but with the heart of compassion on account that people are a sheep without a shepherd wandering aimlessly destined for wrath, he intervened, sending his son to be the great shepherd of our soul. He sent his son for us. Can you take it in? Believe the word of God. God sent his son for us. For unto us a son is given. The Son was given us as the greatest gift of God. Think about it. For me, if I was to lay down my life for you, you would say, wow, that's really something, but it would be on an entirely different level for me to lay down my child for you. We're talking about something of a different character. God gave His Son. The Son was given us as the greatest gift of God, for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Christ, the Son of God, was sent by the Father as the gift given us for our salvation. How can human tongue express the magnitude of this gift? God the Father gave his Holy Son for us. He sent his Son for us, not because we are lovable, but because he is love. He sent his son for us not on account of any need of his own, but because we own every need. He sent his son to give us life to us, to give life to us, because we were dead in our sin. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. The ESV expository commentary says, the language here is very careful. The child is born and enters the world in the normal way that is born of a woman, but that the son is given suggests specific intervention of God, that is, he is conceived of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was born and given for us. When God gave his son, we were in his mind. And let us glorify God, amen? Well, after these statements regarding the coming Christ, Isaiah then described him saying, the government will rest on his shoulders and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Now there is certainly much to be said about Christ's work and the implications of these expressive titles, but this morning we center our attention on the title, Prince of Peace. As Isaiah wrote, the one who is the wonderful counselor, mighty God, eternal father, is the Prince of Peace. The Christ of Christmas is the Prince of Peace. Please, if you would, open your Bibles to Luke chapter one, where we will begin to read at the 76th verse, reading the account of the birth of the Christ child. Please open your Bibles to Luke chapter one. We will read all the way through Luke chapter two, verse 14. Here, Zacharias, upon the birth of his son John, John the Baptist, prophesied, saying, and you, child, that is John the Baptist, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go on before the Lord to prepare his ways. Verse 77, to give to his people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God. with which the sunrise from on high shall visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Verse 80, and the child, that's John the Baptist, continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel. Chapter two, verse one. It came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census was to be taken of all the inhabited earth, that this was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all were proceeding to register for the census, everyone to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David. He went there in order to register along with his wife, who was engaged to him and was with child. And it came about that while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. And she wrapped him in clothes, laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And in the same region, there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flocks by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened. And the angel said to them, do not be afraid for behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which shall be for all the people. For today in the city of David, there has been born for you a savior who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. His coming as the child born of the Virgin was foretold as the scripture testifies. And as the word says, He has come, the Prince of Peace has come. Just as Isaiah foretold, we see it fulfilled in the New Testament. But what kind of peace is Jesus the Prince of? What is He like? What peace does he convey and communicate to us? The New Dictionary of the Bible states that peace means completeness, soundness, well-being. The dictionary states, because of the world's chaos through man's sin and because peace comes only as God's gift, the messianic hope was the advent of the Prince of Peace. The New Testament shows the fulfillment of this hope. In Christ, peace has come. Likewise, the Nelson's Bible Dictionary says, Peace. The Old Testament meaning of peace was completeness, soundness, and the well-being of the total person. This peace was considered God-given. In the New Testament, peace often refers to the inner tranquility and poise of the Christians whose trust is in God through Christ. This understanding was originally expressed in the Old Testament writings about the coming Messiah. The peace that Jesus Christ spoke of was a combination of hope, trust, and quiet of mind and soul brought about by a reconciliation with God. This peace is brought about by a reconciliation with God. Such peace was proclaimed by the host of the angels at Christ's birth." End quote. Jesus is the prince of peace, the prince of completeness, soundness, and well-being, the prince of inner tranquility who gives hope, trust, and assurance. He is the prince who quiets the mind and soul, even when the storms rage and the world is in mass turmoil. The prince of peace rules over all. Being the Prince of Peace, Jesus spoke to his disciples, who relayed his word to us, saying this, John 14, 27, Jesus said, peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. And again, John 16, 33. These things I have spoken to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage. I have overcome the world. The Prince of Peace overcomes the troubles and the trials and the tribulation and the unrest of the world. Jesus is the Prince of Peace who rules in peace. who manifests peace, who grants peace, who upholds peace, who is the personification and embodiment of peace. He himself is peace. The King of Glory is the Prince of Peace. The Son of God is the Prince of Peace. The Alpha and Omega is the Prince of Peace. He is the one and only Prince of Peace. There is peace found in no other. The peace that is found in the Prince of Peace, our Lord Jesus Christ, rules over turmoil, unrest, uncertainty, trial, and tribulation. He commands the unrest of the soul by ruling it with peace. He calms a troubled heart by ruling over it with peace. He brings rest to the tormented mind by ruling over it as the Prince of Peace. Who is this mighty Prince of Peace? Jesus is his name. The Lord Jesus Christ is the person of peace. He is the Prince of Peace. Well, moving along, though we have already alluded to it, let us consider the place of peace, the place of peace. It may seem that something is missing. If Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and if Jesus has come, then why is there such great turmoil in the world? After all, didn't the angels announce his birth saying, glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace among men? As world peace is elusive, beloved, let us note, there will never be true lasting world peace until there's widespread personal peace through Christ. World turmoil is the outflow of personal turmoil. Peace being elusive gives rise to people searching for peace in all the wrong places, by all the wrong means, with all the wrong motives. In search of peace or even a moment of reprieve, many turn to substance abuse, using chemicals to give them a temporary sense of exhilaration or dullness. where for a fleeting moment they forget the sad state of their life. In search of peace and satisfaction, many give themselves to all manner of immorality, but in so doing, they create more unrest for their soul than the souls of others. Some think it's everybody else's fault that they lack peace, so they fight and blame, thinking the end will result in peace. Isn't that funny? If we fight enough, we'll have peace. Others think that we have rest and peace of mind if they gain wealth and have possession. And yet they have no rest or peace as they strive and connive for such things. For some, wealth becomes the means by which they fulfill their sinful desires, which lead to nothing more, but more and more unrest. Isn't it interesting? that all the worldly things people turn to so as to find peace actually rob them of peace. I ask you today, where are you? Do you have peace in all things? Or wherever you lack peace, are you searching for peace in all the wrong places? So many gain a fleeting sense of peace to only see it quickly dissipate. but true peace is inner and it is not dependent upon outward circumstance. The peace we speak of is internal and stands free of the external. Again, I ask you, where are you? Where are you? Do you have peace in all things? If not, good news. There is a sure place of sure peace. In the angels' announcement to the shepherds, there was a qualifying statement. They said, Luke 2, 14, glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased. He didn't stop, the angels didn't stop with the phrase, and on earth peace among men, but on the earth peace among men with whom he is pleased. This peace on earth, is among men with whom God is well pleased. Perhaps this is seen clearer in the NIV, which states Luke 2.14 in these terms, glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men with whom his favor rests. So now I don't mean to shock you, but this does not say on earth peace among all men, and to every man." Oh, the message is given to all mankind, but it does not say peace on earth among all men or to every man. No, there is a distinction, a clarification that His peace is only upon a particular people. His peace is among those with whom He is well pleased, upon whom His favor rests. In other words, to put it conversely and bluntly, if God is not pleased with you, then you are not going to possess His peace. In fact, with God, there is no middle ground. He is either pleased with you in a favor rest on you or not. And understand this, since we are all born in sin, and all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and there are none righteous, no, not one, and even our good works are as filthy before God, we are not naturally under his favor, nor can we earn it. If my righteous works are as filthy before God, how can I earn his favor? How can I merit his favor? Well, I cannot. In fact, as we are conceived in sin, remember David said he was conceived in sin, we are born sinners and born at enmity with God. From the first birth, we need the new birth. From the moment we are born into this world, we need to be born again. as sin has infected and affected every one of us, it is no wonder that peace is so excruciatingly elusive. The only ones who have true peace are those with whom God is well pleased. So how do we come to that place where he is well pleased? I just said, we cannot earn it, we cannot merit it. How can we come to that place where his favor rests upon us? And let me drive it home. There is no true peace outside his favor. How do we come into his favor so we may have, possess this peace? The Apostle Paul in the second chapter of the letter to the church in Ephesus says this of Jesus. He, Jesus himself, is our peace. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is himself our peace. Well, how is Jesus himself our peace? As Christ gave himself to the cross as the substitutionary atoning sacrifice. He made the way for us to be reconciled and at peace with God. This is what it means to be at peace, to be reconciled with God through faith in Jesus Christ. So through faith in Jesus Christ, that He is the Lord and Savior who came and died and rose again, being God's free and saving gift, we come into favor with God by believing in His Son. Rather than being at enmity with God, through faith in Jesus' Son, we are reconciled and at peace with God. All who trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior are those with whom the Father is well pleased, and thus they possess peace." The Apostle Peter wrote, Peace be to all who are in Christ. And again, Jesus says, these things I have spoken to you that in me you may have peace, in the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world and church because Jesus has overcome the world, we find peace in him. He's the Prince of Peace. So true spiritual peace is found only in Jesus through whom we are reconciled to God. If we are to be of those upon whom God's favor rests, then we must believe in Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith, not of any works of ours that we should boast, but by faith in Christ as the free gift of God. Peace is so very near. This is the good news. We've sinned, but peace is near. The Savior is not far away. He came to save a people like you and me. Will you call upon him now? All who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. Come to Jesus for peace with God, for peace with God is found in him. The reality of the peace of God comes upon us when we come to trust in God's gift, the Prince of Peace, the Christ of Christmas. That's when we are those with whom God is pleased, and to whom it is said, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men. When we come to trust in Jesus, then there is peace among us, because God's favor rests on us. The person of peace is Jesus, and he is the place of peace. Peace is found by faith in him. Believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Now let us speak of the phenomenon of peace. Under the setting, we will briefly speak of the believer's peace in regard to the past, then we'll jump to the future, and then we'll come back to the present. The phenomenon of peace in regard to the believer's past. All who trust in Christ as Savior and Lord, I'm asking you a question, all who trust in Christ as Savior and Lord, what sin did you commit before coming to Christ? Oh, don't say it. We don't wanna hear it. The thought of our sins grieves our soul, does it not? But here is Christ. Here is Christ, the Prince of Peace. And there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. though men will not forgive you, and though there are natural consequences to sin, this we know, whomever the LORD forgives, they are forgiven." Psalm 103, 1-13 says, For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. He casts, he removes our sin from us as far as the east is from the west. Why? Because he's a loving father. He's the perfect heavenly father. Isaiah 118 proclaims that though your sins were as scarlet, he has cleansed them white as snow. Though your sins were like red crimson, he has made them like whited wool. In Luke chapter seven, we read of the woman who was known to be a terrible sinner who repentantly wept at Jesus' feet. The Prince of Peace said to her, your sins have been forgiven and your faith has saved you, go in peace. You've repented of your sin, you've come to me, you believed upon me, you've been reconciled to God, go in peace. How beautiful, how precious and complete is the Savior's forgiveness. Be at peace, believer. For the Lord never recalls your sins. He remembers them no more. For the blood of Jesus, the son of God, cleanses us from all sin. And if we confess our sins, then he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, having cleansed us from all unrighteousness. Let me tell you, we are all like the woman who was caught in adultery. Though many would condemn us, Jesus sends them away and then says to us, neither do I condemn you. And as it is written, who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies. Beloved, who can unforgive what God has forgiven? In regard to our past, In regard to your past, Jesus is our peace, Jesus is your peace. In the forgiveness of Christ Jesus, we have peace with God. Now let us address the phenomenon of peace in regard to the believer's future, the believer's future. How safe we are in the hands of God, for if God is for us, who can stand against us? God did not even so much as spare His own Son, but gave Him up to the cross for us. And with Christ being He who died and rose again, who sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us, who then will separate us from the love of Christ? As Paul wrote in the end of the eighth chapter of Romans, not tribulation, nor distress, nor persecution, nor famine, nor nakedness, nor peril, nor sword, neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creative thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Be at peace in Christ, dear one, for the Alpha and the Omega holds eternity in his hand, and the Jesus who promised saying, the one who comes to me I will certainly not cast out, also said this, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I myself will raise him up on the last day. our future is secured in Christ. As Colossians 3, 4 says, when Christ who is our life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. Christian, Christian, in regard to your future, Jesus says, John 14, one through four, let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, for I go to prepare a place for you And if I go, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am there you may be also." Oh, church, in Christ there is sure an unwavering peace in regard to your past and in regard to your future. And now let us address the phenomenon of peace in regard to the believer's present life, this present time. Do we realize the peace Christ affords us concerning our past? Yes. Do we comprehend the peace we have in Christ concerning our future? Yes. Well then, Church, if we have peace in Christ with our past, and we have peace with Christ in our future, Why would we not have peace all the way in between? When one knows Christ, trusting in him for past and future, they can come to presently say, he does all things right. Divine peace is a present peace because Jesus has us in his hand and he watches over us. He never leaves us, he never forsakes us, he is doing all things right. This is why as those who have been raised with Christ, we must keep seeking the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father. As Colossians 3, two through three says, set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on the earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. In other words, to live in and experience his peace now, we must have his mind about the present issues of life. We must view these present earthly things as those who are in Christ viewing this present time as Christ views it from the eternal perspective. This is just a little while. Life is but a vapor, then it's gone. There might be troubles here, but hey, we are in Christ's hand and we know we have a future of glory. Oh, there are so many peace robbing issues in the world. The what ifs are innumerable. What if we enter into a greater war? What if terrorism strikes here at home? What if I lose my job? What if we can't pay the bills? What if someone steals my identity? What if my children get sick? What if I get sick? What about my wayward children? What about my unbelieving spouse? What about my unsaved loved ones? And then what if all the what ifs become reality? The answer to every unsettling what if and difficult reality is found in the answer to this question, who is Jesus? Who is Christ Jesus? Church, he is the Prince of Peace, who came for you, whom God gave for you, for your peace, in the midst of all the troubles. Peace in the midst of the storm is found nowhere but in the person of Christ. When you know him and your mind is set on him, when you have bathed in his word, you will realize his peace and his peaceful rule over your heart and mind. That is God's will for us in Christ Jesus. It's when we allow our gaze to wander from his face, from the thought of who he is as the Prince of Peace that we find ourselves unsettled. As we allow the Prince of Peace to rule over our hearts and minds, He Himself will continually be our peace in every circumstance. Christ is the Prince of Peace, and if you've come to Him in faith believing, then you are in Him, and His full abiding peace is yours. Even in your darkest hour, you can say, it is well with my soul. It may, in fact, not be well with the world. It may, in fact, not be well with the economy. It may, in fact, not be well in our relationships, but beloved in Christ, it is well with our soul. We have an inner peace. The torments of this fallen world foment all around us. The waves of this world may crash upon us and the boat may rock, but inwardly there's rest and peace in Jesus. The Christ of Christmas, he is the Prince of Peace. He is the lover of our soul. Well, in conclusion, the Prince of Peace is Jesus, the place of peace is in Jesus, and the phenomenon of peace is Jesus. When you know Jesus, you know peace in regard to the past, you know his peace in regard to the future, and you know his peace in regard to this present time. The peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Jesus is the Christ of Christmas, He is the child born to us, given for us. He is the Prince of Peace. Believe upon him. Would you please bow your heads with me in prayer?