Peace on Earth, for Whom It Is Meant
Tom Shrader opens with warm Christmas memories before turning to Luke 2:14, correcting a common mistranslation to show that the angelic proclamation of peace is not a universal promise but a gift to those on whom God's favor rests. Drawing on Romans 5, Matthew 1, and 2 Corinthians 5, he explains that humanity's fundamental problem is sin and separation from God, and that Christ came to reconcile sinners to the Father through His death and resurrection. He closes by calling believers to carry that ministry of reconciliation into their neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities as instruments of God's peace.
“Peace is not the absence of turmoil, it's the presence of God.”
— Tom Shrader
Series: Scottsdale Bible Church
Recorded: 2017 at Scottsdale Bible Church
Duration: 41 min
Themes: peace, Christmas, reconciliation, sin, forgiveness, advent, salvation, evangelism, feeling distant from god, searching for peace, new believer, sharing faith at work, parent during christmas, struggling with sin, neighbor outreach, longing for stability
Scripture: Luke 2:6-14, Matthew 1:20-22, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:1, Romans 5:6, Romans 5:8, Romans 5:10, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, John 3:16
Theological Themes: atonement, reconciliation, divine favor, original sin, soteriology, justification, incarnation, ministry of reconciliation
Full Transcript
Introduction
Thanks, Jamie. That is really kind — though Jamie didn't tell you the whole story. I haven't written a book, but I did read one, and I was pretty impressed with that. To be here is a real treat for me. I have a chance to go to a lot of different churches, and there's nowhere that I feel more at home or more accepted than at Scottsdale Bible Church. That's through Jamie and the elders and the staff and all of you. It feels a little like a love fest, but it's just great to be with you today and to be continuing the Advent series.
Jamie, last week, introduced the series and talked about the four characteristics we derive from the nativity narrative: hope, which is what Jamie talked about last week; peace, which is what I'm talking about today; then joy; and then love.
Yearning for Christmas
I don't know if it's because I'm getting older — I just had a birthday, and the good news is we've kept the gift-receiving line open, so you can still get your gifts in — but as I reflect on Christmas, maybe this year more than others, I'm kind of hardcore: no trees, no music, no anything until after Thanksgiving. This year, though, I broke all those rules. I think it's because I was yearning for something — a bit of nostalgia and stability in the midst of a world that seems to be getting progressively out of balance.
So I was thinking about a bunch of different ideas that just come rushing to my mind, and I actually took some pictures. My hope is they might connect to your memories specifically, or unlock some others. Our Christmas always started with a trip to the Christmas tree lot — this one was sponsored by the Kiwanis, though it might be the Elks or one of the schools. We would go into this crowded lot. I'm the oldest of four boys, and we would usually go on a night after my dad got off work: dark, cold, miserable, four boys running all over.
My dad had — and I want to be precise here — this much patience. At a Christmas tree lot with four boys, he had exactly that much patience. We would go in with the best of intentions, and we'd end up with a tree. Our tree always looked like a crooked, struggling one. He'd get it home, he couldn't get it up, and it was always, always an ordeal — but it was a tradition.
Along the lines of tradition: my mom would make oyster stew, and it would fill the house with a stench that took a week to get rid of. No one would eat it but my dad, and he would drown it in oyster crackers — then eat the crackers and leave the bowl. But it was a tradition. You had them too, some version of that — some Minnesota baked fish or whatever it was in your house.
Memories of Christmas Past
On the food side, my favorite was popcorn balls. You don't see them around much anymore, and when you do, they're those hand-packed, perfect ones that don't taste right. But these were molasses and caramel, and they were terrific. Then there was my favorite tree decoration — it would heat up, bubble up, and I would sit for hours and look at it. That is maybe a comment on me, or on what we had for entertainment, but I loved that decoration. I first saw it at my grandma's house, and then I got one for our tree.
At my grandma's house, in the window, she had these candles. I would see them, and they just reek of Christmas in the best sense of the word. Sandy has those in our home right now. And then there were the gifts. The first big one I remember: I wanted a basketball, and I got it. It wasn't a Hawkeye basketball, but it will do.
Then there was a bike — exactly the bike I got. It was a Schwinn. It had on the back this kind of book rack that you put things in, and the first bump you hit, everything came flying out. I'm not sure if I couldn't work it right or it just didn't work right. And then the big one: a first baseman's mitt — not just any mitt, but a Norm Larker first baseman's mitt. Baseball was my best sport, and you give me that Norm Larker mitt and put me at first base, and nothing got by me.
It's interesting, looking back at those memories. We were in Davenport, Iowa. With basketball, because we would play outside, we'd go up early in the morning and shovel the court, then let the sun hit it for a while —
Peace on Earth — For Whom Is It Meant?
I love Christmas cards. I love Christmas letters, the pictures, looking at them all. We would get what seemed like hundreds of cards, and my mom would tape them across the fireplace and around the door. She'd collect them, sit down in January with a stack, and then get out the list of people we had sent cards to. If we sent a card and didn't get one back, for my mom — my mom was a tough lady — that meant something.
For whatever reason, one image is as fresh in my mind as ever: iconic, blue, sometimes with silver on it. Peace on Earth. That's my topic today. And when you opened the card, it was the verse from Luke 2:14.
A Closer Look at the Translation
I want to deal with what may be a misconception about this idea of peace, and it comes from the King James translation of Luke 2:14: *"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men."* That translation picked up steam and became more and more associated with goodwill toward all men.
More recent translators have corrected what many think was a slight mistranslation. The NASB reads: *"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace among men with whom He is pleased."* The NIV puts it as *"peace to those on whom his favor rests."* The Message paraphrase says, *"peace to all men and women on earth who please him."*
Commenting on this verse, John MacArthur writes: "This is not to be taken as a universal declaration of peace toward all humanity. A better rendering here might be peace toward men on whom God's sovereign pleasure rests. God's peace is not a reward for those who have goodwill, but a gracious gift to those who are the object of God's goodwill."
So the question becomes very quickly: are you one of those with whom God is pleased? Do you please Him?
The Birth Narrative in Context
That verse, Luke 2:14, needs some context. Let's go back to Luke 2:6: *"While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in cloths, laid him in a manger, because there was no room at the inn."*
It is really a very ordinary birth, minus the location. She wrapped Him in cloths. As I've read and studied, that was the normal thing done with a newborn baby — they wrapped each limb individually and then wrapped the baby, making the child feel secure and safe.
Verse 8: *"In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the field and keeping watch over their flock 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."* I assume that is a somewhat common reaction to a visit by an angel.
Good News for All People
Verse 10: *"The angel said, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people.'"* This is not just for the rich or the religious — not, in our context, just for the white or the wealthy. It is for all people. And the story seems to emphasize that point precisely by having the angel appear to the lowest on the social and religious ladder: the shepherds.
*"Today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."* There is the key word: a Savior. He comes, He saves, He delivers, He rescues. It is good news for all of us. There is an opportunity to find deliverance — but deliverance from what?
Saved from the Fundamental Problem
Matthew 1:20 helps answer that question. An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying: *"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit."* Joseph had just discovered Mary was pregnant and had the most human of reactions — he knew he had not been with her, so he was working through what that meant.
Then verse 21: *"She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people."* You and I have an opportunity — and, more than that, a necessity — to be saved and rescued. But from what?
My fear is that sometimes in our discussions of Jesus saving and rescuing us, we think He is rescuing us from a bad marital situation, a bad business situation, some debilitating addiction, or saving us to give us purpose and meaning in an otherwise unfulfilled life. No. He is saving us from our fundamental problem, which is sin.
We come into the world separated from God because of our sin. My fundamental problem is not that I drink too much or that I am a lousy husband or a jerk. My fundamental problem is sin. I do not need to come to Jesus just to quit drinking — I could go to AA for that. But the problem at the root is sin, and I am a big sinner.
God Is in Control
"Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son and shall call him Emmanuel, which means God's with us." Here is a huge point to make: God is in control of this. This is all part of God's plan. He did not suddenly say, "I had this plan, but it's not going to work — I need to go to plan B."
We were at dinner the other night with some old friends, and we inevitably talked about politics and economics and the world. Sandy was very quiet, which I expected. Then she said, "It's good to know that God's in control. It's good to know that whoever is president, Jesus is still King." She says that all the time, and it is pretty much the end of the conversation — not much left after that.
Maybe you are here today and you need to be reminded of that very simple truth: God is in control. It may feel like things are careening out of control, beyond your control or mine, but they are not out of God's control.
The Sign and the Multitude
Back to Luke's story, verse 12: "This will be a sign. You will find the baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger." Ordinary, plain. The only thing that might tell you this is the baby being spoken of is that He is in an unusual place. If it were simply said that it was a baby wrapped in clothes, that would describe virtually every baby born in Bethlehem at that time — but you will find Him in a manger.
Suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude — a choir of heavenly hosts — and they were praising God. This is what they said: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." That is the message. That is the good news.
Defining Peace
Jamie, last week when he taught about hope, made a point that is really important in our discussions: we need to define our terms. We use terms all the time and never take a moment to define them. Here is how Webster defines peace: freedom from disturbance, quiet, tranquility — synonyms being calmness, quietness, and restfulness. Webster's second definition is freedom from, or the cessation of, war or violence.
One author offers this definition of peace: it is the result of resting in a relationship with God. Peace is more than an absence of conflict. It is the tranquil state of a soul fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, whatever sort that may be — a kind of equilibrium that comes from trusting that everything is in the hands of God.
When we start talking about hope and peace and joy and love, we are talking about real theological truths and realities. Here is my own definition of peace: it is not the absence of turmoil — it is the presence of God. Your circumstances as a follower of Christ are not going to be smooth and easy, and they are not going to trend upward in a straight line. Your life is still going to have its ups and downs and questions. But in the midst of all of that, there is the reality of the presence and the control of God. That is why there is hope. That is why there is peace. That is why there is joy. That is why there is love.
God Saves Sinners
Ephesians chapter two, verses eight and nine: "For by grace you have been saved, delivered, rescued through faith. It is not of yourself." Here, right at Christmas, is not a gift you give, but a gift you have received. "It is a gift, not as a result of works, so that no one can boast."
In the simplest of terms, here is the sentence that says it all — three words: God saves sinners. If we were to diagram that sentence, God is the subject, the noun, the actor. Saves is the predicate, the verb. And sinners — if you are ever in a sentence, this is what you want to be — the direct object. You have no responsibility. You are just there. Whatever happens, happens to you. God saves sinners. You, me. See how that comes together? That is where the peace is.
Growing up, I diagrammed sentences under the authority of the Sisters of Mercy. They had a ruler they used — often for drawing lines, and almost as often for other purposes. When you diagrammed a sentence, they wanted those lines straight and precise. I remember diagramming sentences and thinking this was the most pointless thing in the world. I even said to my dad one night — he was a banker — "Did you diagram sentences at the bank today?" That did not go over well. But the exercise has its uses, and here it makes the gospel plain: God is the subject and the actor, and we are the objects of His saving work.
The Wage of Sin and the Free Gift
Romans chapter six, verse twenty-three: "For the wage of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus." If we were doing this like a continuing television series, we would begin with "previously in the book of Romans." Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned — you, me, everyone who has ever lived. We come into the world not as children of God, but as children of wrath, needing to be rescued.
When the Bible speaks of death, it speaks of three things: spiritual death — separation from God — physical death, which as surely as we have all witnessed, we will all face, and eternal death. The wage of sin is death, but the free gift of God stands in contrast to everything we have earned or deserve.
I was thinking of my mom. I think of her often. She cannot talk on the phone, and I have not spoken with her in a year or a year and a half. But one of the last times I was home, I had the girls with me and we were heading back — back to go to Kinnick Stadium and see the —
The Watch and the Human Condition
We were sitting at the table with my mom at a Hawks football game. My mom had her watch on, and she took it off and wound it. My daughter Haley had never seen this before and asked, "What are you doing?" My mom explained that she was winding the watch, then pulled out the stem and showed her how to set the time. Haley was absolutely blown away, and then instinctively said, "Can I have that when you're done with it?" She didn't mean anything by it. My mom laughed and said, "You mean when I die?"
Haley didn't have to stop and wonder whether grandma was going to die or not. As a result of sin, we all experience physical death — and eternal death if we remain in that same condition.
The Trifecta of Romans 5
But we have been reconciled to God. We were enemies, and I want to share this with you because it is such a powerful trifecta in Romans chapter 5. Paul tells us in verse 1, "We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Then in Romans 5:6, 8, and 10: "While we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly." Verse 8: "God demonstrated His own love toward us, and that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Verse 10: "We were enemies with God, but we were reconciled through the death of His Son Jesus."
That is the condition we were in. We were not a group of people who deserved to be rescued. God saved you. This thought becomes hugely motivational to me — God saved you in spite of you, not because of you. God saved you while you were helpless, while you were a sinner. He demonstrated His love for you.
Relentless Love and the Christmas Story
Max Lucado writes a beautiful and simple sentence about the Christmas story. He said the story of Christmas is the story of God's relentless love for you. God loved you. John 3:16 — "For God so loved the world" — and what do you do when you love? You give. He gave Christ.
This Christmas cannot be separated from Easter. The birth of Jesus cannot be taken and separated from the very reason He came — the crucifixion and the resurrection. Last week when the worship team launched the Christmas season, the first song they sang was "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" — "Glory to the newborn King, peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinner reconciled." If I tell you that Jamie and I have been reconciled, you can immediately deduce from that there was a pre-existing hostile condition. We could not be reconciled if we were not first separated.
Peace With God and the Peace of God
We have been reconciled, so we have peace with God. I was at war with Him, but all of a sudden I have peace. All of a sudden I am connected with Him again — I have peace with God, and so I have the peace of God.
I enjoy reading history and biographies, and so often when an author writes about their moment of conversion, they talk about how that night they had the best night's sleep they had experienced in years. There was a man named Harold Hughes, who ultimately became the governor of the state of Iowa, a senator, and ran for president. He wrote a book called *The Man from Ida Grove*. He was a trucker and an alcoholic. He writes about being in a bathtub with a shotgun in his mouth, ready to end his life, and then God saved him at that moment. God opened his eyes to see the truth, and Harold talks about the peace that just overwhelmed him. He went from being an alcoholic truck driver to the governor's mansion in roughly five years.
His fundamental problem wasn't the alcohol. His fundamental problem was that he was alienated from God.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
But I want to add the takeaway of all this. It is not just about peace and an established relationship with God. Yes, He has reconciled us — but He has also given us the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18–19 says, "All these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ." He sent Jesus. He opened your heart. He brought you into relationship with Him, and you have been reconciled.
But that is not the end of the story. If all God wanted to do was get you to heaven, He would have taken you at the moment you believed. He has a plan. His plan is to continue delivering this message of peace to the world, and He is going to use you in the process. He gave you the ministry of reconciliation — "namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation."
Peacemakers in Your World
Jamie mentioned it when he talked about the Christmas experience and how people are open to conversation this time of year. This is your opportunity. I want to take a little pressure off — you are not being called to save the world, but to live and proclaim the gospel in your world, your neighborhood. You are to be a peacemaker. You are to bring harmony and peace into relationships — at work, at the gym, at the office. Here is a big one: at the homeowner's association. That is a tougher one. But you bring peace there because you are not fighting and arguing about things that do not matter.
You are to live in such a way, Jesus said, that people see your good works. People should be able to see that there is something different about you — not odd, but different. You handle business differently. You handle success differently. You handle broken deals differently. And there should be — I say this not to dump guilt on you but to give you a target — there should be a steady stream of people coming into your life who are drawn by that difference.
Peace That Comes From God
There should be a steady stream of people in your life coming to you saying, "There's something different and unique about you. What is it?" And you say, "It's Jesus." It's Jesus that's different. There's a peace here — not the absence of turmoil, but the presence of God.
So we go back to where we began, Luke 2, verse 14: "Peace on earth among men with whom He is pleased" — with people who please Him. We ask the question, what does it mean to please Him? It is impossible to please God without faith — to believe Jesus is who He said He was, and that you are who He says you are. You are a great sinner in need of a great Savior.
Does everybody please God? No. But the question becomes — and it is the most important question you will ever deal with — do you please Him? Are you a child of the King? Have you come to Him in repentance and faith? If so, you are His instrument to this lost and dying world.
Saved by God, From God, For God
It is so easy at Christmas to get swept away with little baby Jesus, meek and mild. But God is also a God who hates as well as loves. He hates sin, He will judge sin, and there is a wrath of God.
So Jesus comes, and the truth is this: I am saved by God, from God, for God. That is what peace means — at least in my mind, when Jamie gave me the topic, that is exactly what I thought of. So I can wish you peace at this Christmas season.
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for Jesus, who came so that we can have life and have it abundantly — who loved us and understood that love is not passive but active, and who sent His Son to die so that we could have eternal life. I pray for those who are here for whom this is a brand new message. In all likelihood, more questions were raised than answered, so would You cause those people to talk to the ones who invited them, or to the people on campus wearing tags that say how we can help — because the greatest help we can give is to share this good news.
And to those of us who understand this message, do not let it become so familiar that it grows stale. Thank You, God, that we have peace with You, and so we can take this message of reconciliation to the world around us. We love You because You first loved us, and we praise You and worship You in Jesus' precious name. Amen.