Observations & Conclusions:
You were once separated from God, but…
1 – Jesus has made peace
2 – The purpose of peace is unity
3 – Peace was purchased through the cross
4 – Peace is given to those who are far away
5 – You now belong to the family of peacemakers
3 Supports
(1) – The Bible
(2) – Jesus
(3) – The Church
Application:
Because you’ve been given peace, become peacemakers
Who is “far away” in your heart and life?
Romans 15:5-6
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one
Philippians 2:3-4
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
1 Corinthians 12:26
“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”
1 Timothy 2:5-6
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.”
Galatians 3:26-28
“You are all sons of God, through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Colossians 2:13-15
“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
Luke 15:4-6
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’”
Colossians 3:14-15
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”