The angels broke out in praise saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men! (Luke 2:14). They did not say “peace between men.” They were not talking about what would happen between men; they were talking about what would happen between God and man.
The New Covenant is called the Covenant of Peace, the Gospel is called the Gospel of Peace, Jesus is the Prince of Peace, God is Jehovah-our Peace. We are supposed to allow peace to be the referee that guides our hearts and we should be peacemakers! But if there is anything the Church has not recognized it is the value or the need for peace.
God made peace with Jesus after pouring His wrath for all mankind on Him. Therein, He established the Covenant of Peace, promising that He will never again pour His wrath on Jesus. Since we are baptized into the body of Christ when we are born again, we too are delivered from wrath. The angels broke out in praise because, for the first time since Adam, there would be peace between God and man. God would resolve the sin issue in Christ and open the way into the holy of holies. They were announcing the establishing of the Covenant of Peace!
So much of the power of the Christmas story has been lost through religious tradition and commercialism. CLICK HERE to join me this week and discover more about The Power of the Christmas Story!
