Title: Peace and Joy of Christians
Contents
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22. The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
23. Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, This is how you bless the children of Israel, saying,
24. The LORD bless you and keep you,
25. May the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious;
26. The LORD will turn his face upon you and say, ‘Peace be upon you.
27. They shall thus bless the children of Israel in my name, and I will bless them.
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27. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.
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11. I name these things to you, that my joy may be in you and your joy may be full.
Content
Subject: Christian Peace and Joy
Text: Numbers 6:22-27; John 14:27; 15:11
There is a grace that only Christians can taste and enjoy. It is the grace that Jesus gives to His people before others. “Christians” means “those who belong to Christ”. They are people who live in the world, but live a life that does not belong only to the world. That's why the Reformer Martin Luther called Christians "people of dual citizenship" (dual nationals). There are restrictions, but there are also privileges that come with it. The title of today's sermon will be the grace that belongs to those privileges. It is a peace and joy that the world does not give. They are called 'Wonderful Peace', 'Holy Peace', 'Wonderful Joy', and 'Holy Joy'. The peace of Jesus Christ, the joy of Jesus Christ.
How should we live in this world as a person who was created in the image of God? When you come before God, what is the desirable image? The words of the old wise man. ‘Even if he lives twice as much as a thousand years, if he does not see happiness, does not he end up returning to one place?’ (Ecclesiastes 6:6). Since we are human in this life, shouldn't we live a different life from animals? It is said to be seeing happiness (tasting, enjoying, sharing). But, as we know, the road to happiness was blocked by the tragedy of Paradise Lost. Access to the tree of life, which is related to happiness, was forbidden. “So God drove out the man, and on the east side of the garden of Eden he placed cherubim and a fiery sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24). It was God's special interest in arranging the Garden of Eden.
This is the path that was made accessible only after the work mentioned in the original gospel (Genesis 3:15) was realized. Without the key of faith related to John 3:16, a key verse of the entire Bible, it would have been impossible (Matthew 16:16-19). This was only possible through the grace of Jesus Christ. ‘Salvation’ and ‘eternal life’ (John 3:16) and the ‘life’ of the Gospel of John (John 20:31) are the realizations of this happiness. This is the grace contained in the Old Testament and New Testament texts today. The declaration and promise of blessing to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3) is embodied in the Sinai covenant. The core of the sacrificial system is the sacrifices offered to God and the blessings received from God. Therefore, it was important whether or not the sacrifice was accepted (悅納), and the role of the priests, who had to do with the blessings that followed (如何), was inevitably important. Contrast Eli and Samuel.
The Atonement of Jesus Christ was its fulfillment. This is the meaning of the sixth word among the seven virtual sayings, ‘It is finished!’ (John 19:30). This was the fulfillment of the atonement for mankind. It was the completion of the Old Testament priesthood system. And the resurrection of Jesus that appeared was God's proof that Jesus was the Christ (Philippians 2:6-11). Today's New Testament texts are the words that the Lord gave to His people in Mark's upper room on the last night he was on earth in the flesh. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. What I give to you is not as the world gives. Let not your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). “I name these things to you, that my joy may be in you and your joy may be full” (John 15:11). Training in reading, listening, and keeping the Word (Rev 1:3) is necessary.