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PEACE THROUGH UNION
A. Introduction: We’re talking about how God gives peace of mind to His people. Peace of mind comes to us
through the Word of God. God’s Word (the Bible) provides us with information about God, ourselves, and
our circumstances that helps us deal with anxious thoughts and troubling emotions. John 16:33
1. For the past several weeks we’ve been discussing the fact that one way God’s Word imparts peace to our
mind is by assuring us that we have peace with God.
a. We need peace with God because our sinful actions put us in opposition to God’s holy, righteous
standard. We are all guilty of sin before a holy God, and our sin made us His enemies. Rom 3:23
b. Col 1:21-22—But through Jesus’ death on the Cross God, reconciled us to Himself. To reconcile
means to make friendly again. The Greek word that is translated to reconcile means to change from
one condition to another.
1. At the Cross Jesus took the punishment due to us for our sin and satisfied justice on our behalf:
The chastisement needful to obtain peace and well-being for us was upon Him (Isa 53:6, Amp).
2. Jesus’ sacrifice was so effective that God can justify us or declared us not guilty of sin when we
believe on Jesus. He can count us or consider us righteous or in right standing with Himself.
Through faith in Christ we are changed from enemies to friends of God. Rom 5:1
2. The Cross was a means to an end. By paying the price we owed for our sin, Jesus made it possible for
God to deal with us as though we never sinned and restore us to our created purpose.
a. Eph 1:4-5—We were created to become holy, righteous sons and daughters of God. But because a
holy God cannot have sinners as sons and daughters, our sin disqualifies us for our created purpose.
1. The Cross opened the way for God to transform us from sinners into sons and daughters by
imparting His life and Spirit to us. We become actual sons and daughters of God by birth.
John 1:12-13; John 3:3-6; I John 5:1
2. Jesus’ sacrifice so completely cleanses us from the guilt of sin that, when we believe on Him,
He can indwell our innermost being by His Spirit and life.
b. Rom 8:29-30 is a concise statement of God’s plan of salvation and redemption—or how He
transforms sinners into holy, righteous sons and daughters.
1. He invites or calls us to our destiny through faith in Christ. When we believe on Jesus, God
justifies us or declares us in right standing with Himself.
2. Then He glorifies us. To be glorified means to be made alive with the uncreated, eternal life in
God in every part of our being—spirit, soul (mind and emotions), and body.
3. In this lesson we’re going to talk more about what it means to be glorified, what it means to have God in
us by His life and Spirit, and how knowing this brings us peace of mind.
a. Rom 5:10—If, while we were his enemies, Christ reconciled us to God by dying for us, surely now
that we are reconciled we may be perfectly certain of our salvation through his living in us (J. B.
Phillips)
b. Rom 5:10—For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His son,
it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved [daily delivered from
sin’s dominion] through His [resurrection] life (Amp).
B. We started our discussion of the peace that God gives with a statement Jesus made the night before He went
to the Cross. At the end of a lengthy discourse, Jesus told His apostles: I’ve spoken these things so that you
can have peace in Him. John16:33
1. Jesus had just celebrated a Passover meal with these men (we know it as the Last Supper). At that meal
Jesus told them many things, aimed at preparing them for the fact that He was soon going to leave them.
Note two statements Jesus made.
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a. John 14:16-17—Jesus promised that He would not leave them alone, but would send the Holy
Spirit. Jesus stated that the Holy Spirit was already with them, but would soon be in them.
b. John 14:20—Then Jesus said that at that day (referring to after He was raised from the dead) they
would know (experientially) that I am in my Father and you are in me and I am in you.
2. Before we discuss what Jesus meant, we need to address some facts about God. God is one God who
simultaneously manifests as three distinct Persons—the Father, the Word (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit.
(This concept is known as the doctrine of the Trinity. Although the word trinity is not in the Bible, the
doctrine is found throughout the Scriptures.)
a. These three Persons are distinct but not separate. They co-inhere or share one Divine nature.
They are persons in the sense of being self aware and aware of and interactive with each other.
1. God is not one God who manifests three ways—sometimes as the Father, sometimes as the Son,
and sometimes as the Holy Spirit. You can’t have one without the other. Where the Father is,
so is the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
2. This is beyond our comprehension at this point in our existence because we are talking about
the Infinite (eternal and without limits) Omnipresent God, and we are finite beings.
3. All efforts to explain the Godhead (the nature of God) fall short. We can only accept and
rejoice at the wonder of God. The Word Godhead is used in the Bible (Acts 17:29; Rom 1:20;
Col 2:9). Godhead is translated from a Greek word that means Divinity (Divine).
b. Two thousand years ago, the Word took on human nature and entered time and space. Jesus is God
become man without ceasing to be God. He took on a human nature so that He could die for our
sins. John 1:1; John 1: 14; Heb 2:14-15
1. While on earth Jesus didn’t live as God, He lived as a man in dependence on God as His Father.
In doing so, He showed us what sons of God are like. He showed us the kind of sons and
daughters God desires. Jesus is the pattern for God’s family. Rom 8:29
2. Through His death and resurrection Jesus made it possible for sinners to become sons and
daughters like Him—holy, righteous, and fully pleasing to the Father. Heb 2:10-11
3. Back to Jesus’ words at that Passover meal the night before His crucifixion. At one point Philip (one of
Jesus’ apostles) asked Jesus to show them the Father. Jesus replied that if you’ve seen me, you’ve see
the Father because I speak His words and do His words by His power in Me. John 14:8-11
a. The idea Jesus expressed through His words is union and shared life and Spirit—union and shared
life with God. A number of translations render these verses this way.
1. John 14:10-11—Do you not believe that I am in union with the Father, and the Father with me?
…but it is the Father who, being always in union with me, is doing these things…Believe me…
when I say that I am in union with the Father and the Father with me (20th Cent).
2. John 14:10-11—Do you not believe that I am in union with the Father and that the Father is in
union with me…the Father who always remains in union with me is doing these things
(Williams).
3. John 14:10-11—I am in union with the Father and the Father is in union with me…I am not the
source of the words…but the Father who is united with me is doing these things himself
(Goodspeed).
b. John 14:12-14—In that context Jesus said the works I do, you’ll do also because I go to my Father.
There are a number of lessons for another day in Jesus’ statement. Note these points for now.
1. Jesus goes on to tell them that when He returns to the Father, He and His Father will send the
Holy Spirit (whom He called the Comforter) to them. John 14:16; John 14:26; etc.
2. Then Jesus makes the statement that the Holy Spirit has been with them, but He will then be in
them (John 14:17). Jesus follows His words with the statement that they will know that He
(Jesus) is in the Father, I am in you, and you are in me (John 14:20).
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A. In other words, just as I am in union with the Father (share His life and Spirit) you too will
be in union with us and share our life and Spirit.
B. John 14:20—At that time you will recognize that I am in union with the Father, and you
with me, and I with you (20th cent); So when that day comes, you will know that I am in
the Father and that you are one with me, for I will be living in you (TPT).
c. Remember the context. Jesus just said that He did what He did by the power of His Father in Him.
Then Jesus tells His apostles that they will also do what He did. The implication is clear: You will
do these things by the power of my life and Spirit in you.
4. As Christians, we talk about the fact that Jesus is in us. But what does that mean since Jesus is actually
in Heaven right now. Acts 1:9-11; Acts 3:21
a. God made us in such a way that we can receive Him (His uncreated, eternal life, His Spirit) into our
being. Part of our created purpose is to be indwelled by God so that He can express Himself
through us.
1. The Bible uses a number of word pictures to convey spiritual truths. Jesus called Himself the
Vine and believers the branches (John 15:5). This example pictures union and shared life.
2. John 3:16—When we believe on Jesus, we believe into Him. That’s the idea in the Greek
(Worrell; TPT). Our innermost being (our spirit) is united to the life in Jesus as truly as a
branch is joined to a vine. The vine provides life to the branches which then produce fruit
(outward demonstration of the life within).
b. We have union with Jesus Who is God through shared life. This is beyond our comprehension
at this point in our existence.
1. Don’t let what you can’t understand keep you from believing what is clearly revealed. If Jesus
is your Savior and Lord then God is in you by His life (eternal, uncreated life) and His Spirit
(the Holy Spirit).
2. Gal 4:6—Because you are sons (and daughters) through faith in Christ, God has sent the Spirit
of His Son into your hearts. (Abba is the name by which Jewish children addressed their
father. Abba implies unreasoning trust and father expresses an understanding of your
relationship; Vine’s Dictionary).
5. God’s plan from before He created the heavens and the earth was and is to indwell His people and make
us His literal sons and daughters who partake of His life and Spirit.
a. Sin temporarily took the plan off track because God, Who is holy, cannot indwell sinful men and
women. But once we are legally cleansed from the guilt of sin through faith in Christ and His
sacrifice at the Cross, God can indwell us.
b. Then, by His life and Spirit in us, He progressively restores us to what He created us to be—holy,
righteous sons and daughters, fully glorifying to Him in every thought, word, and action.
1. Glorification is the name for this process. To be glorified means to be made alive with eternal
life (the uncreated life of God) in every part of our being.
A. When we believe on Jesus, our innermost being (our spirit) is glorified or made alive with
eternal life. The entrance of this is new life transforms us from sinners into actual sons
and daughters by birth. John 1:12-13
B. In connection with the second coming of Jesus and resurrection of the dead, our bodies will
glorified or made alive with eternal life—incorruptible and immortal. Our bodies will be
like Jesus’ resurrected body. Phil 3:20-21
2. Our mind, emotions, and body are not directly affected or changed by the new birth. Right
now, we must choose to bring them under the control of the Spirit and life of God in us through
renewing our mind. Rom 12:1-2
c. Jesus died to bring us to glory or to restore us to our created position and purpose. It’s a glorious `
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position. Rom 8:30—And those whom He justified He also glorified—raising them to a heavenly
dignity and condition [state of being] (Amp).
C. Conclusion: We could do an entire lesson on almost every point we’ve made thus far. That’s not my
purpose in this part of our series. I’m simply trying to show you how the fact that you have peace with God
because of Jesus’ sacrifice brings peace to our minds. Consider these points.
1. We face this life in union with Christ. Jesus, by His Spirit is in us to help us deal with this difficult
world. Nothing can come against us that is bigger than He who dwells in us.
a. Jesus ended His words to His apostles the night before He was crucified with this statement: I have
told you these things, that you through union with me may have peace. I the world you have
trouble; but be courageous! I have conquered the world (John16:33, Williams).
b. We struggle with believing that God will help us because He feels far away from us. What if you
lived with the awareness that He is in you by His Spirit to strengthen you, help you, protect you, and
guide you? You’d have peace of mind.
2. Our union with Christ through His life and Spirit is the basis of our identity or who you are. Jesus said
that which is born of the spirit is spirit. John 3:6
a. The condition of your spirit (your innermost being) is the basis of your identity. You are born of
God. Rom 8:9-10—Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not
Christians at all. Since Christ lives within you, even though your body will die because of sin, your
spirit is alive because you have been made right with God (NLT).
1. I John 3:2—Right now we are finished works in progress, fully God’s sons and daughters, but
not yet fully like Jesus in every part of our being.
2. Jesus’ presence in you now by His Spirit is the guarantee that the process of glorification will be
completed. Col 1:27—Christ in you the hope of glorification (Williams).
b. We must learn to identify with what we are now through new birth, through union with Christ: So
if anyone is in union with Christ, he is a new being; the old state of things has passed away; there is
a new state of things. All this comes from God who has reconciled me to himself (II Cor 5:17-18,
Goodspeed).
3. God deals with us on the basis of the part that is finished because He knows that what He is has begun
will be completed (Phil 1:6). This awareness gives us confidence before God.
a. I John 4:17—In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains
perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment—with assurance and
boldness to face Him—because as He is, so are we in this world (Amp).
b. As Jesus is in this world, so are we. This cannot be a reference to what we do because our behavior
does not yet fully match Jesus’ perfect life. It is a reference to our identity because of our union
with Him. We face the Lord in union with Jesus. We have peace with God through union with
Christ.
1. None of this is meant to give us an excuse to live immoral lives. It is meant to encourage us
when we fail and inspire us to be what God has and is making us to be—holy, righteous sons
and daughters who fully glorify our Father.
2. Titus 2:14—(Jesus) gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us
his very own people, totally committed to doing what is right (NLT).
