When man decided to listen to the serpent and disobeyed the commandment of God, man lost his spiritual position as son of God, whereby the peace between man and God was broken and man lost his dominion to the devil. The devil not only took God’s place, by becoming the father of fallen man, but also the place and dominion of man, who was God’s son and appointed as ruler on earth. The devil became the ruler and god of this world and the father of fallen man. Everyone, who would be born on earth would enter his dominion, be his child, come under his authority, and live in obedience to him. However, God prophesied about the coming of Jesus Christ, Who would restore the position of fallen man and the peace between fallen man and God. Let’s look at how Jesus restored the peace between fallen man and God.
Jesus Christ restored the peace between fallen man and God and the position of fallen man
God would put enmity between him (the devil) and the woman, and between his seed (fallen man) and her Seed (Jesus), and the Seed of the woman (Jesus Christ) would bruise his head and he would bruise His heel (Genesis 3:15).
God referred to the coming of Jesus Christ, His work of redemption at the cross, His blood and resurrection from the dead. Whereby Jesus took the authority (keys) of the devil and restored the position of fallen man and the peace between fallen man and God.
As mentioned in the article ‘What kind of peace did Jesus bring on earth’, Jesus didn’t come to bring a peace as the world defines peace.
Jesus came to restore what was broken and disturbed in the spiritual realm, which was the relationship between God and man, and to give back the authority and dominion over the earth, which God had originally given to man but was taken by the devil, to the new man.
The generation of the new man is born of the Seed
God has given to everyone, who is born on earth and belongs to the generation of fallen man, the ability to become a new creation (the new man) by Jesus Christ.
Those, who by faith in Christ are born again in Him belong to the generation of the new man.
The generation of the new man is delivered from the power of the devil and sin and death through the crucifixion of the flesh and resurrection of the spirit from the dead.
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13-14)
Through regeneration in Jesus Christ, the old man (fallen man), who belongs to the world (the darkness) has become the new man and is transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God.
Through regeneration in Christ, God redeemed you from your sins. All your sins are forgiven!
The new man has become a son of God (both males and females) and belongs to the Kingdom of God. Through this spiritual transformation, the new man has become an enemy of the devil and his seed (generation of fallen man).
The enmity in the seed of the devil
The new man is born of the Seed of God. The new man is no longer an enemy of God but has become an enemy of the devil and his seed (his children).
Jesus took the enmity against God, that is present in the seed of the devil; fallen man, upon Himself and carried it in His flesh on the cross and took away the enmity between God and fallen man.
Why is the carnal mind enmity against God?
The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:7-8)
The old man has the nature of the devil, including his enmity against God. As long as the old man is not born again in Jesus Christ and doesn’t renew his mind with the Word of God, the old man shall stay carnal and shall have the mind of the world and walk after the flesh according to the course of this world.
The old man is darkened in his mind and shall not be able to submit to God and walk in His will and please Him.
Those, who are born in the flesh and aren’t born again in the Spirit in Christ are sons of the devil and belong to him.
They are sinners, who have the nature of the devil and listen to him and obey him. Therefore they shall live after the flesh and persevere in sin.
They’re rebellious and live, just like their father, in enmity with God. They don’t listen and submit to His will. Instead, they are prideful and do what they want to do.
Everyone, who has not laid down his life and is not willing to submit to God’s will, doesn’t belong to Him, but still belongs to the devil. That’s what the Word says (a.o. Matthew 10:39; 16:25; 19:29, Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24; 17:33, John 5:24; 6:47; 8:44; 10:25-30, 1 John 3:8-10).
Unregenerated people live in enmity with God
The people, who don’t belong to God (through Jesus Christ), don’t live in peace with God, but live in enmity with God.
That’s why, the peace of God is not present in their lives. But they’re worried, agitated, anxious, stressed, full of fear, and unforgiveness which leads to angriness and bitterness. They’re pressed down, depressive, and constantly accused in their mind (Isaiah 48:22; 57:21).
The spiritual laws are established in the universe
People can accept and approve of all evil (sins), which God revealed and are written in the Bible. But the spiritual laws, which God created, are established forever in the universe and shall always apply. No one can change that (Read also: God’s Word is settled forever).
God was (and still is) so loving, that He revealed these spiritual laws in the Old Covenant to His carnal people, by giving His Word and Law, which represents His will.
God wrote them on tablets of stone, that represented the heart of the old carnal man. Because God wanted His commandments, which represented His will, to be written in the heart of the old man. So that His people were familiar with His will and His thoughts and keep His way.
God’s great love towards man became even more visible by keeping His promise of the coming of Jesus Christ and the restoration of fallen man, through the process of regeneration of the new creation; the new man.
Jesus has broken down the middle wall of partition
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-2)
By sending His Son Jesus Christ, who was the Firstborn of the new creation, and by His work at the cross, His sacrifice and His blood, and the resurrection from the dead, man has been given the opportunity to be reconciled with God in Him, by laying down the flesh, which has the nature of the devil, including the enmity with God, in Jesus Christ, causing the spirit of the new man to be raised from the dead (Read also: What is the true meaning of the cross?).
That is the peace, that Jesus brought on earth, besides preaching and bringing the Kingdom of God to the people of God.
Jesus came to restore the peace between God and man and restore fallen man to his position as a son of God and give back his dominion on earth (Colossians 1:20, Hebrews 13:20-21).
For He is our peace, Who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father (Ephesians 2:14-18)
The new man can’t be raised from the dead unless the old man dies
However, the new man can not be raised from the dead, unless the old man dies. Because as long as the old man stays alive, man shall have the nature of the devil. Man shall be led by his carnal mind, senses, feelings, emotions, and the lusts and desires of the flesh. Because of that, the old man is not able to submit to God’s will, which is written in the Bible, but lives in rebellion against God.
As long as the old man reigns and perseveres in sins, the person shall not experience the peace of God.
No matter how many times the person goes to church, is helpful towards others, does charity work, gives alms, walks in the false love of the world, reads the Bible and prays, etc.
It shall not matter. Because, in the eyes of God, all these works will be considered vain.
The person shall have peace with the world, but shall not have peace with God.
Because of the fact, that many people don’t know what truly happened at the cross and don’t have the mind of Christ and the Holy Spirit, many people, including those who claim to be Christians, don’t have peace, but are restless, anxious, chaotic, fearful, depressed and are led by their flesh, circumstances, and surroundings.
How can you experience true peace?
There is only one way to experience true peace and that’s by faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God and in His work of redemption and by laying down the enmity of the old man (towards God) in Him.
The birth of the new man in Jesus Christ
Through the baptism in water, you identify yourself with Jesus Christ and His sufferings and death. In the water, you bury the old man and his nature, including his enmity with God.
If you have laid down the old man in Jesus Christ and become a new creation in Him, your spiritual position is restored in Him and you are reconciled with God and have peace. Now, you can have a relationship through Jesus; the Word with the Father.
God is no longer far away, but He is near. He lives inside of you by His Holy Spirit. Through the Word and the Holy Spirit, Who live inside of you, you are connected with Him. (John 14:20-24; 26, Ephesians 2:22).
The peace of God
And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7)
As long as you stay in Christ and walk after the Word and the Spirit in connection with the Father, you shall experience the peace of God in your life, which passes all understanding (John 14:27, Philippians 4:7, 2 Thessalonians 3:16).
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)
Jesus has not left the peace of this world, that depends on relationships with others, situations, and surroundings.
But Jesus has left the peace of God, through which you live in peace with Him.
The peace of God doesn’t depend on relationships with others, circumstances, situations, and surroundings.
But this peace is present in you from the moment you are born again. Through the process of regeneration in Jesus Christ your position has been restored and you are reconciled with God, causing you to live in peace with God.
This peace of God that passes all understanding shall reign in your heart. No one shall be able to take that peace from you, as long as you stay in Him. (Colossians 3:15).
As long as you stay in Him and live in obedience to Him, by doing what He says, you’ll always experience His peace, despite the behavior of other people, situations, problems, surroundings, and the resistance and persecution of the world.
Jesus has left His peace and those who stay in Him and obey and follow Him experience His peace.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
