Pastor/Teacher - Jim Rickard Thursday, October 29, 2009 Grace Fellowship Church

Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.— Amen.

Memory Verse Duet 6:4, “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!” Mark 12:29

John 14:27a The Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ! Part 2

A. Definition: 1. Peace is the result of having a relationship with God, by adjusting to the justice of God. a. Salvation adjustment b. Rebound adjustment c. Maturity adjustment

4. EIRENE also means prosperity and individual prosperity is also related to the integrity of God.

Your happiness and blessing has nothing to do with any human relationship or situation in life which you associate with happiness.

The integrity of God is the only basis for security, prosperity, blessing, or happiness.

a. National prosperity is related to the integrity of God through a large pivot of mature believers.

b. Individual prosperity is the result of achieving spiritual maturity which results in various blessings or benefits from the grace of God. Rom 1:7

Rom 1:7, “To all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

B. Peace and grace go hand in hand. Without the grace of God there can be no peace in the believer’s soul.

1. General definition of Grace: a. Grace is all that God is free to do for man on the basis of the Cross.

b. God is peace, 1 Thes 5:23; 2 Thes 3:16; Heb 13:20, therefore, God must be consistent in all that He does.

c. Propitiation is that work of Christ on the Cross, which frees God to bless man with His peace.

d. Grace is God's freedom and consistency to express His love by giving us His peace without compromise of His essence.

e. Grace is a series of blessings for man totally apart from man's merit, ability, planning, thinking, or energy, which result in our peace.

f. God gives and man receives. God does all the work and providing, while man does all the receiving and benefiting.

g. Everything depends on God's essence. Therefore, grace is all that God can do for man from salvation until eternity.

2. Six categories of special blessings from the Grace of God for the mature believer that result in his having the peace of the Lord:

a. Spiritual Blessings are the inherent reward of adjustment to the justice of God. (Virtue directed toward God)

Grace Fellowship Church Grace Fellowship Church Thursday, October 29, 2009 Tape # Doctrine of Peace, Pt 2 Upper Room Discourse, Part John 14:27; Rom 1:7; 1 Thes 5:23; Heb 13:20 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2009