Introduction
After the chaos of the Ides of March, when Julius Caesar was assassinated, Octavian pursued the conspirators who killed his adopted father. Afterward, he instituted the Pax Romana in 27 BC. Octavian became Caesar Augustus. The Pax Romana enforced law and order, at times harshly. This brought about the absence of opposition, but not necessarily the peace Christ offers.
The Heavenly Host
A. Caesar had the Roman Host (army) to enforce his peace.
Epictetus, a first century pagan writer, expressed this: “While the emperor may give peace from war on land and sea, he is unable to give peace from passion, grief, and envy; he cannot give peace of heart, for which man yearns for more than even outward peace.”
B. Christ has the Heavenly Host to announce His peace.
The contrast between the angelic glory and the humble Jesus was extreme. God loves to put His glory in unlikely packages so His glory is more clearly displayed, 2 Corinthians 4:7.
When God has all the glory, the earth will have peace.
The Heavenly Glory
A. As long as Augustus had the submission of the people, the Empire had peace and order.
B. As long as God has the glory and praise of the people, the world will have peace.
- As long as God does not have the glory in our schools and society, we will have school shootings and policemen roaming the halls of our schools.
- As long as God does not have the glory in our society, we will have broken homes and domestic violence and out-of-control crime.
The Heavenly Treaty
A. Peace with God, Romans 5: 1-2–>Only possible when Christ is Lord.
B. Peace with men, Colossians 3:15-17–>Only possible when Christ is Lord.