PEACE, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN
Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
The angels appeared in the night sky to sing God’s glory, not just because God is mighty and powerful, but because He had sent His Son to be the end of the death sentence upon man. God’s will toward man has always been good. Unfortunately, man’s rebellious heart led him into cruelty toward one another, so God gave the law. Surprisingly, His purpose in giving the law was not to bring an end to man’s rebellion. He gave the law because man demanded it so they could govern themselves instead of answering directly to God. He also gave the law to show man how totally incapable we are of obeying it. Paul said the law is actually meant as a tutor to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). Why bring us to Christ?
God sent Christ as a babe in a manger to live life in the same flesh under the same law that we fail to obey. He lived sinless, yet took our sin upon Himself as the sacrifice Lamb of God so His blood could be poured out on the mercy seat in Heaven. Why pour His blood on the mercy seat? Under the mercy seat was the Law of commandments which we had all violated. His innocent blood satisfied the Law perfectly for all time to declare us righteous, making peace between us and our Maker. Now forgiveness of transgressions is once for all time for those who trust in Jesus’ finished work on the cross. It gets better. He also rose again to make us brand new creations able to stand before God in holiness. And He also sat down in His human flesh at the right hand of the Father demonstrating the truth that we, as the body of Christ, are now seated together with Him at our Father’s right hand (Ephesians 2:6).
As we receive the Christ, Who came to us as a child, we receive His righteousness. As we receive His righteousness, we receive all the blessings of God’s good will toward man (Ephesians 1:3).
Despite man’s willful rebellion toward God, Jesus gets the glory as men bow before Him in adoration and joy. Jesus has come! Jesus has saved us! Jesus is our way back to our Father Who loves us!
Thank you Father, for sending us Jesus!
And the angels became a heavenly host singing, “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”