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
In Genesis 3:15, God said, He would put enmity between him (the devil) and the woman. Between his seed (fallen man) and her Seed (Jesus). The Seed of the woman (Jesus Christ) would bruise the devil’s head and the devil would bruise His heel.
God referred to the coming of Jesus Christ, His redemptive work at the cross, His blood, and resurrection from the dead. Whereby Jesus took the devil’s authority (keys) and restored fallen man’s position 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. This was the relationship between God and man, and fallen man’s position. Jesus came not only to restore but also to give back the authority and dominion over the earth, which God originally gave to man but was taken by the devil, to the new man.
The generation of the new man is born of the Seed
God gave everyone, who is born on earth and belongs to the generation of fallen man, the ability to become a new creation (new man) through 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, sin, and death through the crucifixion of the flesh and the 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 Christ, the old man (fallen man), who belongs to the world (the darkness) becomes the new man. The new man is transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God, where Jesus reigns.
Through regeneration in Christ, God redeemed you from your sins. God forgave all your sins!
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 and no longer an enemy of God. But the new man 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. Jesus 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 because it is not subject to the law of God. 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 Christ and doesn’t renew his mind with the Word of God, he stays carnal and has the mind of the world and walks after the flesh according to the course of this world.
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 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 God’s will. Instead, they are prideful and do what they want to do.
People, who have not laid down their lives and won’t submit to God’s will, don’t belong to Him. They still belong to the devil according to the Bible (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 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. 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 and live under condemnation (Isaiah 48:22; 57:21).
God established the spiritual laws in the universe
People can accept and approve of all evil (sin), which God revealed and is written in the Bible. But God created the spiritual laws, which are established forever in the universe and always apply. No one can change anything about the spiritual laws. (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, which 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 broke 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, God gave man the opportunity to be reconciled with Him in Christ, by laying down the flesh, which has the nature of the devil, including the enmity with God, and the resurrection of the spirit from the dead. (Read also: What is the true meaning of the cross?).
That’s the peace, that Jesus brought on earth, besides preaching and bringing the Kingdom of God to God’s people.
Jesus came and restored the peace between God and man and fallen man’s position as a son of God and gave 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. As long as the old man stays alive, man has the devil’s nature and walks according to it. Man shall be led by his carnal mind, senses, feelings, emotions, and the will, 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 the old man 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 abiding in them, 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. By faith in Christ and His redemptive work and by laying down the enmity of the old man (towards God) in Him, you’ll experience the true peace of God.
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 laid down the old man in Jesus Christ and became a new creation in Him, your spiritual position is restored and you’re reconciled with God and have peace. Now, you can have a relationship with the Father through Jesus; the Word.
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 you, you’re connected with Him. (John 14:20-24; 26, Ephesians 2:22).
Jesus restored the peace, and as a result, the peace of God abides in the new man
Because Jesus restored the peace between fallen man and God, through His redemptive work, His blood, and the recreation of the new man, the peace of God abides in the new man.
And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7)
Jesus restored the peace between fallen man God. As long as you stay in Christ and walk after the Spirit according to the Word in connection with the Father, you’ll experience God’s peace 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 didn’t leave the peace of this world that depends on relationships with others, situations, and surroundings.
But Jesus 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’re born again. Through the regeneration process in Christ, your position has been restored and you’re reconciled with God, causing you to live in peace with God.
Nothing and no one can steal God’s peace as long as you stay in Him
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 Christ and obey Him and do what He says, you’ll always experience His peace. You’ll experience His peace despite people’s behavior, situations, problems, surroundings, and the resistance and persecution of the world.
Jesus left His peace and those who stay in Him and obey and follow Him experience His peace.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
