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ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH
THURSDAY, APRIL 10
Luke 2:8-20

Romans 5:1-10

 

“Peace on earth,
and mercy mild.

God and sinners reconciled!”

 

ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH
 
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). What is this “peace” and “good will”? This peace is the special, inward peace that comes when man is reconciled to God through Christ. Paul spoke of this in Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:… being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Rom 5:1, 9-10). Christ earned the righteousness of God for us when He lived a perfect life on earth in fulfilment of the Law (Matt 5:17-18). The peace of God that comes from Christ is the result of Christ clothing us with His righteousness when we accept Him as our Lord and Saviour.
 
The “good will” that the angels referred to is not man’s but God’s good will. It is because of God’s will that we can receive His peace. The KJV rightly translates it as “good will toward men.” It originates from God. God is the source of peace. God’s peace is a free gift. It is purely by His mercy that sinful men are bestowed His peace. Since salvation is purely by His grace, only He can boast when sinners are saved, and that is why to Him and Him alone the glory belongs. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:6-8).
 
The birth of Christ was not witnessed by the high and mighty, but the lowly and humble. The angels brought the wonderful news of the birth of Jesus not to the kings, but to the shepherds. The Lord Himself was born not in a palace, but in a stable, and laid in a manger. Why such an ignominious entrance and visitation? God intended right from the start to have all know that His good will and peace are received only by those who humble themselves before Him, who has humbled Himself for them.
 
THOUGHT: “God’s mere goodwill reconciles him to us.” (Calvin)

PRAYER: Father, grant me Thy peace.

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