“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests” (Luke 2:14).

This famous proclamation from the angels, concerning the birth of the Messiah, looked forward prophetically to the day when Messiah would give us peace with God by His atoning death on the cross. Romans 5:1 states, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.”

As a congregation, we are currently studying the book of Romans. Romans 5:10 states, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” This verse clearly tells us that we were at enmity with God. According to the Torah, no Jew was allowed into the Holy of Holies, except the High Priest, and that entrance was only permitted on the Day of Atonement. Furthermore, no Gentile was allowed into the inner courts of the Temple at all. They were delegated to the outer court only, the Court of the Gentiles. But the New Covenant tells us that the earthly temple was a pattern of the heavenly tabernacle. On the day of Yeshua's death, the veil in the temple in Jerusalem was torn from top to bottom. When the veil was torn in the earthly temple, it opened the way for all, Jews and Gentiles, to come into the presence of God. We now have peace with God. We have the privilege to come boldly into His presence by faith in the finished work of Yeshua on the cross.

During this season of celebration, let's remember not just the birth of Messiah, but what He did to give us peace with God, a peace that would give us access into the very presence of God, a peace that would allow us to be called sons and daughters of God. Glory to God in the highest!

Pastor Dani Sayag