Sheldonville Baptist Church
December 7, 2025
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      • Isaiah 12:1–5NKJV

  • Lord I Lift Your Name On High
  • Lord I Lift Your Name On High
  • The Battle Belongs To The Lord
  • Victory In Jesus
  • Joy To The World
  • Hark The Herald Angels Sing
  • Angels We Have Heard On High
  • How many of you have heard of the Pax Romana?
    The term Pax Romana, meaning Peace of Rome or Roman Peace, appears to have been coined by Seneca the Younger in AD 55. It marked a roughly 200-year golden era of peace, stability, and prosperity within and without the Roman Empire that lasted from the ascension of Augustus as emperor in 27 BC until the death of Marcus Aurelius in AD 180.
    The Roman Republic, coming before the Roman Empire, had created a culture where warfare was normal, profitable, honorable, and desirable. It is said that in the centuries the Roman Republic existed, it experienced a total of four years without war.
    Augustus re-oriented roman culture to embrace peace as a means to greater prosperity and honor than warfare could produce, with far less risk and loss of life. When we say re-oriented, we understand part of that was winning over those who could be one over and part of it was winning against those who could not.
    “Romans regarded peace not as an absence of war, but as a rare situation which existed when all opponents had been beaten down and lost the ability to resist.”
    (Momigliano, Arnaldo (1942). "The Peace of the Ara Pacis"(PDF). Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes. 5: 228–231)
    At its height in AD 117 under Trajan, the Roman Empire was THE global superpower with a population of 70 million people: roughly 1/3 of the world’s population. (Yes, that means that the current population of the USA is greater than the global population was in AD 117.)
    You may not have come to church planning to get a history lesson. However, the Pax Romana illustrates the reality that in a flawed, fallen world, sustained, large-scale peace occurs only when there is a force to enforce it.
    While we might think this isn’t particularly church-y and certainly isn’t christmas-y, it absolutely is both of those things. But it takes a little effort to see why it is.

    The Announcement of Jesus’ Birth

    The announcement of Jesus’ birth included a pronouncement of peace, Luke 2:8-14
    Luke 2:8–14 NKJV
    8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
    Predictably, this pronouncement of peace becomes a focal point every Christmas season. But here’s the question: how does the birth of any baby—even Jesus Christ—produce peace?
    It doesn’t.
    It can’t.
    As long as we think Jesus’ birth can, or did, produce peace, we will end up disappointed and disillusioned when we recognize that is hasn’t.
    So what is missing?
    If history has taught us anything, what is missing is the sword. Only the sword can win and keep peace. This is what the Pax Romana, and myriad other moments of peace in the world illustrates so well.
    So how does Jesus bring about peace without the sword? (Most “christian” traditions seem to suggest He will do just that.)
    The short answer: He won’t. He will bring about peace the only way available in a flawed, fallen world: at the edge of a sword. Not only is this realistic, it is biblical.

    The Prophecies of Jesus’ Birth

    The prophecies of Jesus’ birth provide more context than we typically see at Christmas time.

    Moses’ Prophecy

    Numbers 24:17 NKJV
    17 “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.

    Isaiah’s Prophecy

    Isaiah 9:6–7 NKJV
    6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

    Micha’s Prophecy

    Micah 5:2–5 NKJV
    2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.” 3 Therefore He shall give them up, Until the time that she who is in labor has given birth; Then the remnant of His brethren Shall return to the children of Israel. 4 And He shall stand and feed His flock In the strength of the Lord, In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God; And they shall abide, For now He shall be great To the ends of the earth; 5 And this One shall be peace.
    Notice what all three of these prophecies have in common. They all suggest peace that forced and enforced. Peace won and secured by the sword.

    The Prophecies of Jesus’ Rule

    When we continue to seek out prophecies of Jesus as it relates to His rule and His kingdom, the picture gets clearer.

    In the Psalms

    Psalm 2:5–9 NKJV
    5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: 6 “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.” 7 “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”
    Psalm 37:7–11 NKJV
    7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

    In Isaiah

    Isaiah 11:1–4 NKJV
    1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. 3 His delight is in the fear of the Lord, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; 4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.

    In Jeremiah

    Jeremiah 23:5 NKJV
    5 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.

    Jesus’ Declarations of His Intent

    Jesus Himself declared His intent during His earthly ministry. It is clear that the Disciples themselves did not immediately grasp the import of what Jesus said. So it should not surprise us if we miss it.
    Luke 12:51 NKJV
    51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.
    Matthew 10:34 NKJV
    34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.

    The Prophecies of the Future

    We do not need to look very intently at the world around us to see that peace has not yet been instituted. Clearly, if there is a time of peace, it must still be in the future. Prophecy confirms this. It also clarifies how peace will be brought about.
    Revelation 19:11–16 NKJV
    11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS
    The Pax Christos, like the Pax Romana, will be forced and enforced with the sword.
    This detail—though clearly biblical—leaves us with questions.
    Why do we focus so much on the peace? Because it is what we desire.
    Is it possible to have peace without the sword? In a flawed, fallen world, no.
    How will the ultimate peace of the eternal state (aka Heaven) be secured? Initially, with the sword. But enforcement will not ultimately be necessary: when the world is populated by people who voluntarily ascribe to Jesus’ rule true peace without enforcement will be attained. But that is not a flawed, fallen world. That is a redeemed, sinless world.
    Perhaps the biggest question: what do we do with this information? True, lasting peace will be attained with and experienced by those who voluntarily accept Jesus as king. The time for that voluntary acceptance is now. When we receive Jesus as savior and king, we obtain peace with God and begin to haltingly experiences the peace of God. When Jesus brings about His kingdom, we will know peace in its fulness. But if we do voluntarily accept Him as king, we will ultimately be cast out of His kingdom and its peace.
    Conclusion
    So, we arm ourselves with knowledge and understanding. We prepare ourselves with voluntary acceptance of Jesus as savior and king. We await and anticipate the day when Jesus’ kingdom will become reality. We celebrate the birth of our king understanding that He is the Prince of Peace.

      • Luke 2:8–14NKJV

      • Numbers 24:17NKJV

      • Isaiah 9:6–7NKJV

      • Micah 5:2–5NKJV

      • Psalm 2:5–9NKJV

      • Psalm 37:7–11NKJV

      • Isaiah 11:1–4NKJV

      • Jeremiah 23:5NKJV

      • Luke 12:51NKJV

      • Matthew 10:34NKJV

      • Revelation 19:11–16NKJV

Sheldonville Baptist Church
information@sheldonvillebaptist.org
(508) 384-2397
http://sheldonvillebaptist.org
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