Peace on Earth is the announcement the angels made at the birth of Jesus: glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased.
It is not the promise of a world without conflict on human terms, but the arrival of the Prince of Peace and the peace He makes between God and sinners.
Scripture presents this peace as a gift of the gospel, a present reality for those who are justified by faith, and a future fullness when the kingdom is openly established.
The child in the manger is the One who makes peace by the blood of His cross.
On the night Jesus was born, an angel announced good news of great joy for all the people: a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. A multitude of the heavenly host then praised God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.” The peace they proclaimed is the peace the prophets had promised—the government of the Prince of Peace, the healing of the breach between God and man, and the blessing that would reach the nations. Jesus later said He came not to bring the kind of peace the world gives, yet He left His own peace with His disciples. Through Him we have peace with God. He himself is our peace, who has broken down the dividing wall and made Jew and Gentile one. The angels’ song is therefore both a Christmas proclamation and a gospel summary: glory belongs to God, and peace is given on earth to those who receive the Son in whom the Father is well pleased.
- Peace on earth is announced at the birth of the Savior, not as a political slogan but as a redemptive gift.
- The peace is “among those with whom He is pleased”—tied to God’s favor in Christ.
- Jesus is the Prince of Peace; He makes peace by the blood of His cross.
- Peace with God is received by faith and is the foundation of all other true peace.
- The world gives a different kind of peace; Christ’s peace is not as the world gives.
- Present peace is real for the believer; complete peace on earth awaits the fullness of the kingdom.
- The song of the angels still frames the gospel: glory to God, peace to those who belong to His Son.
- Angelic Announcement – Proclaimed at the birth of Jesus as good news of great joy.
- Peace with God – The first and greatest peace: justification by faith through Jesus Christ.
- Prince of Peace – The child who is born is the One whose government and peace will never end.
- Peace by the Cross – He made peace through the blood of His cross and reconciled all things to Himself.
- Not as the World Gives – Christ’s peace is distinct from the fragile settlements of human power.
- Among the Favored – Given to those with whom God is pleased—those who are in Christ.
- Future Fullness – The day is coming when swords are beaten into plowshares and the earth is full of the knowledge of the Lord.
- Luke 2:10-14 – “And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’… And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’”
- Isaiah 9:6-7 – “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given… and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end…”
- Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Ephesians 2:14-17 – “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility… and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.”
- Colossians 1:19-20 – “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”
- John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
- John 16:33 – “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
- Micah 5:4-5 – “And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord… And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace.”
- Isaiah 52:7 – “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’”
- Isaiah 2:4 – “He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
- Luke 1:78-79 – “…because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
- Luke 19:38, 42 – “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”… “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace!”
- Romans 8:6 – “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”
- Philippians 4:7 – “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
- Hebrews 13:20-21 – “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will…”
- Isaiah 26:3 – “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
- Numbers 6:24-26 – “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
- Psalm 29:11 – “May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!”
- Matthew 5:9 – “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased. That is the angels’ word over the manger. The peace they announced is not a fragile truce among nations; it is the peace the Prince of Peace makes by the blood of His cross. Those who are justified by faith have peace with God. He Himself is our peace. In the world there is tribulation; in Christ there is peace. Let not your heart be troubled. Receive the peace He leaves with you. Proclaim the good news of peace. And look for the day when of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end. The child has been born. The cross has been endured. The peace has been made. Glory to God in the highest.
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