When the angel announced the birth of Christ the Savior to shepherds, a heavenly host praised God and declared peace on earth (Luke 2:14).    Jesus is the Prince of peace who was to come (cf. Isaiah 9:6), but the peace He brings is not simply an earthly peace.  War and strife are still all around us because of men’s selfish desires.  Peace, though, can be found in Christ Jesus.

Jesus Christ claimed to possess all authority “in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:19).  He did not usurp authority.  The heavenly Father gave Him that authority (John 5:27).  His rule and power extends “from sea to sea” and “to the ends of the earth” (Zechariah 9:10).  Enthroned at the right hand of God Almighty, Christ is “far above all principalities and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named” (Ephesians 1:21).

            The Lord Jesus Christ commanded “baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” as a necessary component of discipleship (Matthew 28:19).  An examination of the work of Christ’s apostles reveals that believers from Jerusalem to Samaria to distant lands were baptized as Christ had commanded (Acts 2:41; 8:12; 16:33; 18:8).  The apostle Peter actually wrote that baptism saves (I Peter 3:21).

            Near the end of Jesus’ ministry, He confronted believers who would not confess Him because they loved the praise of men (cf. John 12:42-43). He reminded them that He was the Savior and that His word would judge them in the last day (vs. 47-48). Consequently, their cowardly faith was unbelief.