Peace on Earth, Goodwill Toward Men?

This article is adapted from a message preached on December 7th, 2025. Watch the full sermon on YouTube.

The angels announced “peace on earth, goodwill toward men” the night Jesus was born. Yet history, and our own lives, seem full of anything but peace. This message looks at what the angels really meant, how Christ made peace at the cross, and how you personally can have peace with God today.

Peace promised at the birth of Christ

On the night the Lord Jesus was born, shepherds were out in the fields near Bethlehem, watching over their flocks. Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. Terrified, they heard the angel say:

“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10–11

Then a multitude of the heavenly host appeared, praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:14

This was not just a message for the Jews, nor only for Gentiles. It was a message “to all people.” A Saviour had been born in Bethlehem—a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.

How did the shepherds respond? They said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” They went quickly, found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger, glorified and praised God, and then “made widely known” what they had heard and seen.

The message they carried was simple and powerful: a Saviour has been born. God has moved toward humanity in grace.

Is there really peace on earth?

The angels spoke of “peace on earth.” But when we look around, we ask the obvious question: is there any peace on earth?

Even around the time of the Lord Jesus’ birth there was terrible violence. Not long after, when Herod heard from the wise men that a “King of the Jews” was to be born in Bethlehem, he sent soldiers to that region. They slaughtered all the boys from two years old and under. So much for visible peace.

Centuries later, during a terrible war between the northern and southern states of America, largely over slavery, the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow heard the church bells ringing on Christmas Day. He wrote the now-familiar words:

I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old familiar carols play, And wild and sweet the words repeat Of peace on earth, goodwill to men.

Yet, surrounded by hatred and bloodshed, he also wrote:

And in despair I bowed my head: ‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said, ‘For hate is strong, and mocks the song Of peace on earth, goodwill to men.’

Does that line up with what the angels said? Did the angels get it wrong? Did God overpromise? Is Scripture out of touch with reality?

God is the God of truth. He cannot lie (Titus 1:2). So if there seems to be a contradiction, the problem is not with God’s message, but with our understanding of it.

The real problem: our enmity with God

To understand “peace on earth, goodwill toward men,” we have to go deeper than headlines and history books. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah has sometimes been called an Old Testament preacher of the gospel. He speaks often about people needing to be right with God and to have peace in their hearts.

Listen to what he says:

“The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace.” Isaiah 59:8

That is not just a description of ancient nations. It applies to us. In the same book we read:

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way…” Isaiah 53:6

The Bible shows us why lasting peace always seems out of reach. The root problem is not only political or social; it is spiritual. We have all turned to our own way instead of God’s way. We are separated from God and, by nature, at enmity with Him—enemies of God in our hearts and lives.

This goes all the way back to the garden of Eden. In the book of Genesis we read how Adam and Eve disobeyed God, and sin entered the world. (Genesis 3) From Adam, we have inherited a sinful nature. We are born sinners and we prove it by our choices.

So every attempt at “world peace” fails, because the root problem—sin in the human heart—has not been dealt with. Peace on earth must begin with peace in individual hearts. It must begin with you. It must begin with me.

How Christ made peace at the cross

The angels’ message was not that earth had suddenly become peaceful, but that God had provided a Saviour—the only One who could deal with the real problem and bring true peace.

“Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

Years later, that baby of Bethlehem would speak as a grown man, in His public ministry. He said:

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

The Lord Jesus is the giver of peace. He offers peace with God and peace in the soul. But how did He make that peace possible?

Scripture tells us that God the Father “sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” And in the New Testament we read:

“…having made peace through the blood of His cross…”

For you and me to have peace with God, there was a tremendous price that had to be paid. The righteous claims of a holy God had to be satisfied. Sin cannot go unpunished. The punishment had to fall somewhere.

Again Isaiah describes it:

“He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities;The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

The Lord Jesus bore our sins in His own body on the tree. He suffered the stroke of judgment from God for your sins and mine. He shed His blood and died at Calvary.

How do we know God accepted that sacrifice? God raised His Son from the dead on the third day. The resurrection is God’s public declaration that He is satisfied with Christ’s finished work on behalf of sinners. There were men and women who testified that they had seen the risen Christ, and many of them paid with their lives. Would you willingly die for what you knew was a lie?

Because of the cross and the resurrection, peace has been made. The work is finished. But that peace still has to be received.

Peace with God received by faith

The Bible explains how a guilty sinner can actually come into the good of what Christ has done:

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1

To be “justified” is to be declared righteous—treated as if you had no sin on your record—because of Christ. Peace with God comes “through our Lord Jesus Christ,” and it is received “by faith.”

Peace was made at Calvary, but it must be possessed. It is not automatically enjoyed by everyone. Are you in possession of God’s peace?

Faith means taking God at His Word. There are two sides to that.

First, are you willing to take God at His Word about His Son? God’s record is that He sent His only begotten Son into the world to be the Saviour, that Jesus Christ died on the cross, bearing the punishment for sins, and that He rose again. Will you accept that?

Second, are you willing to take God at His Word about yourself? The Bible says:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

“As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one.’” Romans 3:10

You must accept God’s verdict: “I am a sinner. I do not deserve God’s mercy or grace. I deserve judgment and separation from God.” The preacher spoke personally of accepting that verdict for himself and trusting that Christ bore his sins and guilt at Calvary. What Christ did for him, He did for you as well.

On the cross, Jesus cried, “It is finished!” The price for your salvation is paid in full. God now offers you forgiveness and peace on that basis.

When you trust Christ personally, you move from being an enemy of God—living for yourself—to becoming a child of God. You receive the forgiveness of sins and peace in your soul—real, lasting peace with God.

God’s goodwill toward you

The angels also spoke of “goodwill toward men.” What does that mean?

In the New Testament we read:

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

That is God’s goodwill. He is not willing that you perish. He is not willing that you bear the punishment for your own sin. He does not want you to go to hell. So He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross of Calvary for you.

God the Father loved you. God the Son loved you and willingly came. God the Holy Spirit works to bring this message to your heart. This is goodwill toward men.

Longfellow’s poem does not end in despair. He continues:

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

‘God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, goodwill to men.’

The ultimate victory of right over wrong, and the reality of peace on earth, are found in God’s purposes in Christ. But for you, personally, it begins the moment you are reconciled to God through the Lord Jesus.

A limited-time offer of forgiveness

Near the end of His ministry, the Lord Jesus was preaching in a crowded house. Four friends brought a paralyzed man to Him. They could not get through the door, so they went up on the flat roof, opened it up, and lowered their friend down right in front of the Saviour.

The Lord Jesus healed the man, but He did more than that—He forgave his sins. Some who heard Him objected: only God can forgive sins. In response, the Lord Jesus said that “the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins.”

That statement still applies. While you are here on earth, in your body, before you die, the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive your sins and give you peace with God. After death, there is no more opportunity to receive that forgiveness.

We could say it this way: it is a limited-time offer. Every time you hear the gospel, God is in mercy offering you the salvation of your soul, the forgiveness of your sins, and an eternal relationship with Him.

Do you have peace with God?

God’s will for you is that you be saved and possess this peace. The angels’ message of “peace on earth, goodwill toward men” is not an empty slogan; it is God’s invitation to you, secured at the cost of His Son’s blood.

Will you trust the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and receive peace with God today?