Blessed are the Peacemakers, The Family Likeness!!!
Preliminary Observation: In the Sermon on the Mount, our Lord is raising the bar of Righteousness far beyond any human ability. Notice Mt. 5:20, “For I say unto you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” There is nothing in the Sermon on the Mount that is possible in the old creation!!! Not only is this Peacemaking in our text reflective only of those born from above, but so too is everything else in the sermon as well. Our only qualification for this Kingdom is found in Colossians 1:12-13ff, “Giving thanks to the Father Who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. He (The Father) has delivered us from the power of darkness (a key part of which is self righteous religion) and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of His Love.” Starting in Matt. 5:43, the Father dominates our Lord’s discussion of all behavior and blessing. The Father Who sees in secret governs everything!!!
I. Peacemaking is inseparably united to our sonship because Peace and the Son of God are inseparably united!!!
Hebrews 7:1-2 Melchizedek’s name means “King of Righteousness and then also king of Salem, meaning King of Peace.” Now notice the end of verse 3, “but made like the Son of God.” Melchizedek is introduced in Scripture as a picture of the Son of God, just as the tabernacle and its worship was a portrait of what Moses saw in the Mount of God. Jesus isn’t patterned after Melchizedek, Melchizedek is patterned after our Eternal High Priest!!! That declares that righteousness and peace are eternally at home in the Eternal Kingdom and its King.
Psalm 85:8-11 This is a beautiful prophecy of the coming of the Son of Righteousness. Notice first verse 8, “I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak PEACE to His people and to His saints.” Tie the Lord speaking to Hebrews 1:1-3 and of course John 1. Now note verses 9-10, “Surely His Salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and Truth have met together; Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and Righteousness shall look down from heaven!!! Our King is Righteousness and Peace wedded together eternally!!!
Romans 14:17-19 The very manifestation of Kingdom of Christ’s rule reflects the Character of the King!!! “For the Kingdom of God is not food and drink (Pharisaical bean counting, legalistic self justification) but righteousness, peace and joy IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.” Now look at verse 19, “Let us pursue the things which make for PEACE and the things by which one may edify another.” Peacemaking and edification are inseparable for kingdom ministry!!! Add to this Galatians 5:22—it is the fruit of the Spirit’s indwelling!!!
James 3:17-18 So how do Christ’s Kingdom citizens, righteous only by the Blood and Body of our King, how do we become peacemakers? Well, as with every iota of our character and behavior, it must come from ABOVE. Remember, in our flesh dwells no good thing. Out of it come wars and rumors of war. Hear the words of wise old James. “But the Wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righeousness is sown in PEACE BY THOSE WHO MAKE PEACE.!!!”:
Colossians 3:15 This is not optional behavior! “And let the peace of God RULE IN YOUR HEARTS, TO WHICH ALSO YOU WERE CALLED in one body; and be thankful.” (I wonder if thankfulness is somehow an evidence of our “Peace Rule”.) This is Kingdom language! The Peace of God is to Rule in our hearts for it is evidence of the Rule of the King of Peace over us and in us.
II Corinthians 13:11 Paul’s final words to the Corinthians: “Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of Love and Peace will be with your.” Peace is the very Character of our God!!! Live in it!!!
II Peter 3:14 While we continue to live on this fallen earth, fully aware that most of all we have to do here as human beings will soon be dissolved, looking for “the coming of the day of God when the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with a fervent heat”, yet we count on the promise of a new heaven and a new earth in which Righteousness dwells.” Now verse 14,”Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him IN PEACE, without spot and blameless.”
The more I read our Lord and King’s words and then see them interpreted and applied by His Beloved Apostles, the more I am convinced that the church has historically “majored on the minors” and ignored the “inside out” emphasis of the Holy Spirit. Martha (Luke 10:38-42) is typical of the church historically, Mary is what the Lord requires, “but one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Remember, it was Mary that testified to the Lord’s death and burial by anointing His feet with costly oil. (John 11:2) “This is the work of God that you believe on Him Whom He has sent.” John 6:29 Learn to sit low at His Feet, and watch His Hand.!!!
But what about persecution? Matthew 5:10-12 If great blessing is upon the persecuted for Righteousness sake, then we aren’t very blessed.
Question: What brings about persecution?
Answer: Beatitude Behavior!!! This beautiful operation of the Holy Spirit in His people is the only thing necessary to provoke the fires of persecution from satan’s minions. We must not confuse this with “issue Christianity” that marches in streets. No, this is the mere declaration of the Gospel of God through our lives and words wherever God has placed us. Satan must stamp out that light. As the Beatitude Behavior grows in His people, they should expect more hateful words and ostracism, many times from supposed “Christians”. It is “for My Sake.”
The persecuted are in great company. The prophets were persecuted before us and persecution puts us in the same blessed category with them, and even more blessedly, with our Blessed Lord Jesus Who only went about doing good.
The persecuted can count on great reward in heaven. (Vs 12) Here is a reminder: Kingdom citizens are to lay up no treasures on this earth. They will only be burnt up with a fervent heat. No, our King rules from a heavenly throne and His edicts for His people are eternal. Christianity today is couched in earthly terms, earthly help, and earthly hopes, with a fire escape at the end. This is not Christianity. Our King is ruling in the present world, until He makes all His enemies His Footstool. We have no continuing city here. All of our riches, blessings and promises are in Glory by Christ Jesus, and that means they are Eternal.
I John 5:20-21 “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an Understanding, that we may know Him Who Is True; and we are in Him Who Is True, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the True God and Eternal Life.
“Little children, KEEP YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS. AMEN.”
Anything and everything outside of I John 5:20 is a potential idol!!! We must use, but not abuse!!!
Preliminary Observation: In the Sermon on the Mount, our Lord is raising the bar of Righteousness far beyond any human ability. Notice Mt. 5:20, “For I say unto you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” There is nothing in the Sermon on the Mount that is possible in the old creation!!! Not only is this Peacemaking in our text reflective only of those born from above, but so too is everything else in the sermon as well. Our only qualification for this Kingdom is found in Colossians 1:12-13ff, “Giving thanks to the Father Who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. He (The Father) has delivered us from the power of darkness (a key part of which is self righteous religion) and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of His Love.” Starting in Matt. 5:43, the Father dominates our Lord’s discussion of all behavior and blessing. The Father Who sees in secret governs everything!!!
I. Peacemaking is inseparably united to our sonship because Peace and the Son of God are inseparably united!!!
Hebrews 7:1-2 Melchizedek’s name means “King of Righteousness and then also king of Salem, meaning King of Peace.” Now notice the end of verse 3, “but made like the Son of God.” Melchizedek is introduced in Scripture as a picture of the Son of God, just as the tabernacle and its worship was a portrait of what Moses saw in the Mount of God. Jesus isn’t patterned after Melchizedek, Melchizedek is patterned after our Eternal High Priest!!! That declares that righteousness and peace are eternally at home in the Eternal Kingdom and its King.
Psalm 85:8-11 This is a beautiful prophecy of the coming of the Son of Righteousness. Notice first verse 8, “I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak PEACE to His people and to His saints.” Tie the Lord speaking to Hebrews 1:1-3 and of course John 1. Now note verses 9-10, “Surely His Salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and Truth have met together; Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and Righteousness shall look down from heaven!!! Our King is Righteousness and Peace wedded together eternally!!!
Romans 14:17-19 The very manifestation of Kingdom of Christ’s rule reflects the Character of the King!!! “For the Kingdom of God is not food and drink (Pharisaical bean counting, legalistic self justification) but righteousness, peace and joy IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.” Now look at verse 19, “Let us pursue the things which make for PEACE and the things by which one may edify another.” Peacemaking and edification are inseparable for kingdom ministry!!! Add to this Galatians 5:22—it is the fruit of the Spirit’s indwelling!!!
James 3:17-18 So how do Christ’s Kingdom citizens, righteous only by the Blood and Body of our King, how do we become peacemakers? Well, as with every iota of our character and behavior, it must come from ABOVE. Remember, in our flesh dwells no good thing. Out of it come wars and rumors of war. Hear the words of wise old James. “But the Wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righeousness is sown in PEACE BY THOSE WHO MAKE PEACE.!!!”:
Colossians 3:15 This is not optional behavior! “And let the peace of God RULE IN YOUR HEARTS, TO WHICH ALSO YOU WERE CALLED in one body; and be thankful.” (I wonder if thankfulness is somehow an evidence of our “Peace Rule”.) This is Kingdom language! The Peace of God is to Rule in our hearts for it is evidence of the Rule of the King of Peace over us and in us.
II Corinthians 13:11 Paul’s final words to the Corinthians: “Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of Love and Peace will be with your.” Peace is the very Character of our God!!! Live in it!!!
II Peter 3:14 While we continue to live on this fallen earth, fully aware that most of all we have to do here as human beings will soon be dissolved, looking for “the coming of the day of God when the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with a fervent heat”, yet we count on the promise of a new heaven and a new earth in which Righteousness dwells.” Now verse 14,”Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him IN PEACE, without spot and blameless.”
The more I read our Lord and King’s words and then see them interpreted and applied by His Beloved Apostles, the more I am convinced that the church has historically “majored on the minors” and ignored the “inside out” emphasis of the Holy Spirit. Martha (Luke 10:38-42) is typical of the church historically, Mary is what the Lord requires, “but one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Remember, it was Mary that testified to the Lord’s death and burial by anointing His feet with costly oil. (John 11:2) “This is the work of God that you believe on Him Whom He has sent.” John 6:29 Learn to sit low at His Feet, and watch His Hand.!!!
But what about persecution? Matthew 5:10-12 If great blessing is upon the persecuted for Righteousness sake, then we aren’t very blessed.
Question: What brings about persecution?
Answer: Beatitude Behavior!!! This beautiful operation of the Holy Spirit in His people is the only thing necessary to provoke the fires of persecution from satan’s minions. We must not confuse this with “issue Christianity” that marches in streets. No, this is the mere declaration of the Gospel of God through our lives and words wherever God has placed us. Satan must stamp out that light. As the Beatitude Behavior grows in His people, they should expect more hateful words and ostracism, many times from supposed “Christians”. It is “for My Sake.”
The persecuted are in great company. The prophets were persecuted before us and persecution puts us in the same blessed category with them, and even more blessedly, with our Blessed Lord Jesus Who only went about doing good.
The persecuted can count on great reward in heaven. (Vs 12) Here is a reminder: Kingdom citizens are to lay up no treasures on this earth. They will only be burnt up with a fervent heat. No, our King rules from a heavenly throne and His edicts for His people are eternal. Christianity today is couched in earthly terms, earthly help, and earthly hopes, with a fire escape at the end. This is not Christianity. Our King is ruling in the present world, until He makes all His enemies His Footstool. We have no continuing city here. All of our riches, blessings and promises are in Glory by Christ Jesus, and that means they are Eternal.
I John 5:20-21 “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an Understanding, that we may know Him Who Is True; and we are in Him Who Is True, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the True God and Eternal Life.
“Little children, KEEP YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS. AMEN.”
Anything and everything outside of I John 5:20 is a potential idol!!! We must use, but not abuse!!!