"BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS"

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.” These are the words of the “Prince of Peace”, Jesus Christ, as found in Matthew 5:9. This beatitude is somewhat different from the rest, such as those who are “poor in spirit”, “those who mourn”, “the meek”, “those who hunger and thirst after righteousness”, and, “the merciful”. The reason being, the expression, “the peacemakers” implies an action on the part of the disciples. It is an adjective signifying peace-making. The “peacemaker” is to give “diligence to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesian 4:3). The ‘peacemaker’ has to have “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) in his heart. Paul wrote in Romans 5:1,2: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” We are not only to be ‘peaceful’, we are to be “peacemakers”. Abraham Lincoln said: “Die when I may, let it be said of me that I always pulled up a weed and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.” Today, we need more people who will ‘plant flowers’ and ‘pull up the weeds’; meaning, there is a great need in our world to have more ‘peacemakers’ instead of ‘peacebreakers’! The Lord knows we have too many ‘peacebreakers’ in His church, in our community and in our nation. We live in turbulent times. Everywhere we find hatred, bigotry, prejudice, racism and violence existing, even in our own nation. It doesn’t take much skill to cause confusion in a family, in the church or in our society. It isn’t easy, however, to be a ‘peacemaker’ because you will be most likely criticized from every side. But, the ‘peacemaker’ is one who had rather suffer injury than to inflict injury upon others. He had rather settle difficulties through prayer than through force. This is the first beatitude “which shows blessedness pronounced as alighting upon a person, not in the first for some personal quality, grace or virtue, but his works sake in the interest of others, whether of family, the world or the church” - “For they shall be called sons of God.” The apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 3:8-11, that if we love life, we should “seek peace and pursue it”.Christians are to “Pursue peace with all people” (Hebrews 12:14). Of course, there is not to be a compromise when truth is involved. The question is, Am I a ‘peacemaker’ or a ‘peacebreaker’?

IS THE CHURCH A PART OF THE WHOLE? Part 3

The following is from a handout to the ‘Newcomers Class’ that is conducted by an area congregation on Sunday mornings.

HOLY SPIRIT LED:

“While the staff and shepherds lead this church, we firmly believe this is done through processes of discerning the leading of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we make decisions through much prayer, Scripture reading, and discerning together with the church to determine God’s call for our congregation.”

I want it to be clearly understood that the following article does not in any fashion impugn the integrity, sincerity and motive of my brethren who believe in what is written in the preceding paragraph. But a person or persons can be sincere in one’s belief and yet be sincerely wrong when it comes to doctrine and biblical subjects. In my personal growth regarding the teaching found in the Word of God, I have had to change my understanding on certain subjects.

When as individuals or leaders of a congregation make any decisions and especially pertaining to what God would have us to be and to do, we should search the Holy Scriptures and pray to God for wisdom in our decisions. But it is in the statement, “While the staff and shepherds lead this church, we firmly believe this is done through processes of discerning the leading of the Holy Spirit” that concerns me. It is certainly true that the Holy Spirit leads us as taught by the apostle Paul in Romans 8:14: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” What all this verse entails, it is absolutely clear, the Holy Spirit does lead us. The question is how does He lead us?

Brother R. L. Whiteside wrote the following in his commentary on Romans 8:14: “The statement indicates a continuous process. Nothing is here said as to how the Spirit leads people; but as Paul is still developing his theme that the gospel is God’s power to save, it is certain that the Spirit leads through the power of the gospel. The gospel was revealed by the Spirit. In that revelation the Spirit tells us how to live, and sets motives before us to induce us to follow his directions. But if the Spirit, independent of the gospel, leads people to become children of God, then the gospel is not God’s power to save. We are sure Paul did not make an assertion about the Holy Spirit that contradicted his theme and his argument.”

The following passages clearly teach that all the Holy Spirit desires for us to know regarding our salvation, our worship to God and living a faithful Christian life in Jesus Christ. Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”2 Timothy 3:16, 17: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Peter 1:2, 3: “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”  Jude 1:3: “Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” According to the words of Jesus as found in John 16:13, The Holy Spirit would guide the apostles “into all the truth.” And this would be true with all the writers of the New Testament, our guide in religious matters today. To teach that the Holy Spirit has revealed additional truths takes away from the power of the gospel and the complete will of God for us to learn and obey.

For many years, brother Guy N. Woods was the moderator of the Open Forum conducted during the annual lectureship at Freed-Hardeman University. On occasions brother Woods asked brother Gus Nichols to come to the stage and assist him in answering some of the questions. These two Christian gentlemen were good friends and respected one another very much. Now, the reason I am mentioning this is because these great students of the Bible did not agree on how the Holy Spirit indwells the Christian. Brother Woods was adamant in believing that the Holy Spirits indwells the Christian indirectly through the inspired Word of God. Brother Nichols was as firm in his understanding in the personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the child of God.