1.The Norwegian Academy of Sciences and University of Oslo have estimated that there have been 14,000 wars since 3,600 B.C. with untold billions killed.This scourge of war continues unabated.
2.Besides warring nations, there is constant strife among people in every place in the world.
B.In the midst of this strife, God calls upon His people to be a source of peace.
1.As the salt of the earth, Christians must be a preserving agent for peace in this world (Matt. 5:13).
2.Presently, let us consider the obligation given to us by God to “be at peace with all men.”
II.OUR OBLIGATION TO PEACE
A.Christians are obligated by God to promote peace with all men.
1.Consider the following commandments that make peace imperative for each Christian.
a.“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” (Rom. 12:18)
b.“Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.” (Heb. 12:14)
2.To understand this God-given obligation for peace, we must first understand the meaning of peace.
a.Peace is the absence of strife.
i.In the temporal sense, peace is the absence of physical and/or verbal conflicts between individuals or the absence of war between nations.
ii.In the spiritual sense, peace is the absence of spiritual enmity between persons.
b.Do not confuse peace with unity, for they are not the same.
i.Whereas peace indicates the absence of strife, unity indicates sameness.
ii.To illustrate the difference, consider how two completely different nations can be at peace.They are not unified, but they do not have to be at war.
c.Likewise, do not confuse peace with friendship.
i.Friendship indicates much more than peace.It means fondness and fellowship.
ii.Peace does not require friendship.Peace simply requires that two persons abstain from striving with one another.
3.It is important for Christians to know that we can have peace with all people.
a.The peace that we can share with all men is the temporal sense of peace.
i.The spiritual sense of peace can only be achieved between fellow Christians and God through Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:14-18).Certainly, we should seek to bring everyone into this peace through the gospel, but as long as a person is outside of Christ, he cannot share with us in this spiritual peace.
ii.The temporal sense of peace can be achieved through ordinary relationships in the world.The term “all men” in Romans 12:18 and Hebrews 12:14 indicates that these passages pertain to the temporal peace that can be shared by everyone.
b.To be at temporal peace with all men means that we must refrain from strife with all people, including those with whom we disagree (atheists, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, etc.).
i.This requirement is no different than it was for Christians in the first century who were first commanded to be at peace with all men, including Jews, Gentiles, unbelievers, pagans, and idolaters.
ii.Again, this is a prohibition only against strife with such people.We are not required to have unity or friendship with them (2Cor. 6:14-18; Jas. 4:4).
iii.Also remember that this is only the temporal sense of peace, for it is impossible for Christians to have spiritual peace with unbelievers.
4.Let us notice that this peace is limited to the condition, “If possible, so far as it depends on you.”
a.There are times when a person will make it impossible to have even temporal peace with him.In such a case, a Christian is not obligated.
b.If there is strife between a Christian and an unbelieving person, then let not the Christian be the source of the strife, and let the matter be settled quickly for Christ’s sake.
B.There are certain things Christians can do to be peace makers and peace keepers.
1.Treating others with respect and courtesy is essential for making and keeping peace.
a.Titus 3:2 instructs us “to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.”
b.In a context of teaching Christians how to behave in the world (1Pet. 2:11-17), Peter wrote that we should “honor all men” (v. 17).
c.Similarly, Romans 12:17 commands, “Respect what is right in the sight of all men.”
2.Practicing benevolence toward others is a great way to foster peace.
a.Galatians 6:10 says, “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”
b.Acts of kindness tend to cool the anger and ease the tensions that cause strife.Such gestures of peace are highly effective (more on this below).
3.Most importantly, praying to God for others will promote peace on earth.
a.Notice 1Timothy 2:1,4 – “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men …This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
b.Anytime a Christian offers prayers for someone, this act will increase his desire to have peace with that person, and the petition will provoke God’s blessings of peace.
C.When conflict is unavoidable, Christians must follow the Lord’s guidance for dealing with enemies.
1.Notice the Lord’s advice in Matthew 5:43-48 and Luke 6:27-36.
a.The Lord commended us to love our enemies, to pray for our persecutors, and to do good for them all.Surely, it is difficult to strive against loved persons for whom we pray.
b.The reason given for this behavior is that it imitates the behavior of our heavenly Father.
2.A similar instruction is given in Romans 12:17-21.
a.First, notice what we are not to do:
i.“Never pay back evil for evil to anyone” (v. 17), and “never take your own revenge” (v. 19).Such behavior increases strife, destroys peace, and creates a never-ending cycle of tit-for-tat retribution.
ii.“Do not be overcome by evil” (v. 21).Returning evil for evil makes us evil.
b.Now, notice what we should do:
i.“Respect what is right in the sight of all men” (v. 17), and “be at peace with all men” (v. 18).
ii.“Leave room for the wrath of God” (v. 19; Deut. 32:35 is quoted).
iii.“But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head” (v. 20; quoted from Prov. 25:21).Also, “overcome evil with good” (v. 21).
III.ARE GOVERNMENTS OBLIGATED TO PEACE?
A.Consider the following quote by Thomas Jefferson: “It is strangely absurd to suppose that a million of human beings collected together are not under the same moral laws which bind each of them separately.”
1.Though not a Scriptural quote, this logic appears to be self-evident.If God desires for individuals to practice peace, then would He not also desire them to practice peace collectively?
2.Likewise, if an individual should be peaceful in his private life, then should he not also be peaceful when he obtains a public office and political power?
B.Governments do “bear the sword,” but God gave the sword for good and not for evil.
1.Romans 13:1-4 explains that God ordained governments as His ministers for good and that they “bear the sword” for the punishment of evildoers (see also 1Pet. 2:13-17).
2.Certainly, there is “a time for war” (Eccl. 3:8) just as there is a time for peace.However, by the ordained purpose of God for government, any act of war is only justified when serves legitimate good and punishes genuine evil.
a.Invasions for the sake of greed and power are never justified by God’s word.
b.Wars fought over undefined “national interests” are never justified by God’s word.
c.Wars supposedly fought for the cause of Christ are never justified by God’s word (Europeans started fighting these wars 1,000 years ago and are still going).
IV.CONCLUSION
A.World peace is an insurmountable goal, for this world is bent on strife, war, and destruction.
B.However, Christians are citizens in the kingdom of the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6-7).If you are not in His kingdom, then come to Christ and learn “the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension” (Phil. 4:7).
