We have been going through the Beatitudes, one Beatitude at a time, one statement of
blessing and happiness at a time in Matthew chapter 5.
Today we are on the seventh Beatitude in verse 9, but I'll read verse 1 to 12.
But before I do that, let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's Word.
Heavenly Father, you are the God of peace, and you have made peace for us by the blood
of your only Son, Jesus Christ.
So Lord, make that reality, that peace that no one can take from us, grip our lives.
And change our hearts.
And even today, even this very moment, address us from your Word and by your Word, transform
us more and more to be peacemakers.
We pray this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Please stand if you're able to honor God as we read from his Word, Matthew 5, verses 1 to
12.
Amen.
for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil
against you falsely on my account rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven
for so they persecuted the prophets who are before you this is god's holy and authoritative word you
may be seated there has never been in a period there's never been a hit period in history in
recorded history at least that has been completely free of wars there have been periods of relative
peace and stability for example historians often talk about the Pax Romana the Roman peace between
27 BC and 180 CE when the Roman Empire dominated the world and enforced stability but even during
that time there were the Roman Parthian Wars and the many Jewish revolts that were brutally crushed and
suppressed by the Roman Empire some people point to the Pax Mongolica the Mongolian peace in the 13th and
14th centuries when Genghis Khan's conquest and the ensuing domination of the Mongolian Empire enforced
peace along the peace along the Silk Road but even during that time there was the Mongolian invasion of Japan and the extended war against the Mamluks in the Middle East and that's not even counting the civil wars within the Mongolian Empire
some people point to the heyday of the the British Empire the Pax Britannica but even during that time there was the war against China the opium wars against China the Crimean War against Russia
and of course American Civil War against Russia and of course American Civil War was happening during that time
we haven't yet had a World War III but the world has still been plagued by wars the Vietnam War Korean War Soviet African War the numerous Arab Israeli wars the Gulf War Iraq War Rwandan genocide civil war
second Congo war Chinese Civil War and the ongoing Russo Ukrainian war and I'm just scratching the surface of the wars that have taken place
there has never been a period in recorded human history that has been free of wars and that is no exaggeration
but why nobody claims to want war and everybody claims to want peace so why can't we have peace
we find God's answer and solution in the seventh beatitude blessed are the peacemakers
for they shall be called sons of God ultimately this passage teaches us that we are peacemakers because our heavenly father has made peace with us in Jesus Christ
and I'm going to talk about that first by defining what peace is and then we'll talk about peacemaking what that entails and then we'll finally talk about the prince of peace who enables us to have peace
we all know that peace is the opposite of war and the Bible often makes that contrast and uses that contrast
when there is peace there is an absence of conflict absence of strife
but peace in biblical terms is also more than that it's deeper than simply an absence of conflict
for example in Genesis 43 27 when Joseph meets his brothers who come to Egypt to buy grain
it says that he inquired about their welfare and said is your father well the old man of whom you spoke is he still alive
and in that questioning the word welfare is the same Hebrew word for peace
so peace is not just an absence of conflict but it can mean well-being wholeness welfare
it's the Hebrew word shalom which many of you have heard before
and this sense of well-being isn't merely about physical health and well-being either
it's about relational well-being
making covenant with someone in the Old Testament was often called making peace with someone
so if you have peace with somebody then you are in a right relationship with that person
and in that sense peace is different from a mere truce or a ceasefire
because even when there is no open fire or open conflict
the relationship between peoples and nations can be deeply disturbed and disordered
for example think about the Korean War which ended in 1953
with the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement
it divided Korea into two halves North and South Korea
and then it established a demilitarized zone in the middle along the 38th parallel
but is that peace?
there is no peace
they are still divided
they are still enemies
there is still hostility between the two nations
they are still
they are waging a war of propaganda
and posturing
they are building up their respective militaries
and securing themselves against the other
it's merely a frozen conflict
it's a cold war
but it's a war nonetheless
there is no peace
Israel and Hamas currently have a truce in place
actually may have just expired today
I forget exactly when it expires
but that's no peace either
war threatens to break out any minute
peace goes deeper than a mere truce or a ceasefire
it entails right relationship
restoration
reconciliation
and the most important peace that the Bible speaks of is peace with God
God himself says of his people in Ezekiel 34 25
I will make with them a covenant of peace
Isaiah 54 10 says
my steadfast love shall not depart from you
and my covenant of peace shall not be removed
to have peace with God then
is to be in right relationship with him
to have a covenant with him
and to have his loyal
steadfast
covenantal love upon us
to have peace then
in a full biblical sense
is to fit into God's order and plan
to be restored to wholeness
and right relationship with him
and it's only through that restored relationship
vertically with God
that there can be restored relationship
horizontally with others
it's a peace ultimately that comes from God
the peace that can only be attained
with God's help
and therefore is impossible to attain apart from him
that's why God is often called the God of peace
or the Lord of peace
and when Gideon builds an altar
to honor him and to worship him
he calls that altar
the Lord is peace
in Judges 6 24
and that's why the fruit of the spirit
and you guys know
is love
joy
peace
this is not a natural attribute
or a temperament
or an aspect of personality
that we have
naturally
this is something that is
spirit given
God given
spirit born fruit
that marks the born again Christian
that's what all of these beatitudes are
our understanding of peace
has implications for how we understand
what it means to be a peacemaker
first let's talk about what peacemaking is not
and then secondly we'll talk about what peacemaking is
since peace is more than a simple absence of conflict
but having your life rightly ordered before God
and being in restored to right relationship with him
peacemaking is not merely avoiding conflict
some people are naturally easygoing
and they are conflict averse
I think we have a lot of those in our church
I don't know if that's Cambridge or something else
but that doesn't necessarily make us peacemakers
if you seek peace at any price
then you're eventually going to pay a price that's too high for you to pay
British Prime Minister
Neville Chamberlain
is a famous example of this
in 1938
Nazi Germany invaded Czechoslovakia
France at the time had an alliance with the Czech Republic
that they were obligated to honor
they should have come to their aid
however along with Neville Chamberlain
the British Prime Minister
and the French leaders
they decided to appease Adolf Hitler
by formally requesting that Czechoslovakia
cede the territory that Germany had seized
and powerless to do anything else
they did cede that territory to Germany
and that agreement is called the Munich Agreement
but the Czechs call it the Munich Betrayal
did they keep a semblance of peace?
yes they did
but it was a peace built on injustice
and is it any wonder why that peace didn't last?
Adolf Hitler was emboldened by the cowardice of the European leaders
and then proceeded to invade Poland
in 1939 starting World War II
and World War II didn't end
until Neville Chamberlain was replaced
by someone with more backbone
you may have heard of Winston Churchill
if we subvert righteousness
in the name of so-called peace
then we are peace fakers
not peacemakers
that makes us appeasers
in Jeremiah 6 14 to 15
God denounces the false prophets
and false peacemakers of Israel
because they condoned the people's idolatry
their sins against God
and then yet they promised peace
God's not going to judge you
don't worry
you'll have peace in the future
and God denounces them
and rejects them
and says this about them
they have healed the wound of my people
lightly saying
peace peace
when there is no peace
you cannot have true peace
if you are forsaking the kingdom of God
if you're forsaking the righteousness of God
how can an idolatrous people
have peace with God?
contrast those false prophets
with Jehu in 2 Kings 9 17 to 22
Jehu is anointed to be king
by an emissary of prophet Elisha
and he is anointed by God
to go and avenge the blood
of his prophets and servants
whom Jezebel and Ahab
and their household killed
and so Jehu is riding furiously
on his chariot
going to exact vengeance
on Jehu's
sorry
on Jezebel's son
Joram
King Joram
Queen Mother Jezebel
was still alive at this time
and as he is riding to the palace
these messengers come out
repeatedly asking him
tell us Jehu
is it peace?
peace?
and then he keeps going
he doesn't stop
eventually he gets to King Joram
and King Joram asks him
is it peace Jehu?
and then Jehu tells him
what peace can there be
so long as the hoardings
and the sorceries
of your mother Jezebel
are so many
there can be no peace
in the presence of idolatry
and wickedness
peace at the expense
of truth and justice
is not peace
it's compromise
the idols must be struck down
and righteousness must reign
then and only then
can we have true peace
this explains the tension
we see in Jesus' person
and message
on the one hand
we see repeatedly
the New Testament telling us
that Jesus came to earth
to bring peace
at his birth
the angels announced
glory in the highest
and peace on earth
to those with whom
God is pleased
as he enters Jerusalem
in Luke 19 42
Jesus weeps over
this unrepentant city
saying
would that you
even you
had known on this day
the things that make
for peace
but now they are hidden
from your eyes
bringing peace was
Jesus' mission
and so he says
to his disciples
in John 14 27
peace I leave with you
my peace I give to you
not as the world gives
do I give to you
let not your hearts
be troubled
neither let them be afraid
so Jesus came to bring peace
but on the other hand
Jesus has this to say
in Matthew 10 34 to 37
do not think that I have come
to bring peace to the earth
I have not come to bring peace
but a sword
for I have come
to set a man
against his father
and a daughter
against her mother
and a daughter-in-law
against her mother-in-law
and a person's enemies
will be those
of his own household
whoever loves father
or mother more than me
is not worthy of me
and whoever loves son
or daughter more than me
is not worthy of me
so which is it
did Jesus come to make peace
or to bring a sword
the answer is both
he brings the offer
of true peace
but if our family members
and friends
reject Jesus
then our ultimate allegiance
must be to him
and not to them
that creates a disturbance
it creates divisions
that's the sword
that Jesus is talking about
but if you try to keep peace
at the expense of truth
than righteousness
then you're not making peace
you're just selling out
it is no coincidence
that the eighth beatitude
which comes after this
is blessed are those
who are persecuted
for the sake of righteousness
this is also why
the sixth beatitude
precedes this one
blessed are the pure in heart
for they shall see God
only after that
the purity of heart
do we get
blessed are the peacemakers
for they shall be called
sons of God
the importance of that order
is confirmed by James 3 17
which says
the wisdom from above
is first pure
then peaceable
gentle
open to reason
the wisdom of God
is first pure
then peaceable
and that order
is not incidental
it's only the pure in heart
who will one thing
who desire one thing
to please their Lord
their God
who can be true peacemakers
because if you're seeking
to please yourself
or if you're seeking
to please others
you will never have peace
in your life
if your first goal
is to keep peace
at all costs
you will never have
true peace
18th century theologian
Jonathan Edwards
explains this
in his book
The Nature of True Virtue
he says
private affection
if not subordinate
to general affection
is not only liable
to issue
and enmity
to being in general
but has a tendency
to it
and he gives an example
that makes it a little clearer
when a man
is governed
by a regard
to his own
private interest
independent of regard
to the public good
such a temper
exposes a man
to act the part
of an enemy
to the public
as in every case
wherein his private interest
seems to clash
with the public
is that not true?
if our highest objective
is our own
private interest
then wherever
our private interest
is at odds
with the public good
we're going to be
a public enemy
if our highest allegiance
is to our class
or to a political party
or to a race
or to a nation
or to a gender
then naturally
we will be
classist
racist
chauvinist
and sexist
let me put it
another way
how do you get
an orchestra
of 50 something people
to play harmoniously
together
not by having
the various sections
of the orchestra
the strings
the woodwinds
the brass
the percussions
all play
at their own rhythm
and pace
and key
we also do not
accomplish that
by having
every individual
musician
watch
every other musician
and try to match
and sync up
with them
that would lead
to chaos
and cacophony
we get an orchestra
to play harmoniously
together
by having
all of them
follow the baton
of the one
conductor
similarly
as long as
we are looking out
for our own interests
or the interests
of our own factions
as long as
our driving
motivation in life
is what's in it
for me
or what's in it
for us
there will never
be peace
in our personal
relationships
or in the world
because everybody
else is doing
the same thing
and our desires
are in conflict
with each other
James 4
1-2
teaches us
what causes
quarrels
and what causes
fights among you
is it not this
that your passions
are at war
within you
you desire
and do not have
so you murder
you covet and
cannot obtain
so you fight
and quarrel
this is the root
of all conflict
there will be no end
to warring nations
as long as there are
warring passions
between persons
but if our
overriding concern
is instead
our father in heaven
hallowed be your name
your kingdom come
and your will be done
on earth
as it is in heaven
if our highest
objective in life
is to please
the one true God
who is over all
and through all
and in all
then we can have
true peace
and unity
among all peoples
in his book
shining like stars
the power of the gospel
in the world's universities
Lindsay Brown
the former CEO
of international fellowship
of evangelical students
illustrates this reality
during the Burundi genocide
in the early 90s
a number of Tutsis
were killed
on campus
of Bujumbura University
by the Hutus
imagine
intentional murder
happening on your
university campuses
and many of the Tutsis
out of fear
fled to the mountains
during that time
some Hutu Christians
chased after
followed after
these Christian
Tutsis
who had fled
to the mountains
and they brought
them food
and clothing
took care of them
comforted them
and many of these
courageous Hutu
Christians
were disowned
by their own
family members
because they chose
to put their
Christian allegiance
their allegiance
to Christ
above their allegiance
to their ethnic group
and because of that
experience
the non-Christian
president of
Bujumbura University
in Burundi
made this
extraordinary remark
our culture
is disintegrating
on our campus
there are three
groups of people
Hutus
Tutsis
and Christians
if our culture
is to survive
we must follow
the example
of the Christians
the source
of all
conflicts
and wars
in the world
ultimately
is that sinful desire
and when desire
has conceived
it gives birth
to sin
and when sin
it is fully grown
it brings forth
death
the only way
to make ultimate
peace then
is not negotiations
not diplomacy
but conversions
the only way
to get ultimate
peace
is to have people
surrender
to the lordship
of Christ
and to submit
their passions
and desires
to God
and it's when
the gospel
of Jesus Christ
transforms them
from the inside
out to seek
God's will
rather than
their own wills
their own private
interests
that's the only
path
to true peace
20th century
Walsh pastor
D. Martin
Lloyd-Jones
concurs
he says
if every man
and woman
in the world
knew what it was
to hunger
and thirst
after righteousness
there would be
no danger
of war
here is the only
way to real peace
all other
considerations
eventually do not
touch the problem
and all the
denunciations
that are so
constantly made
of various
countries
and peoples
and persons
will not have
the slightest
effect upon
the international
situation
the greatest
need in the
world now
is for a
greater number
of Christians
individual
Christians
if all nations
consisted of
individual Christians
there would be
no need to fear
atomic power
or anything else
so the gospel
which seems to be
so remote
and indirect
in its approach
is actually
the most direct
way of solving
the problem
one of the greatest
tragedies in the life
of the church today
is the way in which
so many are content
with these vague
general
useless statements
about war
and peace
instead of preaching
the gospel
in all its simplicity
and purity
so few have
the theological
clarity
that D. Martin
Lowe Jones
had
it's because
of this
that Martin
Lowe Jones
understood
that because
he understood
this
that he was
not really
enthused
or excited
or impressed
when the Kellogg
Pact
was signed
how many of you
guys know
what the Kellogg
Pact is
it's not surprising
because it's pretty
irrelevant at this
point
the Kellogg
Pact
was an
international
agreement
on peace
signed in
1928
the signing
states
promised
not to
use war
to resolve
disputes
or conflicts
of whatever
nature
15 nations
signed it
including
the U.S.
the U.K.
France
Germany
Italy
and Japan
among others
and at the
time
it was celebrated
worldwide
really as
a pact
that will
outlaw
war
forever
Lloyd
Jones
shocked
his
contemporary
pastors
with his
lack
of
enthusiasm
about
the
Kellogg
Pact
his
colleagues
wanted to
talk about
nothing but
the Kellogg
Pact
this is a
momentous
occasion
he was
out
okay
yeah
he just
insisted
on continuing
to proclaim
the gospel
because he
understood
this
and Lloyd
Jones
has been
proven
right
by history
because
the three
of the
signatories
who signed
the Kellogg
Pact
started
World War
II
just a
short
decade
later
and he
hasn't
really
prevented
much
wars
ever
since
either
Lloyd
Jones
understood
the profound
reality
that the
root of
conflict
is sinful
heart
is sinful
desires
in our
hearts
we can
be
and this
is why
this is
important
we can
be tempted
to think
in our
present
climate
that the
negotiators
of the
Israeli
Hamas
ceasefire
what they
are doing
or what
President
Trump
is
attempting
to do
in negotiating
an end
to the
Russo-Ukrainian
war
or the
resolutions
declared
and proclaimed
by the
United Nations
that these
are the
big
and important
and historic
forms of
peacemaking
while our
calling people
to repent
of their
sins
and our
confessing of
our own sins
to one
another
and our
reconciliation
with one
another
these are
small
insignificant
forms of
peacemaking
and our
but to
think that
way is
a big
mistake
we are
dealing
with the
root
we have
the real
solution
the gospel
we're in
the work
of curative
care
really trying
to cure
the underlying
disease
they're in
the work
of palliative
care
managing
pain
without
actually
seeking to
heal
the underlying
disease
the work
we are
doing
is of
eternal
significance
because
every human
soul
that you
seek
reconciliation
and peace
with
is going
to live
forever
and every
single soul
that repents
of their
sins
and is
thereby
reconciled
to God
will live
forever
every person
you talk
to will
either live
forever
in heaven
or in hell
depending on
how they
respond to
the offer
of peace
that God
has given
us in
Jesus
Christ
compared to
that
all the
peacemaking
work and
the great
diplomacy
that is
happening
in place
though not
unimportant
is of
temporal
significance
because no
nation state
lasts forever
every kingdom
eventually
falls
every earthly
kingdom
this truth
by the way
is why
Jesus
and the
Bible
focus
relentlessly
on personal
repentance
and interpersonal
reconciliation
throughout
gospels
throughout
scripture
but they
don't have
much to
say about
ending
wars
and forming
international
treaties
it's not
that Jesus
was unaware
of geopolitical
realities
do you think
that Jesus
never heard
of how
King
Herod
the first
tried to
kill him
by killing
all the
males
under the
age of
two
in Bethlehem
so that
they could
eliminate
him
as a
threat to
his throne
as the
Messiah
do you think
Jesus was
unaware of
the extortionist
tax burden
that the Roman
authorities placed
on the Jews
do you think
he never heard
about that
from his
disciples
taxation
without
representation
is tyranny
right
that was the
slogan of
the American
revolution
and these
Jews
had it
worse
they asked
Jesus
is it
lawful
to pay
taxes
to Caesar
or not
and Jesus
does not
launch off
into a speech
about the
political
oppression
and injustice
of the
Romans
he says
render to
Caesar
what is
Caesar's
render to
God
what is
God's
in Luke
13
when people
tell Jesus
about how
Pilate
the Roman
governor
when the
Jews were
offering
their
sacrifices
these
Galilean
Jews
he kills
them
and then
he up
mingles
their blood
with the
sacrifices
that they
were making
an atrocity
blasphemy
injustice
and oppression
we might
expect Jesus
to rise up
with indignation
and rally
his followers
and retrofit
them with
weapons
and ride
into Jerusalem
on a stallion
and overthrow
the Roman
empire
but no
he tells
them
unless you
repent
you all
will likewise
perish
he always
turns these
things right
back around
to the
people
and to
make it
makes it
an issue
of personal
repentance
and their
relationship
with God
think about
that
that's kind
of a
confusing
response
unless you
understand
the spiritual
realities
we're speaking
of
I've spent
enough time
defining and
qualifying
peacemaking
let's get
down to
business
nitty gritty
details of what
that looks
like
sorry
the
beatitude
isn't
blessed
are
the
peace
lovers
or the
peace
talkers
it's
blessed
are the
peacemakers
people who
do
peace
first we
must make
peace in
our
relationships
with our
Christian
brothers and
sisters
the Bible
talks so
often about
this I
could have
spent the
entire sermon
just reading
quote after
quote of
this
command
I'll sample
just a couple
2nd Corinthians
13 11
says aim
for
restoration
comfort
one another
agree
with one
another
live in
peace
and the
God of
love and
peace
will be
with you
Christians
cannot
accept
conflict
as a
status quo
we are
commanded
to aim
for
restoration
we are
commanded
to agree
with one
another
to live
in peace
over the
last 10
years of
church life
I've had
number of
conflicts
with people
in church
and one
of the
things that
I'm very
proud of
of people
in our
church
and people
who are
here
is that
we have
walked
through
those
things
we did
not sit
in conflict
we didn't
let that
conflict
simmer
and exist
indefinitely
we worked
through those
things
and made
peace
and I've
seen a
number of
believers
do that
in our
church
that
passing
the
peace
is not
just a
formality
real
making
peace
happens
during that
time
it starts
during those
times
and then it
continues
as
conversations
afterward
be at
peace
among
yourselves
it says
once again
this doesn't
mean to
seek
peace
at the
expense
of God's
revealed
truth
in
scripture
Paul
acknowledges
in 1
Corinthians
11
18
19
that
there
are
divisions
sometimes
in
church
and that
that
exists
he says
I hear
that there
are
divisions
among
you
and I
believe
in
part
for
there
must
be
factions
among
you
in order
to
in order
that
those
who
are
genuine
among
you
may
be
recognized
sometimes
there
are
divisions
in
church
along
the
fault
lines
of
truth
to
tell
the
genuine
Christians
apart
from
the
false
Christians
counterfeit
Christians
that's
inevitable
if we
stand
for
truth
but
as
far
as
it
depends
on
us
we
must
aim
for
restoration
within
the
community
of
Christians
at
peace
we
must
seek
to
live
in
this
peace
we do
that
by
being
quick
to
hear
and
slow
to
speak
and
slow
to
anger
for
the
anger
of
man
does
not
produce
the
righteousness
of
God
some
of
you
sin
more
by
being
silent
when
you
should
speak
others
of
you
sin
more
like
me
by
speaking
when
you
should
listen
we
learned
from
Titus
3
last
week
which
said
remind
them
to
be
submissive
to
rulers
and
authorities
to be
obedient
for every
good
work
to
speak
evil
of
no
one
to
avoid
quarreling
to be
gentle
and to
show
perfect
courtesy
toward
all
people
we
make
peace
by
resolving
to
speak
evil
of
no
one
do
not
speak
with
malicious
intent
about
anyone
to
do
damage
to
their
reputation
do
not
be
quarrelsome
and
there's
a
difference
between
sincere
debates
and
foolish
controversies
the
former
seeks
truth
the
latter
seeks
self
exaltation
look
at how
intelligent
I
am
look
at how
knowledgeable
I
am
the
former
is
substantive
it
deals
with
substance
the
latter
deals
with
trivialities
as
Christians
we
already
have
the
unity
of
the
spirit
that
is
a
spiritual
reality
that
God
has
brought
about
in
his
son
Jesus
Christ
but
then
we
are
commanded
to
maintain
the
unity
of
the
spirit
in
the
bond
of
peace
and
we
do
that
it
says
in
Ephesians
4
2
3
by
relating
!
with
all
humility
and
love
this
is
the
hard
but
important
work
of
peacemaking
in
the
context
of
the
church
second
we
must
make
peace
with
unbelievers
as
well
Hebrews
12
14
says
strive
for
peace
with
everyone
not
just
with
your
brothers
and
sisters
in
Christ
Jesus
says
later
in
Matthew
5
38
to
48
do
not
seek
personal
retribution
he
says
do
not
resist
the
one
who
is
evil
but
if
anyone
slaps
you
on
the
right
cheek
turn
to
him
the
other
also
he
continues
you
have
heard
that
it
was
said
you
shall
love
your
neighbor
and
hate
your
enemy
but
I
say
to
you
love
your
enemies
and
pray
for
those
who
persecute
you
so
that
you
may
be
sons
of
your
father
who
is
in
heaven
for
he
makes
his
sun
rise
on
the
evil
and
on
the
good
and
sends
rain
on
the
just
and
on
the
unjust
for
if
you
love
those
who
love
you
what
reward
do
you
have
do
not
even
the
tax
collectors
do
the
same
and
if
you
greet
only
your
brothers
what
more
are
you
doing
than
others
do
not
even
the
Gentiles
do
the
same
you
therefore
must
be
perfect
as
your
heavenly
father
is
perfect
do
you
see
the
perils
between
this
passage
and
the
beatitude
that
we're
looking
at
what
is
promised
here
blessed
are
the
peacemakers
for
they
shall
be
called
sons
of
God
we
find
the
same
promise
in
this
passage
in
Matthew
5
38
to
48
love
your
enemies
and
pray
for
those
who
persecute
you
in
other
words
strive
for
peace
even
with
those
who
oppose
you
your
enemies
so
that
you
may
be
sons
of
your
father
who
is
in
heaven
the
command
to
make
peace
is
rooted
in
the
promise
of
sonship
the
phrase
son
of
dot
or
son
of
fill
in
the
blank
is
a
Hebrew
idiom
for
example
when
Psalm
89
22
refers
to
the
wicked
it
calls
them
literally
sons
of
wickedness
Proverbs
31
verse
5
describes
those
who
are
afflicted
literally
as
sons
of
affliction
Deuteronomy
3
18
describes
the
courageous
people
as
sons
of
valor
so
sons
of
God
are
those
who
share
God's
spiritual
nature
why
will
peacemakers
be called
sons
of
God
because
their
heavenly
father
is
the
God
of
peace
and
they
attest
to
their
sonship
by
their
peacemaking
our
heavenly
father
loves
his
children
in a
special
way
but
he
also
loves
the
world
in a
general
way
there
is
a
such
thing
as
common
grace
that is
common
to all
of
humanity
he
makes
the
sun
rise
and
the
rain
showers
fall
on
both
the
righteous
and
the
wicked
that's
his
love
his
kindness
that
no
human
being
deserves
likewise
we should
resemble
our
heavenly
father
by
loving
our
enemies
and
praying
for
them
by
seeking
their
good
and
when
you
see
an
enemy
passing
by
instead
of
giving
them
the
cold
shoulder
you
swallow
your
pride
and
you
greet
them
when
you
see
an
opportunity
to
serve
your
enemy
when
they
suffer
you
do
good
to
them
of
course
it's
possible
maybe
even
likely
that
they
will
not
reciprocate
it
takes
two
parties
to
be
reconciled
even
if
we
humble
ourselves
and
love
our
enemies
they
might
still
be
our
enemies
and
hate
us
but
we
must
still
do
our
part
the
Bible
is
very
realistic
and
practical
about
these
things
it's
in
Romans
12
14
to
21
bless
those
who
persecute
you
and
bless
and do
not
curse
them
live in
harmony
with
one
another
repay
no
one
evil
for
evil
if
possible
so far
as it
depends
on you
live
peaceably
with
all
beloved
never
avenge
yourselves
but leave
it to
the wrath
of God
for it
is written
vengeance
is mine
I will
repay
says the
Lord
to the
contrary
if your
enemy
is hungry
feed him
if he
is thirsty
!
Give him
something
to drink
for by
so doing
you will
keep
burning
coals
on his
head
do
not
be
overcome
by
evil
but
overcome
evil
with
good
that's
what
it
looks
like
to be
peacemakers
in an
evil
and
unbelieving
world
we
overcome
evil
with
good
and
we
leave
the
vengeance
to
God
and
then
we
live
peaceably
with
all
people
believers
and
unbelievers
as far
as it
depends
on
us
if
there's
lack
of
peace
in
your
relationship
if
there
is
lingering
!
conflict
in
your
lives
do
not
to
make
it
because
of
you
do
everything
you
can
to
make
peace
but
living
like
this
is
difficult
cultivating
poverty
of
spirit
mourning
and
meekness
and
hunger
and
thirst
for
righteousness
mercifulness
and
purity
of
heart
so
that
we
might
be
peacemakers
is
impossible
apart
from
the
peacemaking
work
that
God
has
done
for
us
in
Jesus
Christ
that's
why
he
is
called
the
prince
of
peace
our
sonship
to
God
and
all
sons
and
daughters
all
the
children
of
God
are
called
sons
in
scripture
oftentimes
because
they
are
in
Jesus
Christ
God's
only
son
we
are
united
to
him
by
faith
our
sonship
our
heavenly
inheritance
our
salvation
they
do
not
depend
on
how
much
peacemaking
we
do
on
earth
John
1
11
to
13
says
of
Jesus
this
is
how
we
become
sons
of
God
he
came
to
his
own
and
his
own
people
did
not
receive
him
he
is
speaking
of
Jesus
but
to
all
who
did
receive
him
who
believed
in
his
name
he
gave
the
right
to
become
children
of
God
who
were
born
not
of
blood
nor
of
the
will
of
the
flesh
!
but
by
believing
in
Jesus
Christ
who
is
our
peace
but
that
but
that
then
changes
us
in
his
famous
book
peace
child
I
think
many
of
you
may
have
heard
of
this
I've
heard
this
illustration
at
least
two
sermons
maybe
three
but
I
was
surprised
I
never
used
it
before
missionary
Don
Richardson
tells
the
story
of
his
work
as
a
missionary
Don
and
Carol
Richardson
moved
to
New
Guinea
in
1962
to
minister
among
the
Sawi
people
and
at
the
time
the
Sawi
people
were
still
isolated
and
untouched
by
the
rest
of
the
world
and
they
were
head
hunting
cannibals
fascinated
by the
Richardsons
it's a
little
scary
the
two
rival
Sawi
tribes
decided
that
they
will
move
their
villages
right
next
to
their
jungle
house
so
on
opposite
sides
of
the
house
were
these
two
rival
tribes
of
the
Sawis
and
during
their
short
time
as
missionaries
there
they
witnessed
bitter
conflict
and
civil
war
between
these
two
groups
all
the
time
and
they
say
they
witnessed
14
civil
wars
in
a
short
period
of
time
and
despite
their
many
attempts
to
share
the
gospel
with
them
and
to
make
peace
these
Sawi
tribes
did
not
respond
to
his
gospel
presentations
and
they
continued
to
war
against
each
other
and
at
some
point
he
was
discouraged
by
failure
of
the
gospel
at
the
time
and
he
didn't
know
how
to
present
the
gospel
to
them
in
a
compelling
way
that
they
can
understand
and
discouraged
and
fearful
of
the
constant
conflict
around
them
they
eventually
decided
okay
we're
going to
pack
up
and
leave
this
didn't
work
out
and
as
they
were
trying
to
leave
the
tribes
came
to
them
and
they
told
the
couple
if
you'll
stay
we
promise
we'll
make
peace
in
the
morning
the
next
morning
they
witnessed
most
amazing
ritual
the
two
tribes
lined
up
parallel
to
each
other
outside
the
home
on
either
side
of
the
clearing
and
then
suddenly
one
man
dashed
into
his
own
hut
and
grabbed
his
baby
son
and
started
sprinting
toward
the
other
side
and
then
after
him
comes
out
his
wife
mourning
and crying
and weeping
don't
take
them
don't
take
him
and
the
husband
with
agony
in
his
face
and
anguish
in
his
face
keeps
running
and
running
he
sprints
and
then
he
gets
to
the
other
side
and
gets
the
other
tribe
and
he
hands
them
his
baby
son
and
then
as
he
says
plead
the
peace
child
for
me
I
give
you
my
son
and
I
give
you
my
name
moments
later
the
ritual
repeats
itself
from
the
other
side
another
man
dashes
into
his
hut
and
grabs
his
baby
son
and
runs
!
out
and
people
try
to
catch
him
his
wife
tries
to
catch
him
and
he
can't
catch
him
and
he
goes
and
gives
the
son
over
to
the
other
tribe
and
says
plead
the
peace
child
for
me
!
I
give
you
my
son
and
I
give
you
my
name
as
long
as
these
two
children
called
the
peace
child
the
peace
children
remained
alive
there
would be
no war
between
these
two
tribes
after
they
die
is
another
story
which
is
why
they
need
the
gospel
because
to
wage
war
against
each
other
is
to
wage
war
against
your
own
Don
Richardson
at that
moment
realized
I
finally
have
a
way
to
present
the
gospel
to
these
tribe
members
in a
way
they
can
understand
Jesus
is
the
peace
child
Jesus
is
the
peace
child
that
God
the
father
gave
in
his
great
love
to
make
peace
with
his
enemies
to
make
peace
with
us
Romans
5
tells
that
while
we
were
enemies
of
God
we
were
not
at
peace
with
God
we
were
opposed
to
him
we
were
hostile
toward
him
we
warred
against
him
and
rebelled
against
him
and
we
resisted
his
rule
and
we
fought
him
and
resisted
him
and
besmirched
his
good
name
and
yet
while
we
were
enemies
God
sends
his
only
son
the
son
of
God
becomes
the
son
of
man
takes
on
our
human
flesh
to
know
our
life
so
that
he
might
bring
peace
to
us
and
save
us
and
lift
us
up
to
be
sons
of
God
Jesus
dies
on
the
cross
the
death
that
we
deserve
to
die
as
rebels
and
as
enemies
of
God
instead
Jesus
dies
and
he
pays
the
price
and
that's
why
he
says
that
God
broke
down
the
dividing
wall
of
hostility
so
making
peace
in
Jesus
Christ
in
his
flesh
making
peace
between
God
and
man
and
making
peace
between
Jews
and
Gentiles
between
every
groups
of
people
it's
when
we
are
born
again
by
the
Holy
Spirit
as
children
of
God
in
this
way
that
we
love
God
and
obey
his
commandments
we
begin
to
take
on
a
family
resemblance
as
we
have
the
Holy
Spirit
in
us
as
we
are
adopted
into
his
family
and
that's
why
he
says
blessed
are
the
peacemakers
for
they
shall
be
called
sons
of
God
the
family
resemblance
of
peacemaking
because
God
the
Father
is
a
peacemaking
God
that
family
resemblance
takes
hold
of
us
and
we
become
!
peacemakers
and
that
family
resemblance
will be
taken
into
account
at the
final
judgment
that's
why
he
says
they
shall
be
called
sons
of
God
all
this
is
from
God
he says
in 2nd
Corinthians 5
18-20
who
through Christ
reconciled us
to himself
and gave us
the ministry
of reconciliation
that is
in Christ
God was
reconciling the
world to
himself
not counting
their trespasses
against them
and entrusting
to us
the message
of reconciliation
therefore we
are ambassadors
for Christ
God making
his appeal
through us
we are
all of us
believers
in Jesus
Christ
are ambassadors
of reconciliation
because God
has reconciled
us to himself
in Jesus
Christ
we are all
ambassadors
of peace
because God
has made peace
with us
in Jesus
Christ
this is not
what the world
prizes
our world
is fascinated
with warriors
and conquerors
not with peacemakers
throughout history
people who
receive the
greatest acclaim
and the most
laurels
have not been
peacemakers
but the conquerors
and the warriors
in the absence
of war
it's the athletes
because sports
have early roots
in combat
and warfare
in our world
the warriors
and conquerors
are treated
like sons
of God
they are reified
and even deified
and given
their own statues
in their honor
and placed
in the hall
of fame
but Jesus
tells us
blessed are
the peacemakers
for they
shall be called
sons of God
by following
a crucified
savior
and by making
peace
all around us
through humility
and meekness
we radically
subvert
the politics
of power
and dominion
which rules
our world
that's the path
of the cross
and that is our path
not the path
of the revolution
path of the cross
let's pray together
heavenly father
how can it be
that when all
the fault
lies with us
all the sin
lies with us
that you took
the initiative
to make peace
with us
how can it be
father
that
that you would
give
not just
your
things
but your only
son
Jesus Christ
as a peace
child
so you might
make us
your children
oh lord
help us
to never
lose sight
of your
amazing
grace
and help
us
to take
on more
and more
that family
resemblance
of peacemaking
this world
desperately
needs it
in Jesus
name we
pray
amen
I