Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Peacemakers (08/15/24)
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TITLE: The Embattled Peacemaket | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
08/19/24 -
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Yet, Jesus made it clear that He did not come to bring peace to the world, but a sword (1).
He made it clear that the unadulterated Gospel Message would be the cause of division and conflict in even the closest of human relationships (2).
Furthermore, He made it clear that international wars, and rumors of wars, would be an ongoing part of the human experience (3) right up to, and including, the time of the Second Advent.
End time prophecy tells us that it will be in the midst of warfare involving Israel that the Second Advent will take place (4) .
So, if we as His followers, are to promote His divisive and conflict-generating agenda, where does being a Matt. 5: 9 peacemaker fit into this scenario?
It begins by understanding the type of peace, and to whom it applies, that was announced (5) by the angel at the First Advent (Christmas).
As we will see, this type of peace, announced at the First Advent differs from interpersonal and international peace.
To the extent that it is possible on OUR part, we are commanded (6) to live in interpersonal peace with other people.
Scripture tells us there is a time for international war and a time for peace (7).
There are many causes, some honorable, and some not, for revolutions, civil, and international wars.
Ultimately, the timing of the rise, life span, boundaries, extent of global influence, decline, and the fall of ALL nations is governed by God (8), as He imposes national discipline (9) and sets the stage for the final conflict prophesied in Scripture.
Historians will concur that the concluding results of one war is often what inevitably sets the stage for the next.
God has made use of evil, pagan, religious, Arab, Jewish and Christian nations and coalitions, to accomplish His objectives on the global level.
Because God allows such things, does not dismiss or alleviate the accountability of national leadership.
War can bring out the best and the worst, on both sides of the conflict.
Rather or not individuals, or groups of individuals, go down in secular history as commandoes or terrorists, traitors or heroes, invaders or conquerors, is largely determined by who wins the war.
The official historical account is usually written by the winners, casting themselves in the best possible light and the losers in the worst possible light.
The peace that the blessed Matt. 5: 9 peacemakers promote is not the fragile peace between individuals and groups of human beings, but permanent peace between God and individual members of the fallen human race who choose to believe the unadulterated Gospel Message.
Jesus’ atoning work (10) made reconciliation with God a possibility for every soul, but not every soul will choose to believe.
The Matt. 5: 9 peace is reconciliation between God and the members of the Fallen human race, “ with whom He is pleased (Luke 2: 14 NASB2020).”
The members of the fallen human race “with whom He is pleased” are those who hear and choose to believe in the unadulterated Gospel Message.
The unadulterated Gospel Message declares that Jesus is God the Son, Who in the capacity of the Lamb of God (12), provided the means of salvation via His atoning WORK on the cross.
The benefits (e. g. eternal life) become an individually reality, if and when he or she believes (13).
Adding any further requirements (to be saved) changes the unadulterated Gospel Message to an adulterated (unfaithful) version, amounting to an attack on the integrity of the Person and the Work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The existence of such requirements implies that faith (belief) in the Person and the Work of the Lord Jesus Christ is not enough.
Post salvation discipleship calls for much more, but post salvation discipleship is not for the purpose of either obtaining or retaining salvation.
The Mathew 5: 9 peacemakers are those who serve God by presenting the unadulterated Gospel Message to others, providing them with the opportunity to save their souls by making peace with God.
Are you at peace with God, having permanently settled the issue of your own salvation?
If so, have you joined the battle, becoming a peacemaker, promoting the unadulterated Gospel Message for the salvation of others?
(1) Matt. 10: 34 (2) Luke 12:52 (3) Matt. 24: 6 (4) Luke 21: 20, 28 (5) Luke 2: 14 (6) Romans 12: 18/Heb. 12: 14 (7) Eccl. 3: 8b (8) Acts 17: 26 (9) Lev. 26:14ff (10) 1John 2: 2 (11) John 3: 16 (12) John 1: 29 (13) John 3: 16
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