Title: Pursue Peace and Holiness
Contents
Today's text is a very implied explanation of the nature and function of the church. In other words, we are talking about what the church will be like and what the church should do. Also, peace and holiness are qualities that we Christians must possess.
So where is that holiness? It must be remembered that true holiness is more inward and spiritual. Without it, it is easy to pursue holiness through legalistic and superficial behavior, as seen in the failure of the Jews.
Two men went up to the temple. They were tax collectors and Pharisees. The Pharisee prayed. “God, I thank you that I am not like that tax collector” (Luke 18:11). He showed off his holiness and righteousness by differentiating himself from the publican. But the Lord did not recognize him. Rather, the tax collector who beat his chest and said, "I am a sinner" was justified and accepted by God. Why? For the condition of holiness is not the works of such a law, but the spiritual union with Christ through faith.
Evangelist Matteus was evangelizing in a small city, and at the favor of a lady who lived in that city, he stayed at that house for one night. He had entered the luxurious bedroom, but in the morning he came out of the barn of the house, brushing off the swords from his body. To the owner who asked what was the matter, Matthews answered.
"Madam, I have a habit of sleeping with the Holy Lord." The angry wife responded. “Then you mean the Lord always sleeps in the barn?” "No, madam, you sleep with me wherever hypocrisy and pride go."
That's right. Holiness is being in union with the Lord before action. It is attached to Him who is the vine like a branch. I believe in the Lord as my Savior and trust in Him, so that I am found in Him is holy.
We are not holy by nature. None of us sanctify ourselves. Those who are in Jesus through faith in Jesus are holy. Holiness is a power. Because the Lord is with you. He who is united with Jesus overcomes sin. Those who are united with Jesus overcome the lusts of the flesh. Those who are united with Jesus overcome the world. Therefore, we must daily find ourselves in Jesus. I have to live a life where Jesus is on the throne of my heart and rules me. To do that, we must face the cross daily and deny ourselves before it. That is to seek holiness and possess the power of holiness.
“But as the holy ones who called you, be holy in all your conduct, for it is written, ‘Be holy, because I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15-16).
Second, He commanded us to seek peace. This is not to say that only close friends or believers should be at peace. He tells us to be at peace with all men. It is to seek peace in interpersonal relationships, regardless of God or unbelief. Why do you give peace as the church's pattern of conduct?
Because peace is the content and method of the gospel. The Lord said that it is the reconciliation sacrifice that unites God and man, and man and man. (Ephesians 2:18) In 2 Corinthians 5:18 and below, “All things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ.” And has given us the ministry of reconciliation, because God in Christ reconciled the world to himself, not imputing their sins to them, but has entrusted to us the word of reconciliation."
So far, we have been passive in this reconciliation work. We thought that it is holiness and faith to keep away from people who are not with us and groups that are different from us. We must repent of this shameful past.
There was always a family where quarrels and loud noises did not go away. However, in the immediate neighborhood, there was a family where three generations lived in the same house, but there was a family that was very harmonious. One day, the head of the household, who thought it was strange, met the head of the household and asked the secret. The head of a harmonious family answered.
"Because there are only good and righteous people in your house, and there are only poor and faulty people in our house." "What do you mean by that?" "When something goes wrong in the house, we ask each other to forgive each other. You probably do the opposite."
That's right. We were so righteous in everything. Rather than tolerating and reconciling, we are used to blaming and rejecting. It is also referred to as the weakness of our single nation, which is a single nation. None of those weaknesses could be overcome by those of us who were commanded to seek peace. But think about it, how could the Lord come in a human body, and how could sinners like us be reconciled to God if it were not for God's attitude of peace? What hope would we have had if it had not been for the peace of God through sacrifice and acceptance?
Some people mistake the pursuit of peace as compromise. But peace is not compromise or submission. Look at Jesus. The Lord has met anyone. He did not shun those who opposed and slandered him. He was criticized as 'a friend of tax collectors and sinners'. Not to compromise with them, but to testify of God to them. Therefore, the Apostle Paul also testified that "I behaved toward many people in various ways" (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).
We must keep the essence of the church, believing and professing Christ as Lord, uniting with him and making power through holiness. And we must no longer be passive in reconciliation with all people. We must fulfill our mission of witnessing the gospel of peace with the power of the Lord that starts from that holiness.