The Sermon on the Mount, Part 6
Welcome to Timeless Truth with Pastor Jim Thomas. This season, Pastor Jim is leading us in a study of The Sermon on the Mount.
The Sermon on the Mount is found in Matthew, chapters 5-7.
The Beatitudes describe the lives of those whose faith, values, affections and allegiances have all been transferred to King Jesus and the kingdom of heaven. The Beatitudes offer a vision of the kind of life that is pleasing to God and the promised blessings for those who embody these qualities.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Three part pattern of the Beatitudes:
- Ascription of blessedness
- Condition in life or of the soul
- God’s response of faithful and redeeming love
Several obvious assumptions implicit here:
- Peace is a desirable thing.
- Peace doesn’t simply just “happen,” there are times peace must be “made”.
Are we peacemakers or are we peace breakers?
If we want to become peacemakers, how do we make peace? Again, we look to Christ Jesus. Let Jesus show us what peace is and what it looks like to live in the peace offered to those who are members of the kingdom of heaven, with Jesus as our King.
“I wonder if anything is more urgent today, for the honour of Christ and for the spread of the gospel, than what the church should be, and should be seen to be, what by God’s purpose and Christ’s achievement it already is — a single new humanity, a model of human community, a family of reconciled brothers and sisters who love their Father and love each other, the evident dwelling place of God by his Spirit. Only then will the world believe in Christ as Peacemaker. Only then will God receive the glory due to his name.”
John Stott
“The world is watching us. People are observing how we treat one another when we sharply disagree on matters of importance. If they see us vilifying one another and “canceling” each other, how will they respond when we call them to make peace with God? If, by contrast, they see our genuine love for one another, especially when we disagree, won’t they be more likely to trust us to graciously, respectfully, and compassionately assist them in making their peace with God?”
Hugh Ross
Peacemakers in the kingdom of heaven realize their dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit at work in their lives.
“God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.”
C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
“His (Christ’s) disciples keep the peace by choosing to endure suffering themselves rather than inflict it on others. They maintain fellowship where others would break it off. They renounce hatred and wrong. In so doing they over-come evil with good, and establish the peace of God in the midst of a world of war and hate.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship
