THE FRUIT OF PEACE:
CELEBRATING JUST VIOLENCE IN
AN UNJUST WORLD
Galatians 5:18-26 I. PEACE IS
ROOTED IN THE CROSS, THE MOST VIOLENT ACT IN HISTORY A. The peace of the world is different from
the peace of God (peace symbols, pacifism, Green Peace, Nobel Peace Prize,
etc.). B. In Jesus and Paul’s day, the Romans had brought peace to the world. Historians call this “Pax Romana” (Roman Peace). 1. Roman Peace was rooted in the sword and crucifixion. In fact there is a saying about Roman Peace, “To ravage, to slaughter, to usurp under false titles, they call empire; and where they make a desert, they call it peace” (Tacitus [56 AD - 117 AD], Roman orator, lawyer, and senator, and considered one of antiquity's greatest historians [Wikipedia]). 2. Crucifixion was Rome’s brutal assertion of absolute sovereignty, rule, and power. In Jesus day, the Romans had crucified some 30,000 men in Palestine alone C. Just as the Peace of Rome was rooted in death and crucifixion; the same is true for Christianity! (Luke 9:23; Galatians 2:20) 1.
Peter preached to Cornelius, a Roman centurion, “The word which He sent to the sons of Israel,
preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)…” (Acts 10:36; cf. 2
Thess.3:16). 2. The prophet Isaiah described God’s servant as the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) who would be chastened for our peace (Isaiah 53:5). II. BIBLICAL PEACE IS ROOTED IN JUSTICE A. God is “the God of peace” (Rom.15:33;
16:20; Phil.4:9; 1 Thess.5:23; Heb.13:20; cf. 1 Cor.14:33; 2 Cor.13:11; 2
Thess.3:16). B. The God of peace accomplished peace
with us through the violence and justice of the cross! Apart from the cross there is no justice and
peace with God (Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:13-17; Colossians 1:19-20; Hebrews
13:20-21). C. There can be no peace in a fallen world
without justice. And there can be no
justice in our fallen world without violence.
The violence of justice is a good thing and we celebrate it every week
when we remember Christ’s death and await His return. 1. “Just War” 2. “The Peacemaker” – pistol of choice in
the settling of the American West. D. Biblically speaking, a pacifist is not a
person who is antiwar. Rather, a true
pacifist is also a warrior. 1. God is a “God of Peace” and also a
Warrior (Exodus 15:3; cf. Exodus 14:14, 25; Deut.1:30; 3:22; Josh.23:3; 2
Chronicles 20:29; Nehemiah 4:20; Psalm 3; 18; 24:7-10; 46; 68; 83; 144). 2. The “Prince of Peace” judges and makes
just war (Revelation 19:11-21). E. Christians are to be the salt of the earth
and the light of the world. They should seek justice in matters such as
abortion, immorality and even justice on behalf of our persecuted brethren
throughout the world. However, we must
never take justice into our own hands (Romans 12:18-19). III. PEACE IN THE CHURCH, OUR HOUSEHOLDS AND
LIVES A. The fruit of peace begins with faith in
Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1; Galatians 2:16; Colossians 1:20). 1. Galatians begins on a note of peace (Galatians 1:3; The greeting of “grace and peace” is found in all 13 of Paul’s letters/epistles and in 16 out of 21 New Testament letters/epistles [Rom.1:7; 1 Cor.1:3; 2 Cor.1:2; Gal.1:3; Eph.1:2; Phil.1:2; Col.1:2; 1 Thess.1:1; 2 Thess.1:2; 1 Tim.1:2; 2 Tim.1:2; Titus 1:4; Phm.3; 1 Pet.1:2; 2 Pet.1:2; 2 Jn.3; cf. Rev.1:4-6]).
C. If we are to pursue peace then we
must declare war against sin. The
entire book of Galatians was written to preserve the peace of the church, and
yet it is a very combative book! (Gal.1:8,9; 2:11,14; 3:11; 4:11; 5:4,12) D. As Christians we must oppose forms of unjust
violence which can include some movies, music or video games (Isaiah 5:20;
Matthew 5:8; Romans 12:9b; Philippians 4:8-9). QUESTIONS FOR SABBATH
DISCUSSION & MEDITATION Take what you have learned
this morning and make it into a prayer.
Have you been reconciled to God?
Pray that God would use you more effectively as a peacemaker.
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