The Third Element of
True Godliness: Peacemaker
Matthew 5:9
PEACE ?
Why isn’t there peace now?
 Satan
 man’s disobedience
Back in 1968, a major newspaper
reported that there had been to that
date 14,553 known wars since 36 B.C.
What is peace?
1) Peace is not the absence of conflict
What is peace?
2) Peace is not a truce
What is peace?
Peace is a creative, aggressive force
for goodness. Peace is wholeness and
harmony.
Peace is through purity
James 3:17-18 (ESV)
the wisdom from above is first pure, then
peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of
mercy and good fruits, impartial and
sincere. And a harvest of righteousness
is sown in peace by those who make
peace.
Peace and Purity
Hebrews 12:14 - Strive for peace with
everyone, and for the holiness without
which no one will see the Lord.
Psalm 85:10 - …righteousness and
peace kiss each other.
Matthew 10:34 (ESV)
Do not think that I have come to bring
peace to the earth. I have not come to
bring peace, but a sword.
What is the enemy of peace?
Jeremiah 17:9 - The heart is deceitful
above all things, and desperately sick
Isaiah 48:22 - ―There is no peace for the
wicked‖ says the LORD
Jeremiah 8:11-12 (ESV)
‗Peace, peace,‘ when there is no peace.
Were they ashamed when they
committed abomination? No, they were
not at all ashamed; they did not know
how to blush. Therefore they shall fall
among the fallen; when I punish them,
they shall be overthrown, says the LORD.
Mark 7:21-23 (ESV)
For from within, out of the heart of man,
come evil thoughts, sexual immorality,
theft, murder, adultery, coveting,
wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy,
slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil
things come from within, and they defile
a person.
How do we deal with sin?
The Gospel
John 4:18 (ESV)
you have had five husbands, and the one
you now have is not your husband.
John 4:21-22 (ESV)
Jesus said to her, ―Woman, believe Me,
the hour is coming when neither on this
mountain nor in Jerusalem will you
worship the Father. You worship what
you do not know; we worship what we
know, for salvation is from the Jews.
―Being a peacemaker is essentially the
result of a holy life and the call to others
to embrace the gospel of holiness.‖
[John MacArthur, Mt. 1-7, pg. 213]
Where does peace come from?
God
Ephesians 2:13-14 (ESV)
But now in Christ Jesus you who once
were far off have been brought near by
the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our
peace, who has made us both one and
has broken down in His flesh the dividing
wall of hostility
Colossians 1:19-20 (ESV)
For in Him all the fullness of God was
pleased to dwell, and through Him to
reconcile to Himself all things, whether
on earth or in heaven, making peace by
the blood of His cross.
―If the Father is the source of peace, and
the Son is the manifestation of the
peace, then the Holy Spirit is the agent of
that peace. One of the most beautiful
fruits the Holy Spirit gives to those in
whom He resides is the fruit of peace.
The God of peace sent the Prince of
Peace who sends the Spirit of peace to
give the fruit of peace. No wonder the
Trinity is called Yahweh Shalom, ―The
Lord is peace.‖
[John MacArthur, Matthew 1-7]
Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) - For I know the
plans I have for you, declares the LORD,
plans for wholeness and not for evil, to
give you a future and a hope.
John 16:33 (ESV) – I have said these
things to you, that in Me you may have
peace. In the world you will have
tribulation. But take heart; I have
overcome the world.
Who are the peacemakers?
believers in Jesus Christ
2 Corinthians 5:19-20 (ESV)
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 implore you
on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
What are the characteristics of a
peacemaker?
1) One who has made peace with God.
Romans 5:10 (ESV)
For if while we were enemies we were
reconciled to God by the death of His
Son, much more, now that we are
reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.
Ephesians 6:15 (ESV)
as shoes for your feet, having put on the
readiness given by the gospel of peace.
What are the characteristics of a
peacemaker?
2) Leads others to make peace with God
What are the characteristics of a
peacemaker?
3) helps others make peace with others
Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV)
So if you are offering your gift at the altar
and there remember that your brother
has something against you, leave your
gift there before the altar and go. First
be reconciled to your brother, and then
come and offer your gift.
Romans 12:18
If possible, so far as it depends on you,
live peaceably with all.
Matthew 18:15-17 (ESV) - If your brother
sins against you, go and tell him his fault,
between you and him alone. If he listens
to you, you have gained your brother.
But if he does not listen, take one or two
others along with you, that every charge
may be established by the evidence of
two or three witnesses. If he refuses to
listen to them, tell it to the church. And if
he refuses to listen even to the church,
let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax
collector.
What are the characteristics of a
peacemaker?
4) A peacemaker endeavors to find a
point of agreement.
What is the result of peacemaking?
Eternal blessing
as
God‘s children
in
God‘s kingdom
―Peacemaking is a hallmark of God‘s
children. A person who is not a
peacemaker either is not a Christian or
is a disobedient Christian. The person
who is continually disruptive, divisive,
and quarrelsome has good reason to
doubt his relationship to God
altogether.
God‘s sons—that is, all of His children,
both male and female—are
peacemakers. Only God determines
who His children are, and He has
determined that they are the humble,
the penitent over sin, the gentle, the
seekers of righteousness, the merciful,
the pure in heart, and the
peacemakers.‖
[John MacArthur, Mt. 1-7, pgs. 217-18]
Will a peacemaker always be
successful in making peace?