Today’s Bible Study, Authored by Arthur
Cincotti. 07/10/2022
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Study Discussion at: Peace at All Costs Podcast
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Peace at Any Cost
“Do not think that I
came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” Matt.
10:34
It’s important to
establish first that Jesus mission and purpose in coming and dwelling among us
was to install a pathway of peace with God. See Col. 2:13-15. This Christ alone
could accomplish.
But as the effects of
the fall remain a part of this dispensation we are painfully aware that peace
with one another continues to be a fleeting matter. See II Pet. 3:3,4.
Knowing the times we
live in:
It is particularly important for us as believers, to discern
the times we live in and understand the spirit of the age.
Our present cultural
moment is marked by divisiveness which breaks out in various forms of hostility;
in short, the absence of peace.
Our assignment from God
is to be ambassadors of peace wherever we go, bring in and establishing
the peace of God as we interact with a hostile environment.
It is important here to
say that we must have something in the store to bring. Col. 3:15, “And let the
peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body…”
Jn. 20:19, “Jesus came
and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’”
As we engage a hostile
world, whether it be a world view or world system, with this commission, what
are our boundaries?
Is peace exclusively the extinguishing of all hostility?
Should we engage in capitulation or compromise?
Is peace the ultimate ethic?
Interesting note: Islam
means peace
The spirit of Ahab is
the spirit of peace at all cost, and it is far from consistent with God’s
created order. Read I Kg.20:1-6
Comparison:
Christ invites us into relationship whereas sin threatens.
Christ stands alone whereas sin musters an army.
Christ gives abundant life, sin demand what God has given.
Christ asks of us a one time profession of our allegiance.
Sin demands constantly changing terms with no assurance of peace.
“Sin will take you father than you want to go, keep you longer
than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay.”
The spirit of this age
is demonstrating this scenario by constantly chipping away at the truth of the
Word of God and introducing ungodly demands and capitulations, and many
church’s are caving into the demands of the culture.
Ahab temporarily
rebounds by calling the elders and seeking council, (vr. 20:7,8) and in vr. 13
a prophet weighs in with a word from the LORD that He will, “deliver it into
your hand today” and Israel has a great victory. But Ahab spares King Ben
Hadad, (vr.34) very much like Saul spared King Agag in I Sam. 15, and is judged
in vr. 42
Small concessions with
sin and unrighteousness always have harsh long range consequences, but God,
through Christ is always wooing us back to a place of repentance and restored
relationship.
I Jn. 1:9
Since we have peace with
God we can now bring peace to a lost world by laying down our lives,
remembering that, “He (Christ) Himself is our peace…” Eph. 2:14 and He will not
be taken from us.
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Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship
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