Matthew 5:9 (NKJV) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
One of the things that sets children of God apart from the world is our ability to be peacemakers in the midst of strife, contention, and division. Peacemaking should be the hallmark of all Christians as we actively pursue living peaceably with one another in the church and community. We should initiate restoration of relationships and be at peace with everyone—that’s being the salt and light in the world.
We are able to love because the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts. Therefore, Agape love, which is God’s kind of love, will be poured out of our hearts to those around us. We will have the ability to extend grace when needed, and our character will be moulded as we persevere and choose to be a peacemaker amidst challenging relationships by choosing love over retaliation.
However, in order to play the role of peacemakers, we need to fully grasp the biblical truth of how Jesus is the ultimate peacemaker between God and us. God did not wait for us to be perfect before He sent Jesus to redeem us from our sins. Instead, God demonstrated His love for us in this: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Rather than waiting for us to change or to be worthy of His love, He pursued us with His love and established peace with us. Therefore, we should do likewise for our loved ones and those whom God has placed in our midst.
Since we are made in the image of God, we can act as peacemakers and initiate peacemaking. We are to put on the “new man” by constantly reminding ourselves that we are a “new creation” in our spirit being with the nature of God in it. We have risen to a new life in Christ, we choose to live for Him and are no longer dictated by our emotions and self-centredness. We are no longer slaves of sin but slaves of righteousness, and children of light.
Romans 12:18 (NKJV) If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Many of us have been praying for peace in our community, country and around the world, but living peaceably with one another must begin with the church. People should be able to find and experience genuine love in church where we show forth Agape love towards those who are different from us. There should be no segregation, strife, and division in church. Scripture says that it is dependent on us to live peaceably with all men, and it is when we love one another that the world will know that we are Christ’s disciples.
John 13:34 (NKJV) A new commandment I give to you that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Sermon Series: You Can Do It! (Part 1)
缔造和平是我们的标志
马太福音 5:9 使人和睦的人有福了，因为他们必称这神的儿子。
作为上帝的儿女，使我们从世界分别出来的众多因素之一，就是在冲突、纷争和分裂中成为使人和睦之人的能力。使人和睦应该成为基督徒的标志，因我们在教会和社区中主动的寻求与人和睦。我们应该要主动地重建关系并与众人和睦 – 那就是所谓作世界上的盐和光。
我们之所以能够爱，是因为有圣灵住在我们心里。因此，无条件的爱，就是上帝的爱，会从我们的心中倾泻到周围的人身上。我们就有能力在有需要时施以恩典，我们的性格就会被塑造，并在严酷的人际关系中坚持和选择爱而不是报复，成为使人和睦之人。
然而，为了扮演使人和睦的角色，我们需要完全掌握圣经真理，了解耶稣如何成为上帝与人之间最终的和睦者。上帝并没有等到我们变得完美，才差遣耶稣来救赎我们脱离罪恶。而是在当我们还是罪人的时候，神就藉着基督为我们而死向我们彰显了祂对我们的爱。上帝没有等我们改变或等我们配得祂的爱，而是以祂的爱来寻找我们，并与我们建立了和平。因此，我们也要为所爱的人和上帝放在我们中间的人做同样的事情。
我们既是按照上帝的形象被造的，就能够充当使人和睦之人并缔造和平。我们要穿上“新人“，不断提醒自己，在我们的灵里，我们是”新造的人“，具备上帝的本性。我们已经在基督里复活，有新的生命，我们选择为祂而活，不再受情绪和自我中心的支配。我们不再是罪的奴仆，而是义的仆人，是光明之子。
罗马书 12:18若是能行，总要尽力与众人和睦。
我们中的许多人一直在为社区、国家和世界各地的和平祈祷, 但彼此和睦必须从教会开始。教会理应是人们应该能够在其中找到并体验到真正的爱的地方，在那里我们向那些与我们不同的人展示无条件的爱。教会中不应有任何隔离、冲突和分裂。经上说，总要尽力与众人和睦。当我们彼此相爱时，世界就会知道我们是基督的门徒。
约翰福音 13:34-35我赐给你们一条新命令，乃是叫你们彼此相爱；我怎样爱你们，你们也要怎样相爱。 你们若有彼此相爱的心，众人因此就认出你们是我的门徒了。”
讲章系列：你能做到! (第一部分)