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Jesus and Teachings about Living at Peace with Others
February 1, 2014

Last week I wrote about the promises that Jesus made to his disciples and how they would do greater works than Jesus. Jesus taught that if we love him, keep his commandments including the new one to love one another, and believe in him, that doing works greater than Jesus would be possible. While we can find verses written by the apostles that show the need to live peaceably with all, it was when Jesus cast out a demon that that he provided an understandable reason why this was so important.

Matthew 12:22-28
Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

The Pharisees were in denial and attributed the works of Jesus to a power derived from Satan. Jesus had to point out to them that divided houses do not stand for long. As Christians who identify as first-century apostolic Christians, we must make sure that our actions build up each other and other like-minded groups, instead of dividing ourselves against each other. Allowing ourselves to be divided against each other will result in our congregations being brought to desolation. Instead of reflecting on this recurring situation as an area of need, we somehow adopted an idea that this is moving us closer to the end of time and the Great Tribulation. We have adopted thoughts that are quick to blacklist those with different beliefs. If one congregation lists 100 beliefs and another congregation can agree on 99 of those beliefs our practice is to allow that one believe to be what divides us. We love to debate doctrine as if understanding of doctrine is faith forgetting a concept taught by Paul.

Ephesians 4:1-16
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Paul taught that it is peace which binds us together. Paul also taught that we have to be patient with each other and tolerate each other. Paul implies that there will be times when there will not be total agreement on all issues and that this is a normal function of faith that comes through One Lord, one faith, one baptism, and One God and Father. Coming to the unity of the faith is something we strive for as we guard against being tossed around by every wind of doctrine, and how many times has a single point of doctrine divided a congregation? While some may use single points of doctrine dividing a congregation to show spiritual maturity, to me it strikes of spiritual insecurity. We must consider that it is peace that is the bond of the unity of the Spirit.

Romans 12:18
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

The more that we are able to live peaceably with all including those who might agree with us on 99 out of 100 points of doctrine, the more likely we are to come to the unity of the spirit. As we live in this turbulent time, may we all grow in the unity of the faith and I invite you to join me in this quest.

All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
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