THESE two sayings of Jesus Christ appear contradictory, yet the history of the Church and the experience of believers in all ages prove that they are not; both are true, both are actual facts in Christian life.
OUTSIDE DIVISION.
The first scripture is to be understood in the light of the believer’s relation to the ungodly world. The disciples, in common with the Jews, were expecting temporal, social, and political peace under the Messiah. He forewarns them against this delusion, and plainly tells them that the result of His coming would be the reverse of peace. All succeeding ages prove His words true. In the bitter controversies that have been carried on, and the cruel persecutions that have raged, we see how literally these words have been fulfilled. In many an instance, brother has betrayed brother to death, parent has betrayed child, and child parent. And though we live in far happier times, yet this division is still seen. The followers of Christ are despised today, watched with jealous eyes, and separated from the society of the world. How is this? Did Christ come to create discord? No. He came to bring peace and good-will. The strife arises from the pride and passions of ungodly men. His purpose of peace is effected through a storm.
DIVISION A NECESSITY.
1. The principles of Christ’s gospel of necessity create division. The leading principle of His gospel is salvation by grace, through faith, salvation―a free, full, and present gift to the guilty and undeserving. Such is clearly the distinguishing doctrine of the gospel of Christ. It proclaims free pardon and acceptance with God through simple faith. This is utterly opposed to all false religions. All false and perverted religions make salvation to be of works, penances, gifts, and offerings. They all seek to make God a debtor to man, and teach that you must purchase His favor by what you are and do. Hence of necessity comes division. Salvation by grace and salvation by works are contraries. They cannot stand together. The first is utterly opposed to the pride and self-importance of man; the last is utterly opposed to the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. You see this division in every Jewish synagogue in which Paul preached. You see it in the entire history of the Church from Acts 15. downwards. You see it in the conflict between Ritualists and Evangelicals today, It must be so. In this warfare there can be no compromise. Souls enlightened from above are still “determined” to know nothing amongst men “save Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cori 2:2).
THE CAUSE OF THE DIVISION.
2. The spirit of Christ’s followers also leads to division. The distinguishing mark of a Christian is love―love to the Lord Jesus and to men for His sake. Does love create division? Yes; of necessity love to Christ includes hatred to sin and separation from it; it leads the soul to be loyal and true to Him at all costs. Love cannot be neutral or indifferent; it must take sides with the Beloved. It follows, therefore, that our very love to Christ creates division. The spirit of the world is selfish. Self-love in one form or another rules the world. Between the two there can be no sympathy. Love and enmity cannot unite.
The more we love Christ the more shall we be separated from the world and hated by it too.
3. The character of Christ’s followers necessitates division. Look at the character of His people as revealed in the beatitudes (Matt. 5), and you see at once what a great division there is, and how He honors and blesses those whom the world persecutes and casts out. He blesses the poor in spirit, the mourner, the meek, the merciful, and the pure in heart. The world blesses the self-sufficient, the gay, the ostentatious, the prosperous, and the shrewd. That which Christ highly esteems is despised by men. All who follow Him must walk in a separated path, and count it their honor to be despised by the world. To follow Him is to go against wind, tide, and the whole course of this world.
PEACE WITHIN.
The second scripture― sometimes called our Lord’s legacy to His disciples―is to be understood in a spiritual inward sense. It refers to the believer’s relation to God and his disposition towards Him. This inward peace has been and is enjoyed ‘even amidst the conflict with the evil of the world and the trials arising therefrom. Indeed, this peace is the cause of division and opposition, for until one is fully at peace with God he will not be fully in conflict with sin. The peace with God and peace with the devil can never be linked together. How is this peace described?
It is the peace which Christ leaves, the peace of reconciliation, the peace which He secured by the blood of His cross. Peace I leave with you, your sins are forgiven, your debt is canceled, your soul is at rest, your eternal life is secured, the Father’s smile is enjoyed. On the ground of completed work and perfect atonement of the Lord Jesus, He bequeaths this peace to all who believe. “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Then more than this, He gives the peace which as man here below He Himself possessed. “My peace I give unto you.” The peace which dwelt in His own bosom amid all the trials of earthly path, the peace of full confidence in His Father’s love, of full union with His Father’s will. Our blessed Lord never distrusted the one nor strove against the other. Even in the darkest hour He accepted “the cup” from the Father’s hand, and said, “Not My will, but Thine be done.” To His disciples He said, “My peace I give unto you.” Do we know what this is? It is possible to know the first, the peace of deliverance from condemnation, and yet not to know the second, at least only partially and fitfully. How many who have accepted Christ as their Saviour are yet full of anxious cares, repining because of what is denied or taken away! They are never truly happy because they are not in harmony with the will of God. But Jesus, the beloved Son of God, is willing to give us His own peace, His own confidence in the Father’s love and power, His own union with the Father’s will. There are those who know what it is. In trying circumstances and in the darkest hour they have been kept in perfect peace, and have cheerfully said, “All is well.” This peace is to those who possess it a precious reality.
It is not dependent upon outward circumstance like that of the world. It is peace within, and independent of external things. It is neither given nor taken away by men. In the most unfavorable circumstances it has often been most truly enjoyed. It has sustained the heart in poverty, in affliction, in reproach, in imprisonment, and even in death. It is not false and delusive. The world’s peace is but a delusive dream, from which there will be a rude awakening ere long. But the peace which Jesus gives Isaiah 13based on righteousness and truth. It is peace with honor, peace consistent with unsullied holiness. It is firmer than the everlasting hills (Isa. 54:1010For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. (Isaiah 54:10)). It brings everlasting consolation, and the possession of it now is the sure pledge and earnest of an eternal sabbath.
Such is the portion of all believers. “In the world ye shall have tribulation, but in Me ye shall have peace.” The smile of God and the frown of men, the friendship of Christ and the opposition of the world, these are the, allotted portion of all who truly follow Him. O. T.
Must be with Him to be for Him. ―It is not necessary to be highly educated and learned to tell forth the “glories of Christ,” nor does the “knowledge of Christ” create a desire to be so. One thing it does. It gives a boldness which, when manifested, will cause even your superiors to marvel greatly, and force them to acknowledge that you have been with Jesus (Acts 4:1313Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)).