Peace, Would You Find It?

From: Tidings of Life and Peace: 1914

From a Gospel Address.

THAT which is commonly taught and believed is, that we have to make our peace with God. But how could an unjust sinner make peace with a holy, righteous God? You might as well expect an infant to leave its mother’s bosom, and stop the express train as it rushes down the main line! Be assured of this, poor sinner, that nothing you have done, are doing, or ever will be able to do, could make your peace with God.

Man’s heart by nature is at enmity with God; and Christ died, not to reconcile God to man, as it is commonly taught, but to reconcile man to God (see 2 Corinthians 5:18-20¹⁸And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:18‑20); Col. 1:20-22²⁰And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. ²¹And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled ²²In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: (Colossians 1:20‑22)); and until you know and believe this, you will never be at peace with God.

But I think I hear you say, “If I am unable to make my peace with God; and must be at peace with Him to be perfectly happy here and hereafter, how is it to be accomplished?” Christ has made peace through the blood of His cross (Col. 1:20²⁰And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20)); made it by His blood; made it with God, and made it for you; and having done so, He said, “It is finished”.

Then having silenced all our enemies on the cross, God raised Him from the dead, and sent Him to proclaim peace to us. The first three words He uttered to His assembled disciples after His resurrection were, “Peace unto you” (John 20:19, 21, 26¹⁹Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (John 20:19)
²¹Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. (John 20:21)
²⁶And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. (John 20:26)).

But so many dear souls have not settled peace with God, because they stop at the cross, and do not go on to the resurrection. Christ is no longer a dead Christ hanging on the tree. Remember the angelic instruction “Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified; He is risen; He is not here; behold the place where they laid Him” (Mark 16:6⁶And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. (Mark 16:6)).

It is “the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant” (Heb. 13:20²⁰Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, (Hebrews 13:20)).

Do not confound the work of Christ for you with the work of the Holy Ghost in you: God does not preach peace by the Holy Ghost, but by Christ: “Preaching peace by Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:36³⁶The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) (Acts 10:36); Eph. 2:17¹⁷And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. (Ephesians 2:17)). But further: not only did He make peace on the cross, and announced it in resurrection, “HE IS OUR PEACE” (Eph. 2:14¹⁴For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (Ephesians 2:14)). It is not feelings, experiences, realizations, progress, or service, but HIMSELF IN HEAVEN, who is our peace, “the same yesterday, today, and forever”.

We have now seen that Christ crucified made peace with God for us; that Christ risen preaches peace to us; and that Christ glorified is our peace; and the moment we believe in God who gave, raised, and glorified Christ, we have present, perfect, and permanent peace with God. May it be yours.

H. M. H.

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