WEEKLY INTRODUCTION: The theme for the Beatitudes is the same as Jesus’ message throughout His ministry, namely: “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” and the King wants to reign in your heart and rule over our lives now. It is a spiritual kingdom in which we enter through the gate of REPENTANCE and walk its streets by FAITH. Each Beatitude identifies the quality of one who has entered the Kingdom, followed by a promise to those who possess this quality. Once we enter the Kingdom, or we might say, once the Kingdom enters us, we receive all its blessings.

The Seventh Beatitude: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God” (Mt. 5:9).

Whenever we speak of “PEACE,” we need to realize that “PEACE” actually begins with God. It was the Apostle Paul who closed out his letter to the church in Rome by praying: “May the God of peace be with you” (Romans 15:33). Indeed, He is the God who embodies PEACE in his very character.

This “God of Peace” wanted to make sure that “PEACE” would also embody His Son when He came into the world. He announced this through the prophet Isaiah who said:

A child will be born to us; a son will be given…and he will be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6-7).

This “PEACE” was actually procured when Jesus died on the cross, as the Apostle Paul made clear in his letter to the Romans,

“Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).

To “be justified” is a “legal” transaction in which the sinner has his sins forgiven and as a result, enters into a personal relationship with God. And this transaction is not accomplished by works or religious ritual, but through faith in Christ, believing that His death on the cross paid the penalty for his sins. This is what Paul wrote to the church in Colossae,

For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Colossians 1:19-20).

Did you notice that? Paul tells us that when Jesus died, He opened the door for us to have peace with God through the blood that He shed on the cross. But not only that, but Christ’s death also healed human relationships by breaking down the barrier that had existed between Jew and Gentile. Here is what Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus,

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. His purpose was to create in himself one new body out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility (Ephesians 2:13-16).

The PEACE that Jesus came to give us is also extremely personal, for Jesus said,

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).

Please notice that Jesus did not say “Blessed are the peace lovers, or Blessed are the peace keepers, but Blessed are the “peace makers.” Let’s consider the exhortations regarding PEACE in all of our relationships:

1) PEACE MUST BE PRACTICED

As much as it depends on you, be at peace with all people (Rom.12:18)

Live in peace, and the God of peace with be with you (2 Cor. 13:11)

Live in peace with one another (1 Thes. 5:13)

2) PEACE MUST BE PURSUED  

Pursue the things that make for peace (Rom. 14:19)

Pursue peace with all people (Heb. 12:14)

Seek peace and pursue it (1 Pet. 3:11)

3) PEACE MUST BE PRESERVED

Be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3)

Finally, those who become “peacemakers” will be called “children of God.” This is what the Apostle John had to say about being “children of God,”

See what great love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called children of God! And that is who we are (1 John 3:1)!

John is saying that through Christ, we are not only “called” children of God, but we actually “are” children of God. And that is who “peacemakers” are – God’s children.

If you are not yet one of God’s children, then you can become one through faith in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. He died for you and wants you to be His child. It’s never too late to ask Him to redeem you.

Hope to see you next week.