Overall Question: What really is peace?

Memory Text: John 14:27 NRSV “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
John 14:27 COMMENTARY BY WILLIAM BURKITT Christ's peace is vastly different from that peace which is given or enjoyed by the world; the world may wish peace, yet never intend it; or they may wish it, yet not be able to give it: but Christ's peace is real and effectual, solid and substantial; the world's peace is only a freedom from outward trouble, but Christ's peace is a deliverance from inward guilt: and though it doth not give us an exemption from outward trouble, yet it gives us a sanctified use and improvement of them, and assures us of a joyful issue and deliverance out of them.

Sunday – Peace With God
Romans 5:1-11 God’s Word to the Nations “1 ¶ Now that we have God’s approval by faith, we have peace with God because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done. 2 Through Christ we can approach God and stand in his favor. So we brag because of our confidence that we will receive glory from God. 3 But that’s not all. We also brag when we are suffering. We know that suffering creates endurance, 4 endurance creates character, and character creates confidence. 5 We’re not ashamed to have this confidence, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. 6 ¶ Look at it this way: At the right time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for ungodly people. 7 Finding someone who would die for a godly person is rare. Maybe someone would have the courage to die for a good person. 8 Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates God’s love for us. 9 Since Christ’s blood has now given us God’s approval, we are even more certain that Christ will save us from God’s anger. 10 If the death of his Son restored our relationship with God while we were still his enemies, we are even more certain that, because of this restored relationship, the life of his Son will save us. 11 In addition, our Lord Jesus Christ lets us continue to brag about God. After all, it is through Christ that we now have this restored relationship with God.”
Romans 5:1 SDA BIBLE COMMENTARY True religion is often represented in the Bible as an experience of peace. Paul often calls God the “God of peace”. Sinners are described as enemies of God. For them there is no peace, no quietness and assurance. But the effect of God’s provision of righteousness by faith is to bring peace to the sinner’s once troubled and alienated soul. Before the experience of justification the sinner is in a state of enmity against God, as shown by his rebellion against God’s authority and his transgression of God’s laws. But after he is reconciled, he has peace with God. Before, while still under a sense of the guilt of sin, he has nothing but fear and unrest in his conscience. Now, with his sins forgiven, he has peace in his heart, realizing that all his guilt has been taken away.
Colossians 1:20-22 ESV “20 and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, [I say], whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens. 21 And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him:”

Monday – Finding Peace 1
Matthew 11:28-29 NKJV “28 "Come to Me, all [you] who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:28 SDA BIBLE COMMENTARY It is not of physical labor that Christ here speaks. He speaks rather of “labour” of soul and mind, which truly causes one to be burdened with care. This invitation would come with special force to the listening multitude, for the religion of Israel had degenerated into a meaningless round of “labour” in a attempt to find salvation by works.

Tuesday – Finding Peace 2
Matthew 8:23-27 NRSV “23 ¶ And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him up, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" 26 And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. 27 They were amazed, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?"”
Matthew 8:24 SDA BIBLE COMMENTARY Tempest. Gr. seismos, “a shaking,” “a commotion,” “a tempest,” or “an earthquake.” Our English word seismograph is derived in part from this root. Here seismos denotes the turbulence of the sea, and the terrific force of the furious gusts of wind as they struck the boat. The Lake of Galilee is noted for sudden storms of great intensity. In this instance the winds came sweeping wildly down upon the waters of the lake fom the mountain gorges along the eastern shore (DA 334). However, the evening had been calm, and the disciples had probably not anticipated stormy weather.
Matthew 8:26 PEOPLE’S NT COMMENTARY According to Matthew, he characterizes them as of "little faith"; according to Mark he asked, How is it that ye have no faith? [Mark 4:40]; according to Luke, Where is your faith? [Luke 8:25]. The spirit of the rebuke is the same in all the accounts.
Ellen White, Desire of Ages, p. 334 – “The sun had set, and the blackness of night settled down upon the stormy sea. The waves, lashed into fury by the howling winds, dashed fiercely over the disciples’ boat, and threatened to engulf it. Those hardy fishermen had spent their lives upon the lake, and had guided their craft safely through many a storm; but now their strength and skill availed nothing. They were helpless in the grasp of the tempest, and hope failed them as they saw that their boat was filling. Absorbed in their efforts to save themselves, they had forgotten that Jesus was on board. Now, seeing their labor vain and only death before them, they remembered at whose command they had set out to cross the sea. In Jesus was their only hope.”

Wednesday – Peace at Home
Hebrews 12:14 God’s Word to the Nations “Try to live peacefully with everyone, and try to live holy lives, because if you don’t, you will not see the Lord.”
Hebrews 12:14 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES The apostle is referring to the trials which those whom he addressed were experiencing. Those trials seem to have arisen mainly from persecution, and he exhorts them to manifest a spirit of kindness towards all, even though they were engaged in persecuting them. This is the temper of the gospel. We are to make war with sin, but not with men; with bad passions and corrupt desires, but not with our fellow-worms.
Romans 12:9-21 God’s Word to the Nations “9 Love sincerely. Hate evil. Hold on to what is good. 10 Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other. 11 Don’t be lazy in showing your devotion. Use your energy to serve the Lord. 12 Be happy in your confidence, be patient in trouble, and pray continually. 13 Share what you have with God’s people who are in need. Be hospitable. 14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless them, and don’t curse them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy. Be sad with those who are sad. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be arrogant, but be friendly to humble people. Don’t think that you are smarter than you really are. 17 Don’t pay people back with evil for the evil they do to you. Focus your thoughts on those things that are considered noble. 18 As much as it is possible, live in peace with everyone. 19 Don’t take revenge, dear friends. Instead, let God’s anger take care of it. After all, Scripture says, "I alone have the right to take revenge. I will pay back, says the Lord." 20 But, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink. If you do this, you will make him feel guilty and ashamed." 21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil with good.”
Romans 12:11 COMMENTARY BY ADAM CLARKE God, who forbade working on the seventh day, has, by the same authority, enjoined it on the other six days. He who neglects to labour during the week is as culpable as he is who works on the Sabbath. An idle, slothful person can never be a Christian.
Romans 12:13 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES One of the most striking effects of Christianity was to loosen their grasp on property, and dispose them to impart liberally to those who had need.
Romans 12:18 COMMENTARY BY ADAM CLARKE A man cannot have broils and misunderstandings with others, without having his own peace very materially disturbed: he must, to be happy, be at peace with all men, whether they will be at peace with him or not. The apostle knew that it would be difficult to get into and maintain such a state of peace, and this his own words amply prove: And if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably. Though it be but barely possible, labour after it.

Thursday – Peace in the Church
Matthew 5:23-24 BBE “23 If then you are making an offering at the altar and there it comes to your mind that your brother has something against you, 24 While your offering is still before the altar, first go and make peace with your brother, then come and make your offering.”
Matthew 5:24 COMMENTARY BY ADAM CLARKE God will not accept of any act of religious worship from us, while any enmity subsists in our hearts towards any soul of man; or while any subsists in our neighbour's heart towards us, which we have not used the proper means to remove. A religion, the very essence of which is love, cannot suffer at its altars a heart that is revengeful and uncharitable, or which does not use its utmost endeavours to revive love in the heart of another.
Matthew 5:9 American Standard Version “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.”
Matthew 5:9 SDA BIBLE COMMENTARY Christians are to be at peace among themselves and to “follow peace with all men” They are to pray for peace, to work for peace, and to take a constructive interest in activities that contribute to a peaceful state of society.
Colossians 3:13-15 Weymouth “13 bearing with one another and readily forgiving each other, if any one has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, you also must forgive. 14 And over all these put on love, which is the perfect bond of union; 15 and let the peace which Christ gives settle all questionings in your hearts, to which peace indeed you were called as belonging to His one Body; and be thankful.”
Colossians 3:15 SDA BIBLE COMMENTARY The peace of Christ is here described, not as a static virtue, but as an active power. It enables man to live in tranquility, undisturbed and trusting, amid the hardest circumstances of life. Christ, the source of this peace, becomes captain of the soul and serenely pilots the ship of life into a safe harbor.

JAMES423

PEACE is more that just the absence of confict

dgrimm60

But dgrimm I believe we can have peace with conflict. I believe we have conflict all the time, and i can still have peace.

pk

Could not peace be contentment and trust in Him Who is able within the eye of the storm?

Just awonderin'.

Yes, that is a very good thought COC.

pk

Seems to me that peace could really be the absence of conflict. That is, no matter what conflict is raging around you, within your own soul there can be harmony and freedom from hostilities, and you dwell in 'peace'.

When a 'peace treaty' is signed at the end of war, conflict ends and then there is peace.

When the 'Peace Officer' gets the criminal then there is peace.

Any time conflict is present it's not peace. Right? By definition.?

(I always tell creatures,-- you know, dogs and cats that someone imprudently leaves by the road close to the farm, that if they are to stay they must live in peace and not pieces! So the dogs cannot chase the cats or the peacocks or the chickens or the goats etc.. No conflict allowed. Then the farm is peaceful.)

PKRAUSE

THAT is a good thought

dgrimm60

CHILDOFGOD

THIS is a very good point

dgrimm60

Here's an excellent relection on this Sabbath's topic: Peace

Published on Spectrum (http://www.spectrummagazine.org)

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The Bond of Peace
By Ron Osborn
Created 01/17/2010 - 10:48



Commentary on lesson no. 4, “The Fruit of the Spirit is Peace”, for discussion on Sabbath January 23, 2010.

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4.1-3

I have been thinking lately about the violence of rhetoric. Not violent rhetoric, but the violence that is often lurking just beneath the surface of our language, our reasoning, and our ways of arriving at truth. Most of us have probably had some kind of disagreement with someone in which they use arguments in a way that we have a hard time refuting but leaves us feeling hemmed into a corner. We have no choice but to agree that the person we are talking to is “right”—they “win.” At a deep level, though, we might not really believe they are right, and so we experience their arguments as a kind of coercion and untruth, even if it is one we can't find the words to refute.

Many of us also know what it is like to be on the “winning” side in these kinds of encounters. Perhaps such moments are sources of pleasure—we have dominated others with our superior knowledge, or rhetorical skill, or access to the “truth.” But perhaps just as often, we leave these exchanges feeling discomfort and dissatisfaction at having silenced someone in a way that ends rather than invites continued conversation and growth in friendship. We are left wondering if it might have been better not to have spoken at all and if the truth has been helped or hurt by our approach, however true our words in themselves might have been.

The problem I am describing is in fact deeply embedded in the Western philosophical tradition, going all the way back to Socrates in the fifth century BC. Socrates built his entire philosophy upon a method of dialectical or syllogistic reasoning in which he would force those he was in conversation with to concede one minor point after another through seemingly innocent questioning, all the while guiding them in a direction they were not aware of, until at last they would find themselves trapped in a position they would have to agree was “true” on the basis of the accumulated facts they had granted Socrates along the way. And there is in fact a great deal of wisdom and truth in these dialogues (as recorded by Socrates’ disciple Plato).

At the same time, Socrates’ method often seems to involve a conscious manipulation, or coercion, of the minds he is encountering—a kind of violence, really. Outcomes are sometimes forced through semantic tricks. People are lured into agreement on seemingly innocuous points without allowing for other possibilities to be fully explored, and this restricts their freedom when faced with more important points later in the conversation. There is more than a little will to power at work here, and in the nineteenth century Nietzsche was to conclude that the will to power is in fact at the heart of all truth claims.

The urgent question that arises for believers, then, is what about the truth claims of the Gospel? Is the language of the New Testament also just another cleverly masked method of power and control? Does it also box us into positions where we have no choice but to accept its assertions, where we are crushed by its rhetorical force and inescapable logic? Or is the truth of the Gospel a truth that takes a very different form? Is it a form that, from beginning to end reveals, not domination but reconciliation—not the violence of rhetoric but an alternative grammar of peace?

I have to confess that I often do not feel at all at peace when I listen to the language of media savvy televangelists, who take to cities and airwaves like dive-bombers in a blitzkrieg. But are these aggressive purveyors of what they assert is the “good news” unique? Or are they just doing in a more blunt form what all Christian attempts at persuasion are, at a deep level, doing?

In fact (and perhaps surprisingly to some), the Christian euangelion does not use anything like Platonic or Aristotelian logic (or televangelistic verbal pyrotechnics) for its truth claims. What we find in Scripture instead is narrative, poetry and history, and theology embedded in ad hoc letters of practical counsel to specific church communities. But the Apostle Paul, far from describing the Gospel as logically irrefutable or rhetorically irresistible, goes so far as to declare that the Christian message is a “scandal” and “foolishness.” From the standpoint of any disciple of Plato or Aristotle, the Christian claim that Jesus—a poor peasant Jew who was executed on charges of sedition by means of an instrument of Roman torture—is in fact Truth personified, is both politically subversive and intellectually repellent. Yet it is this offensive weakness—this scandal to all of our pretensions to intellectual certitude, as well as to political power and control—that is somehow paradoxically God's saving strength. And the way we know the Gospel of Christ is true is not by its rationalistic power but by its fruits, by the fact that it results in a powerful “bond of peace” between persons who were formerly enemies and strangers.

An authentically Christian rhetoric of persuasion must therefore refuse not only physical violence and coercion, but intellectual violence and coercion as well. I am not suggesting that discipleship means that we should stop thinking, talking, and making arguments, or that belief is “irrational.” And there are probably times when the most charitable thing one can do for a pompous, ignorant, or arrogant man or women (or the people who listen to them) is to call pomposity, ignorance, and arrogance by their rightful names. But it seems to me that far too much “Christian” rhetoric, whether directed at non-believers, or at believers who don’t think the “correct” thoughts like “us” (wherever we happen to stand on the theological spectrum), is marked by use of epistemological closure, of one-upmanship, and of will to power. The intention is to silence the listener, rather than to invite conversation in a humble search for the truth and the peace of Christ. Of course I am deeply implicated in that which I describe! But these are not games that Christians can or should play. They are certainly not games the New Testament writers played. There is an urgent need for followers of Christ to diligently strive to show “humility and gentleness” and “tolerance for one another” in order to preserve “the bond of peace.”

* * *
Ronald Osborn is a Ph.D. candidate in the Program in Politics and International Relations at the University of Southern California; he is a frequent contributor to the Spectrum website.

Alex

ALEX

THANK you for you post
there was some good points there

dgrimm60