Heb. 12:14-15…Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
The subject of peace in the Bible is a fascinating subject. Peace is not limited to just one-act of God. God said the peace you find in Christ passes all human understanding and intellect. Peace with God comes when a sinful soul is saved from the bondage of sin.
Then after Salvation…the believer in Christ can have peace with himself when he gets rid of the inner conflict caused from the still existing Adamic nature. The inner war caused from the wretched old man is thus destroyed by God in the blessing of Sanctification…or what the Bible terms as the “baptism with the Holy Ghost fire”. You can read about such blessed experience in the book of Acts chapter 1…chapter 10…chapter 15…and chapter 19. Chapter 15 defines heart purity with clarity.
After sanctification takes place (renewal) you have both peace with God and peace with yourself. This peace from above… is what enables man to get along with humanity. The Bible terms such as forbearance or getting all with others. Follow peace with all men.
Heb. 12:14-15…Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled
Peace with fellow-man is your witness for Christ. Peace with God is your witness for Christ. Peace with yourself is your witness for Christ. The down-payment of Salvation brings peace with God. The completed work of Sanctification brings peace with you. Thus Humbleness of heart is produced. Humility is produced. Forgiveness is produced because you’re forgiven. Lowliness is produced without pride. Even the bond of perfectness is produced.
What about getting along with fellow-humanity? The unsaved and unsanctified side of life “doesn’t really have” true peace with humanity. Reason? No holiness of heart. No love for fellow-man. Uncaring and unattached to fellow-man. An argument means nothing. A quarrel means nothing. Severing a relationship means nothing. Undoing past wrongs means nothing. Division and separation from countless people in life are just excuses. Peace with fellow-man means nothing to those who are void of such. They profess Christ with their mouth but their heart is far from Him. Christ loved people. Christ got along with people. Christ never harbored ill will toward any man. Who are they kidding?
Divided hearts and ill will toward people is failing the Grace of God. When failure arises and God’s Grace is diminished. Something negative is found within. It’s called the “root of bitterness”. A root caused from something that needs to “destroyed” in your life. The root of bitterness is something harbored within. It’s something that bleeds out from your character and make-up in society. It is recognized in the world you live in. It crushes the witness for Christ. It offers no compassion for fellow-man. It defiles a man. It causes men to die like Adam died. Spiritual death. Without holiness. Without compassion. Without forgiveness. Without peace with God and peace with yourself…it is impossible to have peace with fellow-man. Holiness of heart is necessary. The Grace of God is necessary. Reason? To eliminate the root of bitterness. To bring peace between you and fellow-man.
Heb. 12:14-15…Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled
Peace comes from above. Peace comes from Christ. From the Prince of Peace there will be peace on Earth. Peace is not achieved by you. Peace is not earned or merited by your good works. Peace comes from a living Christ who does a work on the inside so you can have peace with fellow-man on the outside. Glory! Even the angels say, “Let there be peace on Earth”. I agree!
May the peace of God be shared abroad in our hearts this Easter as we forgive and are forgiven, that we experience His peace in our hearts above every circumstance.
Blessings to all with His abundant peace.