Peace with God

Bob was in trouble. He forgot his wedding anniversary and his wife was really angry. She told him “Tomorrow morning, I expect to find a gift in the driveway that goes from 0 to 200 in 6 seconds AND IT BETTER BE THERE!” The next morning, he got up early and left for work. When his wife woke up, she looked out the window and sure enough there was a box gift-wrapped in the middle of the driveway, but a little box. Confused, the wife put on her robe and ran out to the driveway, brought the box back in the house. She opened it and found a brand-new bathroom scale! I don’t think that gift was appreciated! 

Conflict is a given in life. Nobody gets through life without conflict. Of course, part of that is because we’re all different, have different opinions and expectations. Conflict can be an opportunity to understand someone better, show compassion and grow closer. But sometimes conflict doesn’t go well, and it pushes people farther apart. We don’t want our life full of conflict: door slams, yelling, and dark clouds hanging over our relationships. We don’t want people we work with every day but don’t speak to. We don’t want a life with a lot of conflict gone bad. How do we have peace with others? 

The Apostle Paul didn’t like conflict gone bad, especially in the church. Paul was the father of churches, or stepfather. He didn’t start all the churches, but he felt a responsibility for Christian communities. He writes to them like he is their parent. He says in Philippians 4:1, “Therefore my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown,” Wow, you don’t call everybody your joy and crown! It is like Paul is talking to his beloved children. Paul says in verse 1, “Stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!” 

In verse 2 Paul says, “I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.” There is some conflict between two women in the church, Euodia and Syntyche. We don’t know what the problem is, but Paul is concerned enough to bring it up, to beg these two women to work things out between them. 

The Apostle Paul was the unity guy. Jesus was also very concerned for unity among his followers. Jesus prayed in John 17:21 “that they may all be one… that they may believe that you, Father, have sent me.” Jesus wanted Christians united. 

Paul was also really big on unity. Paul had many one another verses: “Be of the same mind as one another.” “Accept one another.” “Forgive one another.” “Bear one another’s burdens.” Paul talked about how the church is the body of Christ, and all the members are important and vital to the body, and all need each other. 

Paul wanted there to be peace, the peace of God, among the church. But how do we find peace with God? Two kinds of the same thing get in the way. What gets in the way of peace with God is sin. There are two kinds of sin. The first kind of sin is the sin we are born into. This generic sin came into the world through people, Adam and Eve. God created a good world, but humans sinned. Whenever sin shows up, something dies. Sin kills relationships. Sin kills our happiness.  

There is first of all the sin we are born into, general sin. It is kind of like the nation you are born into. If you are born in this country, you have blessings and freedoms people in North Korea don’t have. It’s not fair. You didn’t choose it. But it’s the nation you were born into. You weren’t born in Tahiti. That’s not fair, just how it is. We love our country, but most of us were just born into it. 

You were also born into the nation or kindgom of sin. You may say, “No, not me, I don’t sin.” If you have doubts about being a sinner, just ask the people that know you the best. They’ll say, “No, you are definitely born in the nation of sin.” I know my family knows what country I’m from! 

God dealt with that sin by sending Jesus. Jesus explained it to a guy named Nicodemus. He said, “You have to be born anew.” Somebody takes you out of the nation of sin and gives you a different birthright. Jesus did that! He died for our sins. We didn’t behave badly and get into the nation of sin. We don’t behave nicely and get our way into God’s kingdom. It’s a gift of God, we just put our faith in Him. Peace with God begins with putting our trust in God through Christ. You commit your life to Christ then you are in, you have salvation. Your sin isn’t counted against you. 

Then there is another type of sin: your behavior. Peace with God begins with faith in Christ. In this new relationship, God calls you to obey and submit to Christ; to try to live, walking in the path of God. God is always here to help. And peace with God paves the way to peace with others. 

Here is why Paul is so concerned that Euodia and Syntyche work through their conflict. Once God gives us peace and salvation God wants us to live like we are part of this new kingdom, God’ kingdom. As we have been forgiven, so we are to forgive others. 

You have a new birthright, a passport to God’s kingdom. So now, will you live a new way? 

1 John 4:20 says, “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen”. 

You can’t hate and hurt others and have peace with God.  

If you are a parent, there comes a time when your kid wants something. You could just let your kid do something you know they shouldn’t do. You could just say “Ok,” and life will be easier for you because your kid won’t complain, or cry, or get upset. But you don’t say “Yes,” if you’re a really loving parent, you’ll say “No.” Even though your kid will be mad at you. Even though it’s hard. Because you care about your kid so much, you’re not going to let them do something that will hurt them.  

You could say, “Yes dear, you can eat all your Halloween candy instead of dinner. Have the whole bag!” or “Well, of course you can have a party here at our house, no chaperone. And no, you don’t need to clean up afterwards.” 

But really loving parents don’t do what’s easy. Instead they look out for their kid. Likewise, God loves us too much, to simply keep the peace, and let us do whatever. God loves us too much to let us hurt ourselves. So, when we disobey, there is a tension between us and God. Because God loves us and wants what is best for us.  

If we are not obeying God, if we are running as fast as we can away from God, we are not at peace with God. So, we don’t get to just sit back as Christians and say, “God took care of my sin, now I can do whatever I want!” God is the really loving parent that wants us on the right path, doing what’s best. And honestly, we want peace with others. We don’t want to be fighting with multiple people all the time.  

That’s why Paul encouraged Christians in all the churches he wrote to, to get along. Work things out. You have peace with God, peace that passes all understanding. God can help you have peace with others. Ask for God’s help, to live the way he intends.  

Peace with God isn’t just salvation. Peace with God means now you’re in a new country, the kingdom of God or the reign of God. And in this new place, you lean on God to help you live a new way. God can help us forgive when it’s hard, and help us listen when we don’t want to, and help us walk towards someone when we would rather walk away. Peace with God paves the way to peace with others. 

I know I am from the nation of sin, because it is hard for me to say, “I’m sorry.” I don’t want to. But when I get those words out, “I’m sorry.” I find life is better. It’s hard to say I was wrong, but there’s a peace I wouldn’t have otherwise. It’s so much better to follow God’s way, and make peace, because then you have much more peace and much less heartache. 

My homework for you this week is to read verse John 14:27, and think about, how do you feel when you read it? Experience that gift Jesus is offering–peace with God and peace with others.  

God loves us too much to let us walk the wrong paths. He doesn’t want us at war with everyone. He wants peace for us. He offers us peace with him, and peace with others, when we live in his kingdom, and follow him, he helps us live in new ways. Amen. 

October 13, 2020