Peacemaking

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."
                                                -Matthew 5:9

Calling someone a "son" of something means they are following the path of that person, or that they are like that person. "Son of a gun" does not mean that someone has a gun as a parent, it means that they are like a gun in that they are explosive or can cause damage. Jesus is the "Son of God" in a unique way. He is the "one and only" Son of God. Given that there is only one God, the title also affirms that he is God. In Matthew 5:9, Jesus says that we can be called "sons of God," meaning the usual sense. We can be like God in one of his key characteristics, peacemaking. God is the ultimate peacemaker and we can follow his path. Peacemaking is the single way identified in the Sermon on the Mount that can bring about the "son of God" description.

Jesus goes on to emphasize peacemaking in Matthew 5:23-24, "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift."

I don't think Jesus is commenting about when you can and cannot make an offering. His real point is that peacemaking is a priority for Christians, and it needs to happen quickly.

Consider Ephesians 4:26-27,  "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

Notice, "Do not give the devil a foothold." Paul is saying that when we don't urgently make peace with others, we are giving the devil an opportunity to accomplish his purposes. Peacemaking is a critical component of spiritual warfare!

These are just a few examples of how much the Bible emphasizes peacemaking in the Christian life.

Peacemaking is not about looking the other way when there is conflict. Ignoring conflict is one of the surest ways to "let the sun go down while you are still angry." Peacemaking means actively using biblical tools to resolve conflict.

Here is a quick summary of those tools, taken from Ken Sande's "The Peacemaker."
1. Examine yourself and identify where you are at fault in a conflict (Matthew 7:1-5)
2. In small conflicts, choose to overlook an offense. When you do this, you must decide to give up your desire or even right to use the conflict against that person in the future. For example, telling a joke about someone for spilling water on your pants. Overlooking is not ignoring conflict, but dealing with it actively in a simple way.
3. Make an effective apology for your role in conflict. Remember to: Address everyone involved, Avoid "if," "but,"" and "maybe," Admit specifically what you did, Acknowledge the hurt you caused, Accept the consequences of your behavior, commit to changing your behavior, and Ask for forgiveness.
4. Be ready to offer forgiveness. Forgiving a person is to promise not to dwell on what happened, not to use it against them in the future, not to talk to others about it, and not to allow it to interfere with your relationship.
5. Seek help from others with godly counsel on handling conflict.

This is a brief overview of an area we all need to work on. Always ask God for help. His act of forgiving us at the cost of sending his Son is what can give us the power to forgive and be peacemakers ourselves.


Trust the Bible is a weekday radio program that begins at about 8:10 each morning on WDOG 93.5 in Allendale, SC. You can listen to previous programs online here: http://www.fairfaxfbc.org/trust-the-bible.html

Ten Reasons to Celebrate Easter

1. The resurrection gives Jesus victory over his enemies!

Acts 4:10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

2. Believing in the resurrection brings salvation.

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

3. It fulfills Bible prophecy.

Acts 2:31 Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. (Psalm 16:9)

4. It proves the Gospel message.

Acts 17:31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."

5. It is necessary for forgiveness of sins.

Romans 4:25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

6. It is the basis of our new birth (regeneration).

Romans 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

7. It is the basis for our hope that death is defeated and we will be reunited with loved ones.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

8. It is the basis for our hope in a new, eternal, and sinless body.

1 Corinthians 15:42-43 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.

9.  It displays God’s sovereignty and power

Ephesians 1:19-20 His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, ²⁰ which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

10. It means we will see Jesus in the flesh one day!

Acts 1:11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."


Trust the Bible is a weekday radio program that begins at about 8:10 each morning on WDOG 93.5 in Allendale, SC. You can listen to previous programs online here: http://www.fairfaxfbc.org/trust-the-bible.html

Did the Resurrection Really Happen?

On Easter morning, John tells us that he went running to the tomb with Peter. They heard a report that Jesus had risen from the dead, but they didn't know what to make of it, so they went to see what they could find out. The Bible invites us to investigate the facts as well. The accounts in the Bible acknowledge that initial skepticism is a natural reaction to such an amazing event.

Did Jesus rise from the dead or not? To some, this may seem like a question for history buffs or the very religious. Outside of being able to have an informed conversation about a topic that interests many, what difference does it make? Did Alexander the Great die of a disease like Malaria or was he poisoned? It might be an interesting conversation to have, but does it really matter?

According to the Bible, the resurrection of Jesus is no ordinary historical fact. If it did not happen, the Bible says everything about the Christian message is a complete hoax that has deceived billions (1 Corinthians 15:15). On the other hand, if the resurrection did happen, Jesus' message is authenticated and your eternal destiny depends on whether or not you will put your trust in his death and resurrection for salvation. This is a historical question that directly impacts your life like nothing else, historical or otherwise, ever could!

And make no mistake, it is a question of history. Many think of a question like this as a "religious" question. It is a matter of faith, not a matter of fact. However, Jesus of Nazareth was a real person who was crucified in 33 A.D. Did that person come back to life and appear to many, or not? This either happened or it didn't. It doesn't really matter what your religious beliefs are. It is a question of history.

Some historians will claim that it is a question that is impossible to answer. Supernatural events are beyond the scope of what history can investigate. Others deny that it could have happened simply because it is supernatural- and those kinds of events don't happen. However, looking at the evidence has convinced even many hardened skeptics that the resurrection is real.

Following the biblical presentation, I think it is reasonable and right to begin with a degree of skepticism about a miraculous account like the resurrection. However, there are a number of natural events surrounding the resurrection that you can evaluate first. For instance, Jesus was executed by crucifixion. The tomb where he was buried was found empty within a few days. Many followers of Jesus soon proclaimed that Jesus had risen from the dead and that they had seen him. These are the kinds of facts that atheists and skeptics of all kinds can agree with. There is an extraordinary amount of historical data to support them, in historical accounts that are included in the Bible and outside the Bible. These basic facts are attested at least as well, if not far more than, just about any other basic fact from ancient history.

The question then becomes, what is the explanation? Was it a hoax? Were the disciples tricked? Was there some simple mistake, like going to the wrong tomb, that grew into a greater and greater legend over time? Or did Jesus really rise from the dead? Answering all of these questions goes beyond what I can cover in one blog entry. However, I can tell you that every suggested alternative to a real resurrection is met with enormous challenges. There really is only one reasonable explanation to all the facts. Jesus Christ really did rise from the dead! After looking at the evidence, it is hard for me to imagine how anyone really could believe anything else. I recommend "I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist," by Norman Geisler, for an explanation of the alternative theories.


Trust the Bible is a weekday radio program that begins at about 8:10 each morning on WDOG 93.5 in Allendale, SC. You can listen to previous programs online here: http://www.fairfaxfbc.org/trust-the-bible.html