Peace and Holiness
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:14
Jesus said that the peacemakers will be blessed (Matt. 5:9).
Jesus said that the peacemakers will be blessed (Matt. 5:9). The Holy Spirit commanded us to be at peace with all if possible, so far as it depends on us (Rom. 12:18). Jesus implied that being peaceable was an indicator that you are the salt of the earth (Mark 9:50). The kingdom of God consists of peace along with righteousness and joy (Rom. 14:17). Christians are commanded to live in peace by aiming for restoration, comforting one another, and agreeing with one another (2 Cor. 13:11). Division and contentiousness are condemned (1 Cor. 1:10ff; Tit. 3:9-11).
In like manner, holiness (being different, set apart from the world) is essential for salvation. That sanctification comes only from the truth of God’s Word (John 17:17), which is holy itself and which will be rejected by those who are not peaceful (Matt. 7:6). Dedicating our entire lives to God is what makes us holy and acceptable to him (Rom. 12:1). He chose the church before the events of Genesis for one purpose: to be holy (Eph. 1:4), and that was also why he died on the cross (Col. 1:22).
To be at peace. To be holy, different from the world. That’s a big part of what true Christianity is all about.