“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God”(Matthew 5:9)

What Is The Meaning Of Peace?
Some people think peace is the absence of conflict. But peace is more than that–there is no strife in a cemetery but that’s not a model of peace. God sees peace not as the absence of conflict but the presence of righteousness. Righteousness will bring about right relationships. Peace is not just stopping a war. God’s peacemakers don’t just stop wars–they replace what causes of war with the righteousness of God. Biblical peace never evades issues–it isn’t peace at any price. The peace of the Bible conquers the problem and builds bridges between people. That may involve struggle, pain, and anguish, but real peace is the result.

Prerequisites for Peacemakers
You can’t be a peacemaker until the first six Beatitudes characterize your life. That means you must start with the attitude of a beggar in your approach to God because of your sin (Matt. 5:3). Next you must mourn over your sinfulness (Matt. 5:4). That will produce meekness toward God in the light of His sovereignty and holiness (Matt. 5:5). As a result you will hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matt. 5:6), and God will extend to you His mercy (Matt. 5:7). When you’ve received His mercy you become pure in heart (Matt. 5:8). Only the pure in heart can be peacemakers (Matt. 5:9). But when you become a peacemaker the world won’t accept you. That’s why Matthew 5:10 says, “Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.” Peacemakers are always trying to bring about righteous solutions to problems. But the world reacts negatively to a peace based on righteousness because it doesn’t want to deal with the reality of sin.

What IS The Merit Of Peace?
Our Lord’s promise to peacemakers is that “they shall be called the sons of God” (Matt. 5:9). Only God can say who His sons are. In the Greek text of Matthew 5:9 the word translated “called” is stated in the future passive tense. That expresses continuous action. Jesus meant that in the future believers will be continuously called the sons of God. Believers are sons of God now and will continue to be called that throughout eternity. What a great promise!

Conclusion
A Christian is more than someone who says he made a decision at one time, walked an aisle, raised his hand, signed a card, or talked to a counselor. He is someone who is poor in spirit, mourns over sin, and is meek before God. He hungers and thirsts for God’s righteousness, has been shown mercy by God, and has a corresponding desire to show that mercy to others. Purity of heart and peacemaking also mark the Christian. Those are all qualities that Jesus said marked the citizens of His kingdom.

God has a personal and eternal love for those who are His own. He bears with our weaknesses and sin, accepts our imperfect service, provides for our needs, and shields us from danger. He has revealed His truth to us and made us heirs of all He possesses. He works everything for our good and will accept us into heaven. Those are all things God does for His sons. Peacemakers are indeed blessed!

Adapted from message by John MacArthur “Happy Are The Peacemakers”