For this message we are considering Jesus’ seventh beatitude in Matthew 5:9, where He says, Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Let us first think about how God is the great peacemaker. God is described in Scripture as the God of peace and His gospel message is a gospel of peace. Jesus is called in the Bible, the Prince of peace, in Isaiah 9:6. When He was born, the angels sang, as recorded in Luke 2:14, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. This is the message of the gospel. In our sin and guilt with our fall in Adam and our naturally depraved heart at enmity with God and our neighbour, God Triune came to bring peace and to work peace. As Zacharias puts it in Luke 1:79, [God came in Christ Jesus] to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace.

Yes, God is the ultimate peacemaker, and only through Him can anyone know true peace, and only in and by Him can anyone ever truly promote real peace. Concerning Jesus, the Prince of peace, hear Paul say, For it pleased the Father that in Him [Jesus Christ] should all fullness dwell; And having made peace, through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether things in earth, or things in heaven [Colossians 1:19-20]. In Ephesians 2:14, Paul exclaims, He Himself [Jesus Christ, the Saviour of sinners] is our peace!” yes, through His shed blood for sinners. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved [John 3:17]. This is Jesus’ gospel spoken to His disciples in John 14:27, on the evening before His crucifixion, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Do you hear how I am just quoting verse after verse from Scripture? There are so many, more than 400, direct verses proclaiming God as the great and glorious peacemaker to a sinful and undeserving people such as you and I are. Truly, the Lord is the God of salvation, the God in Whom and with Whom endless mercy, love, and peace is to be found, freely by grace alone, through faith in Jesus Christ, the Saviour of sinners! This seventh beatitude comes to us from the ultimate and supreme peacemaker Himself, without Whom nothing of this Bible verse makes sense, but in and through Whom, all of it becomes so powerful and precious also for this occasion.

To see that more, let us now move on to our next main point and consider with me the description of peacemakers as Jesus meant it. This beatitude has often been taken out of its gospel context and instead referred to mostly in a political and social sense. But when Jesus speaks of peacemakers, He is not referring to political peacemakers and socialism. No, the first half of the word, ‘peace’, refers to the Hebrew word, ‘shalom’, which speaks of complete wholeness and overall wellbeing. It is more than just the absence of trouble in life but all that which makes for complete wholeness in life in our whole being completely. It is much more than just absence of strife, but it refers to fullness of life.

The second half of the word, ‘makers’, means being motivated and energized to promote this true and lasting peace. It means then not just avoiding conflicts always, but refers more to always seeking for complete wholeness and perfect wellbeing of others, which, in fact, may sometimes necessitate confrontation and conflict. Being a peacemaker does not mean always being nice to everyone and taking care, no matter what, at all costs to avoid troubles, but rather, it means always aiming for the very best for everyone else in reference to this life and the life to come. Being a true peacemaker doesn’t mean living in tolerance of all others and in appeasement with everyone but it means praying and working always that others, especially those with whom we come into contact, may with us come to know the God of peace in and through Jesus Christ, the Saviour of sinners.

We live in a world where there is so much peace activity and talk of peace and work for peace, but generation after generation, peace on earth escapes us. True peace of heart with God and peace with others and peace on earth is not to be found left to ourselves as sinners in Adam, and sinners by nature. We live in a world at enmity with God and a world of countless wars and strife; a world of so much peace-breaking in relationships personally, socially, politically, and internationally. In our times, as in all ages since the Fall, there are those who promote ‘peace, peace’, when there is no real peace. The false religious leaders in Israel’s history and within the visible Church today preach peace without pointing to Christ Jesus as the only means of peace. Jeremiah complains of such false prophets and false teaching in Jeremiah 6:14, They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly [that is, they dress the wound of my people, as though it were not deadly serious] and they say peace, peace, when there is no peace.

In such a time as that, also in our day, God calls His people to be true peacemakers. And how can true peacemakers be described? For one, than you know Christ, the ultimate peacemaker, as your Saviour and Lord and you are convinced, true and eternal peace with God and man can only be found always and again in Christ Jesus and His finished work of peace with His once for all sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. The true peacemaker knows for himself perfect wholeness and wellbeing in life can only become his by being joined to Christ Jesus the Saviour, the Prince of peace, and ever following after Him and His Word. This is what you personally believe and honestly promote and reflect than in all your life. Would you say you are a peacemaker in this sense of the word as Jesus meant it?

Every true Christian will be a peacemaker and will seek to be such more and more. It is something you will pray about and ask God to make you be in all your relationships with others. Here let us consider our next main point, the dedication of peacemakers. True peacemakers, as Jesus meant it, will be devoted to God and His Word, God and His church, and God and His gospel ministry. Let us look at each of those three things individually.

To be a Christian peacemaker, we must live by God’s Word. The Holy Bible and all it is about from cover to cover is what should be our focus and interest, our authority and hope, our guiding light and lamp to our feet in all our ways, and in all our thoughts, words, and deeds. Certainly if you will be a Christian peacemaker in the family, the Word of God should be a book daily opened and read and meditated upon, and constantly referred to as that which we want and know all of life must be lived in submission to shall it be well with us, and shall we and our children live and die in the way of real and eternal peace. Is God’s Word central in your life and home?

To be a Christian peacemaker means not only living by God’s Word, but loving His church, the gathering of His people, and the worship services to His praise. A true peacemaker will follow the example of Christ, the one and only sovereign peacemaker, and love the Christian Church and what that Church is all about. Dedication to the church is characteristic of true Christian peacemakers for God works His peace in and through His church, especially with the proclamation of His gospel in Word and sacrament. The Church where God delights to dwell and to work with saving power is the workshop of the Holy Spirit, and always, shall we be dedicated peacemakers, we will show love and care for the church of Jesus Christ. Listen here to the psalmist of Psalm 122 when he says in regards to the Church, Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good. That is the prayer and care truly of real Christian peacemakers still today. Is that your prayer too? Don’t deceive yourself in thinking all is well with your soul if you never or seldom attend a Christian church.

One other clear way the dedication of Christian peacemakers shows itself is not only in devotion to God’s Word above all, and devotion to His Church, but also in devotion to the ministry of the gospel to others. When you know for yourself what God’s Word says, that true and everlasting peace for you can only always be found just in the gospel of Jesus Christ and nowhere else ever, than you have a passionate desire that this gospel becomes known more and more, by more and more! Being a peacemaker truly means missions and evangelism becomes an integral part of your life and that of your family. Again I ask, is it so in your life? True Christians are not just Sunday churchgoers but people burdened and zealous for the cause of the gospel. Does that describe you?

The Bible teaches us that if anyone will despise and reject the God of peace as made known in the gospel, it will be severely horrible for you in all eternity with never a second’s peace with God or with anyone around you. Think of it - evermore a peace less eternity in restless agony of body and soul, and realizing all the while, it is just what you deserve! How terrible to perish forever without again any hope any time, nevermore to escape from the torments of God’s eternal punishment. There is every reason and urgent reason for God’s people to be peacemakers, pointing all to Jesus Christ, that only Name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Jesus is the Prince of peace, giving peace with God and bringing peace among people. Oh, that all would seek Him while He may be found and call upon Him while He is yet near!

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the sons of God. Let us yet notice what Jesus says about true peacemakers. They shall be called sons of God. This title speaks of truly being not only God’s children, but being and becoming like Him, of peacemaking influence and impact in our world, starting with our families. What a honourary title, to be called sons of God, now already and always into all eternity because of promoting Jesus’ gospel of salvation. There is no more honourable title for us and our children than to be called by Jesus and the Father, sons of God! Is this title most precious to you?

Jesus, the only begotten eternal Son of God, laid aside the glories of His Sonship that He might obtain for people like us this title, delivering us from our natural willful bondage to the devil and freeing us through His precious blood that we might become children of God instead, and that we might really reflect Him as peacemakers in His Name. Nothing can compare to belonging to Christ and being a follower of Him. This is the word of the Lord, Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the sons of God. Amen.