Well, this evening we come to the second last of our studies in the Beatitudes. And as we said from the start, these eight Beatitudes that our Lord gives us are a description of Christian character. Here is what the lives of those who are in the kingdom of God will look like. And as we've been going through these various character traits, I hope that there's two things that you're beginning to see. First of all, that those who will inherit the everlasting kingdom of God are the ones who it appears least likely that will do so. These character traits are not what you'd expect of a people who are in this all-powerful kingdom and dominion. They don't look like people who are going to reign for eternity. Meekness. Mourning. Hunger and thirsting for righteousness. Merciful. But these characteristics are meant to give us assurance that the kingdom is ours. And this is the way God wants us to live now in Christ. We're not to follow the wisdom of the world, which would say ruthlessness, being unmerciful. In that way, no. We have to put on the character of Christ, trusting that he will come again and reign over all things. And secondly, I hope that you see that these Beatitudes are about how we relate to God and to one another. We were not meant for isolation. We're very much made for fellowship with God and with one another. And so these are the qualities that we are to display as we do that. These are the things that God is working into us by His Spirit, conforming us to the likeness of Christ. Because these, the attitudes, are perfectly embodied in Him. He is the one who inhibits all of these perfectly. And so the next character trait that we come to tonight is in Matthew chapter five, verse nine, where it says, blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. This wasn't planned at all, It just so happens that on this, our missed this day, this morning we were thinking about conflict, conflict in the church, and now tonight we come to the subject of peace. So it's really quite fitting that we've, in our studies, we've come to both of these topics. So with this beatitude, blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. This is another example of how Jesus turned the thinking of his day upside down. Because you see, only Israel had the privilege of being called sons of God. They were God's sons. And to be a Jew at this time, that meant anything other than proclaiming peace. No, because Israel was no longer a nation in its own right. been taken captive by Babylon. They'd been exiled. They were under Babylonian rule, then Persian rule, and then Greek rule, and now they're under Roman rule. And at this stage, Jewish nationalism is very much on the rise. and there was very much a spirit of revolt among the people against the Romans. The Jews hated the Gentiles with a real bitterness and they were hopeful that the Messiah would come and would raise up an army and wipe out the Gentiles. But the true Messiah, the one who is teaching this crowd on the mountainside, he had very different ideas. Rather than him coming establishing peace by force, by driving out the Romans or whoever, he would bring about peace through his work on the cross. And it wouldn't just be for the Jews, but for the Gentiles as well. The Jews only claimed sonship because of their national identity. But Jesus declares that a son of God is the one who accepts the peace brought about by him, by the son of God, and then seeks to make that peace known to all. That Gentiles may also be called sons of God if they will come to Christ. And so, this is what we find tonight. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. I'm sure we've all found ourselves in situations at times where we've been trying to keep the peace. It might be in our families, or in the workplace, or on the sports field, or even in the church. And that's a hard enough job on its own, trying to keep the peace in an unpeaceful situation. But this beatitude is about more than that. It doesn't say blessed are the peacekeepers. No, it's blessed are the peacemakers and there's a difference. It's not just calming things down. No, peace and appeasement are not the same thing. No, peacemakers are those who will go out of their way to actively create conditions of peace. And we'll come back in a few moments to consider what that will look like in our lives. But let's now consider the foundation of our peacemaking. You see, the reason we go out to be peacemakers is because of what God has done in Christ. Because God has brought about peace through the one who would be called the Prince of Peace. He is the one who on the cross of Calvary brought about this peace. In the morning we're studying Paul's letter to the Colossians and as we've seen already in chapter 1 verses 19 and 20 it says, all the fullness should dwell, and by him to reconcile all things to himself, by him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of his cross. So Jesus Christ has brought about that peace, and when we accept him into our lives, when we give ourselves to him, we receive that peace. We come into that state of peace with God. We know our sin's forgiven and we know ourselves to no longer be enemies of God that we were in our sin, but instead to be at peace with him. And so Paul writes in Romans 5, therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. This is what the angels announced at the birth of Christ to the shepherds on the hillside, glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. So peacemakers are first and foremost those who are at peace with God, because God has brought about that peace through the life, death and resurrection of his son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The war has been won within us. God has graciously come and conquered the hostility of our sinful hearts. And we see that we're not only justified and made right with God, but he shows that there is now real, lasting peace by going on to adopt us and to call us his children. He has given us the spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba, Father. So we are sons of God. You know, that's one of the greatest privileges of being a Christian. Knowing God as our Father. The great creator, the eternal God, who is set apart from his creation, who is most holy, most wise, most powerful, who we cannot even begin to fathom and comprehend. The God that we have no right in and of ourselves to go anywhere near because of our sin. That in Christ we might come to this God, this high and holy and majestic God, reigning in the glory and splendour of heaven. Invisible, immortal, the only wise God. And we might call him Father. because he's declared us to be his sons and daughters in Christ. In God's kingdom, we are restored to what we were meant to be. Remember in Luke chapter three, it's a genealogy and it goes from Jesus all the way back to Adam. How does it describe Adam? The son of God. That's what we were created for. And that is then achieved, where Adam failed, that Christ came as the last man, the second Adam, that this sonship may be brought about. And all those in Christ have the privilege of this sonship. Though we have sinned against him in every way, though we have turned and ran from him, Yet the Lord God delights to save us from our sin and to call us his children. And he has brought about peace through his eternal son so that he can do that to us, call us his sons. In Luke 15, where we find the parable of the prodigal son, Remember what the father says to the older brother? He says, son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. And that's us with God in Christ. God desired peace, and he got that peace. And so that is now the characteristic that he works into his children. He is the God of peace, and He is bringing about in us that desire for peace, that longing for peace to be characterising all that is around us. Peace, of course, is one of the fruits of the Spirit. So that is one of the things that the Holy Spirit is cultivating in us. We now have the same principle of action as God, and that is to seek peace, to go after peace. we show we are the children of God when we strive for peace at every opportunity. Because that shows that we truly understand the peace that now exists between us and God. And we seek that all around us. And there are three ways that we can see where we seek to make that peace in our daily lives. First of all, We want there to be peace between ourselves and others. Secondly, we want there to be peace between others. And thirdly, we want there to be peace between others and God. But before we go on to consider these three ways, first it's important to say that being a peacemaker will be costly. God brought about peace at an immense cost. A cost that we cannot even begin to comprehend. A cost on his son. And likewise, as we go to make peace as his sons and daughters, it will be costly for us to do the same. It's a difficult job because this world thrives on conflict. There's people who just love to stir things up. I'm sure we all know someone who's always falling out with people, not talking to this one and that one. You all know that person, right? And so we're going out to make peace with people like that. It will be costly. We will face rejection because some people will not want peace. In Psalm 120, verse 7, the psalmist says, I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war. And that's what the reality will be like in this world. It will cost us. We'll face rejection. We may get a reputation for being a soft touch. Your ego might take a hit. But you'll have a clear conscience before God. So that's the call of Christ to his people now, to be peacemakers. Perhaps another way of saying that would be to be peace diffusers, to be those who want to spread and diffuse peace all around us. I've been, of course people are God willing coming up to the mans tonight so I've been trying to get rid of all those cooking smells from the kitchen so I've been lighting candles and putting those air fresheners and diffusers there so that the smell of cooking will just be it'll get, be gotten rid of as these nice breezy bright smells come in And that's what we have to be like in this world, a world where people are at loggerheads with each other, where there's just the smell of war and conflict and bitterness all around. We have to be those who are diffusing a different fragrance, that fragrance of Christ. And this is the influence that we have to be on this world, a salt and light. One commentator described the church as God's peace core. We are the peace core of God. And so this is what we're commanded time and again in scripture, that we are to seek that peace. So there's three ways we're briefly going to consider that that peace is to be established. First of all, we seek peace between ourselves and others. It says in 1 Peter 3, let him seek peace and pursue it. If we have to seek peace, we have actually to pursue peace as well. That's what being a peacemaker is. So peace between ourselves and others. We covered a lot of this ground a fortnight ago when we looked at being merciful. When we have run-ins with other people, we have to go and seek that reconciliation. We have to be the ones, have to take the initiative to go and make that peace. There's times when we can't keep the peace because there is no peace. Because that peace has been shattered. And so we have to go and make that peace. And it takes humility to do that. That's not easy. That's hard. Because at times, in that conflict, we've been hurt. But that's what Christ calls us to do. Because God is the one who made that peace with us. He took the initiative. Eternity passed knowing the sins we would commit. Knowing how repulsive and disgusting our lives would be to him. But yet that's what he did. He made that peace possible by giving up his one and only son. By his blood being shed. So that has to be our attitude now, that when there's a fallout between ourselves and others, let's stop going on about our rights and all that, and that they started it and all that petty nonsense, and let's go and seek that peace. That's what being a peacemaker is. So secondly, we want peace not just between ourselves and others, but we want there to be peace between others. Perhaps there's a conflict that has nothing to do with us. It's not something where we're one of the parties in it. But if we can help, my goodness, yes, of course we'll help. Perhaps, you know, two people, perhaps two friends or family members that have fallen out, and it can be very hurtful when that happens. Well, we could do something to help, surely. We do that, do we not? Is that not being a peacemaker? It's not just peace in our own lives, we want peace in the lives of others as well. So we do all we can to help others love one another. And that'd be by coming alongside someone and helping them to go and make the initiative to go forward first in forgiveness. So, that's what we have to do. But let's remember, it's not peace at any price. Some people, you know, we say that they'll just do anything to keep the peace. They'll say anything that just kind of pacifies and calms it all down. Well, we can't either. There are times when that can't be the case. We can't compromise. We can't compromise on the truth of the gospel. We can't compromise on the lifestyles that we have to live. If we've got non-Christian friends, perhaps it would be so easy to keep the peace at times by just going in to sin with them. We've not to do that. It's not peace at any price. There is a time perhaps we're saying no as well. And it might cost us friends. It might cost us relationships to do so. We don't just say there's peace. We don't just say peace, peace when there is no peace. Because that's the words of the false prophet, not the words of the Christian. So that's the second way. Peace between others, whatever we can do to bring that about. And perhaps there's a word in season you have to give to someone tonight that they need to hear, that they would then go and seek that peace. And then thirdly and finally, we want there to be peace between others and God. And how do we do that? What can we do for that? We tell them the gospel. We tell them about the Lord Jesus Christ. It's something we don't often think of in being a peacemaker, but it means we're evangelists as well. That peace has been made available through Jesus Christ, through his death on the cross. So let's make that known, because we see people out there who are not at peace with God, who are in turmoil. Some of them realise it, some of them don't. and we have the answer for them. Here's the way to peace. We have a message of peace to proclaim. Do we not want others to be at peace? Do we not want them to know that peace that passes all understanding that we have, that has transformed our lives? Of course we do. So being a peacemaker means going to let others know about that peace that they can have with God. The gospel is a message of peace. So my friends, let's do that. It says in Hebrews 12, 14, pursue peace with all people and holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Peace with all people and holiness. See, we can't just be trying to live holy lives on our own, trying to cultivate this holiness in us. It's also a relation to others. We can't truly be living holy lives if we're not speaking to other people. Peace must be there as well. It says in Romans 12, 18, if it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. So as I say, that might mean taking the first step. So my friends, that is the peace we have to pursue. That is what God calls us to. And that is what he's working in us. I think this is one of the hardest Beatitudes to try and live out. It's not easy. They often say that the older someone gets, the more that they begin to look like one of their parents. Sometimes you see the resemblance in others more and more as they get older. And likewise, for peacemaking, it requires humility, it requires Christian maturity. And it's as we mature as Christians that we more and more should reflect the image of God. And peacemaking is perhaps one of those qualities that's only really seen in mature Christians, where more and more we resemble God. And so, what is the promise? That one day we will be called sons of God. We are sons of God now already, in Christ. You see that in 1 John chapter three, I think it is. That we are sons of God. And we show ourselves to be true sons of God when we truly understand the peace that has been brought about and at what cost that has been brought about. But there's also a day in which we will be declared to be sons of God. That one day we will stand before the God of heaven with the entire universe looking on and if we are in Christ on that day he will declare us to be his children and usher us into his heavenly kingdom. So that's what we look forward to. That day when He declares us, when we hear Him call us His sons. Remember the last beatitude, where the promise was the pure in heart will see God. This goes a step beyond. Not only will we see Him, but He will declare us to be His children. Does that not spur you on now for making that peace? Or going forth to make that peace not? So we are sons of God now and one day our adoption will be publicly revealed. So let's give ourselves to making that peace. Amen, let's pray. Our gracious Heavenly Father, we come this night to thank you for the peace that you have brought about through your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for him. We thank you for the horror that he went through at Calvary, so that we won't have to go through that horror in eternity. But instead, he will bring us to everlasting bliss. We will enjoy fellowship with you forever and ever. How we thank you, you have brought about this peace. Because we had no interest in it, we had no desire for it, oh God. We were dead in our trespasses and sins and we were happy therein. But in your mercy you came and showed us the peace that you have brought about in Christ. So we thank you for this great work. Help us now to go forth to be peacemakers. Help us to develop a spirit of forgiveness, that when that peace is shattered in our lives with other people, that we would then take the first step. Help us to have the humility that does that. That we would not be self-seeking, but that we would be self-effacing and seek that peace which is pleasing unto you. Help us to do what we can in the lives of others. friends or family members, help us to help them to pursue that peace. And may you help us to make known the peace that has been made available in Christ through his death. Help us to be unashamed of the gospel, knowing it is your power unto salvation. and help us to go forth to proclaim Christ in all his fullness. Please give us opportunities each day to make him known that we would be able to tell people that we are Christians and that as we speak, as we tell these wonderful words, that you would so work by your spirit to melt their hearts, to soften them and to make them responsive and as good soil to the seed of the gospel. So we ask that you would bless us in these days, we ask you would bless and strengthen us as your church. We ask you would indeed go before us in mighty power to convict people of sin and that you would bring them through these doors longing to hear the good news about Christ. So Father, please bless us this night as we part now. May you prepare us for serving you this coming week. That we would live lives that are faithful in service and that we would be pleasing unto you. That our very lives would be a pleasing aroma to you and your nostrils that we would evermore bring glory to your name. So, we ask your blessing upon us this evening, along with the forgiveness of our sins. In Jesus' name, amen. Well, let us now conclude Psalm 46 in the Scottish Psalter. Once again, we go to Psalm 46, where we'll sing now the closing verses. from verse 7 to verse 11, Psalm 46, in the Scottish Psalter, in page 271, singing from verse 7. The Lord of hosts upon our side doth constantly remain, the God of Jacob's our refuge, us safely to maintain. Come and behold what wondrous works have by the Lord been wrought. Come see what desolations he on the earth hath brought. and to the ends of all the earth, wards into peace he turns, the bow he breaks, the spear he cuts, and fire the chariot burns. Be still and know that I am God. Among the heathen I will be exalted. I on earth will be exalted high. Our God, who is the Lord of hosts, is still upon our side. The God of Jacob, our refuge forever will abide. Namo.