A COUNTERCULTURAL COMMUNITY OF PEACE (10 OF 13)
by Drew Hunter
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
This content is part of a series.
A Countercultural Community of Peace (10 of 13)
Series: Until He Comes
Drew Hunter
1 Thessalonians 5: 12-28
Christians believe that this world was made to be a world of peace.
This is because God is a God of peace. And he loves to make his goodness spread. Creation is an expression of God's own delight in peace.
Everyone wants peace. Personal peace. Relational peace. National peace. World peace. Peace with God. God is for all of this, but in an even deeper sense.
In the Hebrew mindset, Peace is much more than just getting along with others. We can refer to the Biblical concept with the Hebrew word, shalom. Shalom, in it's fullest sense, is about God, humanity, and creation inter-connected with harmony, joy, and flourishing.
Peace isn't stillness or silence. It is about universal flourishing and harmony.
In light of this, our sin is anti-shalom. We want shalom; but we mess it up. Which is why the world is the way it is.
But God is restoring peace through Jesus. Colossians 1:19-20, ''For in [Jesus] all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.'' And Romans 5:1 says, ''since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.''
And when we have peace with God, we begin to have peace with others. The gospel brings us to God, and the gospel makes us family. The local church is now the place where God's shalom is beginning to take shape.
It doesn't happen automatically. It takes work, and we often fail. We're not naturally good at creating the conditions for peace. But because of Jesus, we're being changed.
And that's what this text is about.
At first this looks just like a shot-gun approach at the end of the letter. Paul has already addressed a number of important issues at length - and now he's just rattling off a list of final commands.
But there is actually a u ...
Series: Until He Comes
Drew Hunter
1 Thessalonians 5: 12-28
Christians believe that this world was made to be a world of peace.
This is because God is a God of peace. And he loves to make his goodness spread. Creation is an expression of God's own delight in peace.
Everyone wants peace. Personal peace. Relational peace. National peace. World peace. Peace with God. God is for all of this, but in an even deeper sense.
In the Hebrew mindset, Peace is much more than just getting along with others. We can refer to the Biblical concept with the Hebrew word, shalom. Shalom, in it's fullest sense, is about God, humanity, and creation inter-connected with harmony, joy, and flourishing.
Peace isn't stillness or silence. It is about universal flourishing and harmony.
In light of this, our sin is anti-shalom. We want shalom; but we mess it up. Which is why the world is the way it is.
But God is restoring peace through Jesus. Colossians 1:19-20, ''For in [Jesus] all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.'' And Romans 5:1 says, ''since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.''
And when we have peace with God, we begin to have peace with others. The gospel brings us to God, and the gospel makes us family. The local church is now the place where God's shalom is beginning to take shape.
It doesn't happen automatically. It takes work, and we often fail. We're not naturally good at creating the conditions for peace. But because of Jesus, we're being changed.
And that's what this text is about.
At first this looks just like a shot-gun approach at the end of the letter. Paul has already addressed a number of important issues at length - and now he's just rattling off a list of final commands.
But there is actually a u ...
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