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Preaching Sunday on Matthew 10 some more and a scary statement is written:
"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword." v.34
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.....but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."
1 Corinthians 1:18; 23-25.
The point here is that Jesus never intended to bring straight up peace on the earth. Why? Because not all will receive that peace. Who is offered salvation? All. Who receive it? Some. What happens to those who don't receive? They are angry at Jesus. They may not agree with that, but it is true. When you tell an ungodly person that their ungodly deeds will be judged and condemned, they will curse you. If ungodly men are bent on sin, Jesus simply becomes a curse word....hence the sword, the cutting. Even those who are "o.k." with Jesus, meaning, they are not violently opposed to Him, their neutrality is almost more of an indictment than the haters. Meaning, the same end will come to a "nice" fornicator. A happy cheater without God is still hell-bound. The nice Muslim on the street giving 20 percent of his income to the mosque for outreach programs is still bound for eternal separation from God. Jesus cuts this person up with the sword of truth because it will unravel all of the false peace that has been built in their fantasy world, created in their own minds. Without Christ people MUST make an illusion of meaning for life and hope, yet Jesus unearths it all through the reality of death, disappointment, injustice and apathy. Nothing on earth can bring hope but Christ finally. The middle road man, the neutral man will inevitably be in the same condition as the violently opposed to Christ as their self made worlds crumble. Another scripture describes the longing in the heart of man for God....
"For the earnest expectation of creation eagerly awaits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because the creation itself will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now." Romans 8:18-22
People are longing for the TRUTH, but many will miss Him, because they would rather build false realities in their minds. That is what makes the "Prince of Peace" a sword.
- Stuart
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