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PEACE

 

False Peace

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUC TION

 

A.    True peace is a gift from God. 

 

B.      Notice the words “true peace.”  These words imply that there is a false peace that exists.

 

C.     In Jeremiah’s day, the priests and the prophets were guilty of promoting a false peace (Jer. 6:14; 8:11)

 

They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

 

1.      Notice the cry of the leaders:  “Peace, peace.”

2.      The Lord, however, affirmed that there was no peace.

3.      Sadly, some listened to the false prophets.  This is found in the opening words:  “They have healed also the daughter of my people slightly.”  The people gave heed to the words of their leaders. 

 

D.    A false peace is just that, FALSE!

1.      It is not real.

2.      It is fake, fiction, make believe and unreal.

 

E.      Let’s look at some ways individuals believe in “False Peace.”

 

I.                   SELF-DECEPTION

 

A.    It is possible for an individual to deceive himself (I Cor. 3:18; Gal. 6:3; Jms. 1:22, 26; I John 1:8).

 

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

 

B.      It possible for a person to deceive himself into thinking that he has peace when there really is no peace at all.

1.      We see this happen in the church when members fail to be fervent servants of Jesus Christ.

a.      The Bible teaches us to live our Christian lives zealously (Rom. 12:11).

 

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.

 

b.      Some Christians have convinced themselves that as long as they have been baptized then they will not be condemned regardless of how their live their lives.

1)      They do not attend services faithfully.

2)      They do not fulfill their responsibilities to the body of Christ.

3)      They have not grown in their knowledge.

4)      They do not live lives of fruitfulness.

c.       Listen to James 1:22

 

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your ownselves.

 

2.      There are elderships that can deceive themselves as well.

a.      If their members are in sin, they are not at peace with God (Isa. 59:1-2).

b.      Elderships can deceive themselves into thinking that the souls of those in sin are in no danger. 

1)      They make no attempt to restore the individuals (Gal. 6:1).

2)      They do not rebuke those who are in sin (Tit. 2:15)

3)      They do not discipline those who will not repent of their sins (II Thess. 3:6).

 

II.                UNITY-IN-DIVERSITY

 

A.    Unity-in-diversity defined:

1.      Agreeing to disagree

2.      Going along to get along

3.      Core issues are of importance, but all other differences should be overlooked as peripheral in nature.

4.      Fellowship is more important than doctrine.  It certainly is not based on doctrine.

5.      Let’s love one another rather than all speak the same thing.

 

B.      Unity-in-diversity is a misnomer.

1.      Unity involves likeness of mind, words, and practice.

2.      Diversity involves variety, differences, and unlikeness.

3.      Unity-in-diversity is really just a bringing together of differences wherein all agree to disagree, and, where people just go along to get along.

4.      It is union not unity. 

 

C.     Unity-in-diversity is a concept that has been embraced by denominations for a long time.

1.      There is a diversity of doctrines and practices within the denominations.

2.      However, they all claim to be part of the church and are all going to heaven.

3.      They practice relativism, that is, believing in many “truths” that contradict each other.

 

D.    Three passages:

1.      Unity should be like unto that which exists in the Godhead (John 17:20-21).

 

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall  believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us:  that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

 

2.      Unity involves speaking the same things and having NO divisions (I Cor. 1:10).

 

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

 

3.      Unity involves likeness in belief in and practice of the seven ones (Eph. 4:4-6).

 

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

 

III.             HARDENED HEARTS

 

A.    There are two types of hearts that are important in this discussion.

1.      One heart is an honest heart.

2.      The other heart is a hard heart.

 

B.      Hardened hearts cannot see things as they are.

Hardened hearts reject truth and facts and evidence.

Harden hearts rationalize and justify error.

Hardened hearts blame others for why things are as they are.

 

C.     When it comes to false peace, the hardened heart will never admit that a false peace exists. 

1.      They will deny the evidence.

a.      Disagreements are ignored.

b.      False doctrine is overlooked.

c.       Sin is swept under the rug.

d.      Personal differences are denied.

e.       They will claim that all is well in the church.  They will affirm that they are a loving, unified church.

2.      They will persecute the one tries to point it out.

 

D.    The warning of Scripture is against hardening out hearts (Heb. 3:15).

 

While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

 

IV.             BELIEF IN FALSE DOCTRINE

 

A.    Faith only

1.      If you were to ask those who are associated with denominations if they are at peace with God, they would say:  “Yes.” 

2.      Many of these individuals have attempted to be saved by faith only.

3.      They will quote a passage like Romans 5:1 to affirm they are at peace with God.

 

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

4.      They are deceived because they are still in their sins.  

a.      Faith alone does not save (Jms. 2:24).

b.      They have not been baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).

 

B.      Once saved always saved.

1.      Defined:

a.      Once saved always saved is also known as the perseverance of the saints.

b.      It is the fifth pillar of Calvinism.

c.       If a person has been elected by God to be saved, nothing can change that once the Holy Spirit has operated on his heart and he has been redeemed.

d.      There is absolutely nothing that person can do to put his/her soul in danger of eternal condemnation. 

2.      This doctrine gives a Christian a false sense of security in two ways.

a.      First, the individual might not be saved. 

1)      This is what is said when a person who appears to be a Christian commits sin.  “He was never a Christian to begin with,” they affirm.

2)      That is interesting.  He thought he was saved.  Others thought he was saved.  But, he was never saved.  Thus, until he sinned, he lived with false peace.

b.      Second, the individual lives thinking that he can never sin in such a way as to lose his soul eternally.

1)      Paul did not believe such a doctrine (I Cor. 9:27).

 

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection:  lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

 

2)      The writer of Hebrews did not believe in such a teaching (Heb. 6:4-6)

 

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the power of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

 

3)      Peter did not believe in once saved always saved (II Pet. 2:20-22)

 

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end it worse with them than the beginning.  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  But it is happened to them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and, The sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Some WANT peace at any price.

 

B.      Some DESIRE peace at any price.

 

C.     Some LOVE peace at any price.

 

D.    Peace at any price is a FALSE PEACE. 

 

E.      True peace is found when two individuals walk together because they are in complete agreement (Amos 3:3).

 

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

 

F.      May God give us the wisdom and the courage to never accept something that is false, especially when it comes to peace.