The Paradox of Gospel Peace continued! Matthew 10

It has been discussed in the first two parts of this series that Jesus did not come to “bring peace” Matthew 10:34. The peace that Jesus is speaking of here is peace between one another or peace within our homes. He declares “For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law–a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

For many this is a bit of a contradiction from the Prince of Peace. How can it be that once I unite with Jesus by my profession of faith in Him, that I will now suffer within my own family and within my own household. Wouldn’t the Prince of Peace put a stop to such a thing. Well not so fast my friend…

It is true that the Prince of Peace Jesus himself offers peace. But the peace that Jesus brings is the peace between me and God the Father. The Bible declares that we are all sinners and that the wages of sin or penalty for sin is death (Romans 3:23 and 6:23). Jesus paid our sin debt through His sacrificial death on the cross. God laid our sin upon Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). As a result of this our sins are forgiven, and we as believers have been declared NOT GUILTY! That legal declaration is apparent in Romans 5:1 where Paul explains “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,…

So indeed the paradox of Gospel Peace is a paradox no longer.

Til next time,

Gary B.