OceanSide church of Christ
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RIGHTEOUSNESS FIRST, PEACE SECOND
Victor M. Eskew
There are many exhortations in Scripture regarding peace. In Ephesians 4:3 Paul admonishes us to
endeavor “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” In Romans 12:18 the same apostle wrote:
“If it be possible, as much as
lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” It was our Lord who pronounced a
blessing upon those who seek to be peacemakers. “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of
God” (Matt. 5:9).
Peace, harmony, unity and tranquility provide wonderful environments in
which to live. “Behold, how good
and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (Ps.
133:1). Because of the pleasantness
of peace, many have come to believe that it should be the first order of
business for the church. Is peace
the first thing that the child of God should seek? Is peace our sole end? The answer to both of these questions
is: “No.” Peace is something we should
desire. However, before we can have
peace, righteousness must be obtained.
Righteousness is our first order of
business.
Let’s begin by considering two passages of Scripture. The first is Hebrews 7:2. Within the context the inspired penman
describes Melchizedek. He says that
“first” he was the King of righteousness, and “after that” he was the King of
Salem, which is, King of peace. The
Holy Spirit’s choice of words here is very important: first righteousness; after that,
peace. This is vital to our
understanding of our Lord mission.
As a type of Melchizedek, Jesus sought righteousness first, then
peace. This explains the contrast
between the words of the heavenly host in Luke 2:14 stating that Jesus would
bring “peace on earth” and the words of Jesus in Matthew 10:34 where He said
that he came to bring a sword and not peace. Peace was desired, but it can only come
through righteousness. Oftentimes,
the world is not interested in righteousness. This opposition is what causes the
“sword” to be brought forth instead of peace.
James provides the second passage.
He sets forth a description of the wisdom that is from above. “But the wisdom that is from above is
first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and
good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 4:17). In this verse, purity proceeds peace
when God’s wisdom is being considered.
There can be no peace when God’s wisdom is tainted and
defiled.
Dear reader, God wants peace more than any human could desire it. In Philippians 4:9, He is called “the
God of peace.” Yet, God does not
want peace at any price. First, He
wants righteousness upheld. In the Old Testament book of I Kings, one of
God’s prophets is referred to as “he that troubleth
There can be no peace with God until one becomes righteous in the sight
of God. There can be no peace with
the world, until the world embraces the righteousness of God. There can be no peace in the church
until the members of the church walk in the paths of righteousness. Oh, we can seek to maintain a
pseudo-peace, but with such God is not well pleased. This is the peace
In a sermon entitled, “Righteousness First, Peace Second,” Alexander
Maclaren summarizes the sentiments of this article well. He writes:
“Let us take Him for ‘the Lord our righteousness,’ and we shall blessedly
find that ‘this Man is our peace.’
Let us take arms in the Holy War which He wages, and so we shall have
peace in our hearts whilst the fight is sorest. Let us labor to ‘be found in Him, having
the righteousness which is of God by faith,’ then we shall ‘be found in Him in
peace, without spot, and blameless’” (Expositions of the Holy Scripture,
Maclaren, Vol. 16, pl. 10).