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Sons To Glory
So the next time you see division in the body of Christ, perhaps the
Lord is in the process of bringing true everlasting peace? This is not
free license to get into strife with brothers and sisters in Christ, but Paul
said, “I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe
it. For there must also be factions among you, that those who are
approved may be recognized among you.” (1 Cor. 11:19-20)
Sometimes the best way we can walk in love with someone is to
confront them on sin and allow their sin to be judged so that they can
repent and be reconciled back to God and man (1 Cor. 5:5). This is
how Jesus loved the Pharisees and Scribes.
How do we know who is on the Lord’s side in a division among
brethren? “The purpose of the commandment is love from a pure
heart” (1 Tim. 1:5), and the pure in heart will see God. If we have a
pure heart, we will have pure doctrine. “Let no one deceive you, He
who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He (Jesus) is
righteous.” (1 John 3:7) So, our morality will effect our doctrine.
Corruption and sin blinds us to the truth. People with corrupt hearts
have corrupt doctrine and they CANNOT see the truth because God
blinds them (John 12:40). The answer is not to choose sides, but to
choose the Lord and His righteousness. As Joshua found out in battle,
the Lord is neither on our side nor on our enemy’s side, He is for
righteousness (Joshua 5:13)!
The conclusion that can be drawn from the life of Phinehas is that we
must make a stand for righteousness bearing the necessary warfare that
often comes before a true lasting peace. One caution that we must
always keep in mind is that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age,
and demonic forces in the heavenlies” (Eph. 6:12). If we are walking
in love and find ourselves in confrontation with brethren, the real battle
is with the spirits of evil that are blinding them and not the person
himself/herself (2 Cor. 4:4). Even in the midst of confrontation our
ultimate goal is restoration and reconciliation, not separation.
We have just looked at the first reference of “Covenant of Peace” in the
scriptures, and the man Phinehas who was first given this covenant.
Our study will now continue with the second reference:
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