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the leaders of the church at Jerusalem. He asks for prayer, that "the service which he had
for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints". Only when their full acceptance in the
Lord was mutually recognized would the "enmity" that so evidently existed as a
middle-wall between Jewish and Gentile believers be removed. How fitting, then, that
the God of peace should form the closing theme. The true sequence of Rom. 15: is
given in Eph. 2: 11-19, where this enmity and division between Jew and Gentile is
likened to the middle-wall of partition, which has been destroyed and taken away, "the
both" being made one, so making peace. It hardly seems right to speak of so great a
theme with such brevity, but it must be remembered that our space is limited and our
object here is not so much to give detailed exposition as to show the various phases of
"enmity" that have given place and shall give place to this many-faceted "peace".
We must refer to one more passage before we conclude this article--in Col. 1: The
enmity and alienation here are obvious, and once again are clearly associated with
"peace".
"And having made peace by the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things
unto Himself . . . . . and you that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by
wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled" (Col. 1: 20, 21).
We have made no mention of the relation between "peace" and "enemies" in
Rom. 5: 1-11, nor to the enmity of the carnal mind which is placed in contrast with "life
and peace" in Rom. 8: If we have demonstrated something of the nature of the
"enmity" and thereby indicated something of the character and fullness of "peace", we
have accomplished our immediate purpose.
Perhaps a summary will be useful, as there has been a considerable amount of detail to
be kept in mind.
(1)
The God of peace will deal with the enmity introduced in Gen. 3:
(2)
The God of peace has dealt with the enmity of sin and death, both in the person of
the Lord, and in all His redeemed children.
(3)
The God of peace will accomplish perfect restoration, when man is raised "entire",
spirit and soul and body.
(4)
The Lord, as the God of peace, in association with the God of hope, is concerned
with the breaking down of all enmity among the redeemed themselves, likening
such enmity to a middle-wall of partition, the canceling of which is linked with the
"both" being made "one", so making "peace".
(5)
Those who have fellowship with the God of peace, must have "the mind that was
in Christ Jesus", a direct repudiation of the mind of the usurper who aspired to be
"as God".
To all who have been reconciled by the death of Christ, and who "seek peace and
ensue it", comes the blessing of II Thess. 3: 16, and what more can we ask till traveling
days are done?
"Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means, The Lord be
with you all."