New Jerusalem, Habitation of the God of Peace (5)
In the world there is much strife but in the Lord we have peace. This peace is part of our Christian life today and a characteristic of New Jerusalem eternally.
We have been born of water and of the Spirit to enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:5). This kingdom is hidden now in the heavens and within us but will be manifested when the Lord Jesus returns and will be consummated in New Jerusalem.
“The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17). James 3:18 tells us that the fruit of righteousness is peace. The Lord’s kingdom is fully righteous. which brings in full peace, and results in full joy. It is totally unlike all the unrighteousness in governments today.
Romans 14:18-19 continues, to say that we serve Christ by pursuing the things of peace and the things for building up one another. This pursuing and building are in the Holy Spirit. We cannot do it in ourselves.
Things of peace and things for building in the Spirit are for the church today to prepare our way to New Jerusalem. We cannot expect an instant change from a worldly, still sinning, loving much other than the Lord condition to suddenly match New Jerusalem.
Our mortal body will be suddenly changed to match the Lord’s body of glory, but we need to pursue the inward development of “righteousness and peace and joy” in our living now.
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Posted by Don on November 8, 2021
