Blessed are the Peacemakers

December 7th 2025

Before we get into our Main Verse for this morning, I’d like to give you a short reminder of Last Week. Last Sunday we looked at the 6th Beatitude; “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” We spoke of the original audience that day on the Mount, and the chokehold that the Pharisees had on the people of Jesus’ day. Through a litany of man made laws and demonic traditions designed to induce guilt, the people were being crushed under a system of legalistic behaviors, that even they themselves couldn't follow. Throughout all four Gospels, we see Jesus rebuking and combatting their fictitious religion; and as He does so, we see people going to Him to find freedom from the guilt it was creating.

We also saw last week how the Beatitudes built upon one another in such a way, that when Christ said the pure in heart will see God, it was because those whose hearts were purified, were those who admitted their spiritual poverty, mourned over their sin, stretched out their beggarly hands in meekness as they hungered and thirsted for righteousness, and found the mercy of God as He and He alone purified their heart.

And now, brothers and sisters, now that our hearts are purified, we are free from the guilt of the Law; free to live a single unified life where our behaviors and words match with what is inside of our hearts; and for this morning, now that our hearts are purified, we are able, and finally desire, to make peace.

With that, let us stand and read the Word of the Lord together.

If we were going to look at the entire Bible as a whole, from Genesis to Revelation, we would see a handful of overarching themes through every Book. From beginning to end we see the truth that God is ruling and reigning over the affairs of men, exercising His sovereign authority to do as He pleases amongst the inhabitants of Earth, no one being able to stay His hand or say to Him “What have you done?” (Dan. 4:35). We also see, in every Book, that Jesus Christ is the only God in all of reality (Jn. 10:30) and any human that wishes to enter into eternity when they die, must do so through the open wounds in His beautiful hands (Jn. 14:6). On and on these two themes are repeated through Scripture, in both Testaments, giving all who ever open these pages everything they will need to know who God is and who we are in relation to Him. 

Another theme that emerges when looking at all of Scripture as a whole, is one of “peace”. Starting in the very first book, in Genesis, we see a world that God calls “good” and humanity enjoys peace within the glowing green of the Garden. And when we fell, that peace was broken. Evil and sin settled into humanity, breaking and infecting every aspect of us. Our thinking, our beliefs, our feelings, bodies, and our ability to make and maintain relationships, felt the sting of sin as they were all corrupted.

Were that the final say however, we would have no reason to wake up every morning. Were Scripture to end at Genesis 3, and peace be forever that which can never be made, our days would be dark indeed. Praise God there is more to read. From Genesis onward, we are given prophecies about the eternal peace that awaits us at the end of history. When Christ returns to claim His pure and spotless Bride, we read that the children of God will enter into a state of unending peace. With millenia upon millenia of conflict free warlessness, where never a tear shall be shed, and never a drop of blood fallen (Rev. 21:3 & 4); it will be a time of exponentially unfolding sunrises bathing the streets of gold below them in neon light.

And there, as we worship beside the glittering blue river of liquid crystal, every minute that passes by…instead of acting like they do here, will simply add more and more to come. When history comes to its consummation and Christ splits the sky, His children, from that point forward, will enjoy face to face communion with the King of the cosmos, never again experiencing a shade or sliver of fear or conflict. It will be perfect peace.

However, here in the “now”...peace must be made. It must be sought after, defended, protected, and upheld. Our Verse this morning says that peace-makers are blessed because they are children of God. Not peace-wanters. It is not those who say they desire peace, but do nothing about it. It is not the people with a deep, heart-felt longing for peace while remaining silent in the face of violence, who are blessed. It is only the peace-makers.

While we are here in the place where moth and rust does destroy and thieves do break in and steal, peace is something that must be made. We must act contrary to the natural inclinations of our fallen nature that tell us to place ourselves at the center of our life. We must take both thought and physical action, and work against the breaking that sin did to our hearts and minds in order to make peace.

However, because we are fallen and prone to wander, as we all sang together this morning, the only way we can work against it, is if something far stronger and beyond the breaking that sin did, happens to us. Plainly stated, the only way to be a “peacemaker” is to have a pure heart; and the only way to have a pure heart is through repenting of your sins and believing in Jesus Christ.

James 3:14 - 18 says it like this → 

“But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. [15] This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. [16] For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. [17] But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. [18] Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Purity must always come before peace, because any attempt at making peace from an impure heart, can only ever be one of two things. The first, is placating. It is a truce between warring parties, doing nothing about the animosity and hatred that boils beneath the surface. So long as blood isn't being shed, and voices aren't being raised, this person thinks peace exists, because she has pushed evil and sin and conflict into the basin of her heart, allowing it to do what sin does best; fester and rot. Hear me clearly brothers and sisters, if there is sin in your life that you have not taken actual, literal, physical ‘with-your-body’ steps to get away from, you aren't making peace, you're allowing a problem to grow.

The only other option that an impure heart can take when trying to make peace, is to dress up the conflict they love with Biblical sounding language as they go out, not to glorify God, but to intentionally cause division. In fact, in Proverbs 6:16-19, it says that God hates these kinds of people. “These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: [17] A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, [18] A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, [19] A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.” Did you read that? God hates people filled with pride, with the same hatred He has towards those with a lying tongue; and He hates those who kill the innocent with the same hatred He has towards those who cause, stir up, and sow disunity and division among believers. If you seek to cause problems among other Christians…then God hates you.

Swinging back and forth, the unredeemed heart loves the extremes of license and legalism; self-love and self-righteousness. And be warned brothers and sisters, if you find yourself upon either of these two extremes, either avoiding conflict when it is necessary, or causing it when it isn't, you aren't a peacemaker, and thereby you aren't a child of God. With perfect providence Christ spoke the previous Beatitude immediately before this one, showing us that purity of heart must always precede peacemaking, and in doing so, He has revealed to us an aspect of who He is. He is a God of peace.

Philippians 4:8 & 9 → “...brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. [9] The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Why should a Christian meditate on aspects of reality, be it careers, relationships, or hobbies, that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy? To say that another way: Why should we fill our hearts and minds and lives with things that are expressions of the character of God? Because He is a God of peace, and peacemakers are His children.

This is hard to do, I understand. Later this morning, we're going to discuss the only means by which peace can be made, but before we get there, we need to accept that just because it is hard to meditate on things of peace while living in a fallen World, it doesn't mean we shouldn't, or can't. The difficulty, or even assumed failure of making peace in a culture that loves conflict, is no good excuse to ignore the long written down words of Christ…because the success of our peacemaking endeavors is not based upon our level of intellect, determination, or maturity (not that we shouldn't strive to be smarter, stronger, or more mature!), it is based on the faithfulness of God.

Which means then, my friends, when we are faced with a task like making peace, and the questions of self doubt and fear inevitably bear their teeth, we face them, with chests held high and eyes steeled for battle, with the faithfulness of God.

“Can I be a peacemaker in my family?” You may be asking yourself right now. “You don't know my family history, you don't know the hardness of their hearts and the hatred they have towards the things of God, I’m not strong enough, smart enough, patient enough.” On and on we use the truth to convince us of lies…by thinking that everything depends on us.

Are you strong enough, O Christian, to make peace in a family plagued by generations of sin? No, you aren't. But the lie that that truth made you believe…is that peace can never be made. Can I, me, this broken and spiritually impoverished man or woman, who so often falls short, actually be a peacemaker in my Nation? We are so divided, neighbors hating each other, riots and rage on every corner, and corruption in the halls of power. Am I politically savvy enough? Does my vote matter? Can I be a peacemaker in a Nation like the one I see on the news every day?

1 Thessalonians 5:23 & 24 → “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [24] He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”

Hebrews 13:20 & 21 → “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, [21] make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.”

The God of the entire Universe; Him who sits above every throne; who both breaks and forms Nations and Families; who holds Heaven and Hell between the galaxies He wears as rings, is a God of peace. And…He has promised to make you complete in every good work to do His will. Meaning, that the work He has set out for you to do, He will make you able to complete it to the exact level which He has ordained. Will it be the type of peace in your family or nation that you had in mind when you set out? Maybe, maybe not. Will your prodigal return in sackcloth and ashes, repenting of ever having left? Maybe, maybe not. Will our Nation as a whole repent of ever having legalized and encouraged evil? Maybe, maybe not. But what we can be sure of, is that no one can stay God’s hands (Dan. 4:35); no purpose of His can be held back from Him (Job 42:2); and His plans can never fall short (Is. 14:27). It will be His will, flowing through ours, and the level of peace we make will continue to be accomplished in direction proportion to His will.

We will be exploring the truth that results belong to God in more depth next Sunday, but for today…we are called to be peacemakers…not because it is a nice and mushy thing that everybody seems to want; not because peace prevents divisions, divorces, and death; but simply because being a peacemaker, is being like Christ. That is our only motivation, our only goal. To be like Christ.

Colossians 1:19 & 20 → “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, [20] and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.”

Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, within whom the entirety of the Father does dwell, was a peacemaker because of, and to the point of, shedding His own blood to do so. It was the red which flowed from Calvary’s side that brought peace on Earth and good will toward men. It was the Roman nails, driven deep into His beautiful palms that reconciled us to the God we hated; and every lash of the whip that brought His bones closer to air, brought us closer to Himself.

The God of the Universe died to make peace for those who hated Him; taking a punishment that He didn't earn in the place of people who did earn it; freeing us from the burden of a Law we couldn't keep; giving us His righteousness; adopting us as His eternal sons and daughters; and sealing the Holy Spirit within our purified hearts.

Jesus Christ died to make peace

between God and man.

With new hearts, we now love the Law of God. With new hearts, we now want to live out the rest of our lives in accordance with His long written down words. With new hearts, we now have the desire and the ability to make peace in a fallen World.

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For that is what God is calling us to in our verse this morning. He did not call us to be peacemakers in a World free from evil…but filled with. It was the broken and burdened Israelites that day on the Mount, eager to overthrow Rome by force of arms…that He said would be blessed by making peace, and the same applies for you this morning. You are called to make peace not in Eden or the Eschaton…but here and now, in a World that desperately needs it.

If we have settled in our hearts that the results belong to God, and give our best efforts in everything that we do…how can a child of God make peace in a world addicted to division? How can someone within whom the Holy Spirit lives, who even now is innocent in the eyes of a holy God, set about making peace amongst a people prone to everything but peace?

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You, my fellow Christian, when you first wake up to the breaking of the morning sun, pull your weary body out of the comfort of your uncomfortable bed, and wipe the sleep from your tired eyes…what do you see? When you turn on the news, when you open social media, or travel throughout the day God has ordained for you to travel through, what do you see? Do you see people loving their enemies like God told them to? Do you see people valuing others better than themselves? People turning the other cheek and blessing those who curse them? Do you see people in your socials who hate their own sin more than the sin they see in others?

We are awash in a culture dedicated to division, but feeds us just as many comforts as necessary to keep us quiet. The streets are filled with rioters? Lump them in with people you disagree with, and pay no attention to the boiling anger within their hearts, because the snow is falling and you need to turn your heat up a few extra degrees. The mayor of New York city is a God-hating communist? Make sure you say something about it through the screen of your $1,000 smart phone. New York State allows partial birth abortions? Sodomy has been enshrined into Law? You better post a clever meme online from the comfort of your couch. How easy is it to feel like a peacemaker when there is no personal cost on the line. It wasn't too long ago when breaking up a fight meant getting attacked from both sides.

It is plain for all to see that America is a powder keg right now, brothers and sisters. We are living in a time, like so many Saints before us, when the forces of darkness in the heavenly places have urged the ignorant and unknowing into a place of tribalistic fervor, and nothing but the smallest spark will set it all to flame. How many more innocent bus passengers will need to be stabbed to death before the keg erupts? How many more Charlie Kirks will need to bleed out in front of their wife and kids, before arms are taken up and lives are cut down? How many more children who escaped the blood stained doors of Planned Parenthood, only to be groomed into accepting sexual degeneracy, will need to mutilate their genitals before the Christ-less conservatives the Church considers to be friends with benefits, will give way to the evil that's inside of their dead hearts…and pick up a rifle?

Just like the heart of man swings from sinning in one direction to sinning in another, from license to legalism, from self-desire to self-righteousness…because God intentionally placed us where and when He did…cultures and nations do the same thing.

For years behind us, America has been sprinting into the caves of sexual promiscuity and child sacrifice, thinking the shadows were the reality, while many who called themselves Christians have gone the way of the false prophets in Jeremiah 6:14, crying “peace, peace” when there is no peace. Pride flags were flown from pretend pulpits, while pretend Pastors endorsed abortion, stayed silent while children were groomed by drag queens, and now openly support demonic religions having a say in the civic laws that govern them. The culture began to lean in one direction, and the wheat was separated from the chaff…because those sins were already rotting away in their hearts.  Matthew 15:19 & 20 → “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person…”.

The culture simply empowered people to act

on the sins they already refused to repent of.

But moving forward into the next decade, what will we see? The natural inclinations of man’s fallen nature, having had its fill with license, with self-desire, will swing into legality, take the culture with it, and thereby empower even more people to sin…just in a different direction.

What I'm talking about, is the people who agree with us that the mother who had an abortion is guilty of murder, but instead of showing her the truth of a God who can forgive, they are quick to spit and name call, and belittle. There are people who agree that homosexuality is an abominable perversion of human sexuality, but instead of showing them how to bring their guilt to the foot of the cross, they call them a fag or a dyke. All of which, again, is nothing more than the culture empowering the unredeemed heart to act on the sins they refuse to repent of. 

The culture swings left, and people worship their own desires. The culture swings right, and people worship their own righteousness. And the Christian is called to stand between them, break up the fight, and make peace.

But how?

How can we make peace in a culture as divided as this one? How can we make peace in our families, our Churches, and our nations? Only from the starting point of a pure heart. It starts with you, individually, repenting of the sins you have allowed to remain in your heart, rearranging your life as much as possible, no matter how much it hurts, to get your ability to sin away from you.

Be poor in spirit, admitting you have nothing within you that caused God to save you. Mourn over the damage your sin did to your own soul. With meekness, dive into your Bible with ravenous hunger for the righteousness of God, and see the mercy of God as He purifies your heart. 

Then…go out and make peace in the only way it can truly be made…the audible proclamation of the Gospel. Your words of who Jesus Christ is, who we are, and the differences between us, should be filling the ears of the lost to such an extent that they hate you because of it, and it needs to be people on every side. 

If you want peace in your family, give them the Gospel. If you want peace in your culture, give them the Gospel. If you want peace in Washington and Albany, in your pews, in your place of employment, give…them…the…Gospel. It is the Gospel that is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16), not your ability to start a fight. It is the Gospel that softens hearts (2 Cor. 2:16), not your ability to ignore fights that need to be started.

We should be preaching the Gospel with such fervor and passion that we are hated by both sides. It should be the left and the right hurling their insults at us. Stop being placated by someone in your political party who namedrops Jesus. Stop trying to make friends with those whose sin smells like yours, and give everyone the raw and unfiltered Gospel of Jesus Christ. When you see actual hatred against a homosexual, you better put just as much salt in your voice when you rebuke them, as you had when you rebuked the homosexual herself. Because… “...“whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:13 - 15).

Peace can only be made by those with a pure heart, and only by the truth that the ultimate conflict, that which brings doom upon every man, their separation from God, can be washed away by the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matt. 5:9)

Rev. Jacob Marchitell

December 7th 2025