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Introduction

A believer is likely to feel discomfort or angry when someone creates incongruities in your mental or cognitive structure by questioning or challenging the reason for his/her faith. It should not be so! Peter advises Christians to sanctify the Lord God in their hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks them a reason for the hope that is in them with meekness and fear (1Pet 3:15).

Reasoning with Scriptures

People who question our faiths are not altogether antichrists but they might do so out of good motive because they do not understand. We need to have the readiness to answer them in humility and reverence. How can we answer those who question our faith and the word of God if we do not know what our faith or God´s word teaches or affirms?

Pardon me to submit that many of the modern-day Christians are lazy. The obligation to study and interpret the Scripture has been pushed to only the clergy some of which do not even understand what they read from the Bible. Paul challenges believers to study to show themselves approved unto God, as workmen who need not be ashamed but rightly dividing the word of truth (2Ti 2:15). If we study to understand our faith we shall not be offended when our faith is challenged, but we shall be able to explain to them the reason why we believe. It should not be said of us that “Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm” (1Ti 1:7).

Jesus, the Author, and Finisher of our faith took time to explain systematically to His audience the reason why they should believe in Him. For instance, “.. one of the scribes came and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, which is the first commandment of all? (Mar 12:18-31). Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God (Mat 12:29).

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, opening and alleging, that Christ needed to suffer, and rise again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom he preached unto them, was Christ. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women, not a few (Acts 17:1-4). We read that many people who believed and accepted Christ Jesus as their Savior did so only when they had been convinced through scriptures that the Christ is the Savior who is to come.

Similarly, many noble Bereans believed in God because they accepted the word of God with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily to see whether those things preached to them were so (Acts 17:10-12). Jesus charged the Jews to search the scriptures because in them they think that they had eternal life, for the scriptures testify of Him (Joh 5:39). The Scriptures would produce its intended purpose if read and interpreted in context. Nothing brings an unbeliever to God but the true and the unadulterated word of God. This explains why Jesus took time to explain it to His hearers. We read that “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luk 24:27). Then He opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures (Luk 24:45).

We must show by scriptures the reason why we believe and the reason why others should accept our faith. When a certain Jew named Apollos of Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, went to Ephesus (Acts 18:24), he mightily convinced the Jews, and that he diligently and publicly showed by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ (Acts 18:28), by this, he won more souls unto Christ Jesus.

The Authority of God´s Word

It is believed that the Word of God is authoritative and should not be doubted or challenged. Yes, but from whose interpretation is it authoritative? Should it be left unchallenged even if it is misinterpreted and quoted out of context? Not at all. Jesus would term this as “the blind leading the blind” (Mat 15:14). Scriptures must be interpreted aright to save lives because failure to do that is disastrous. As also in all Paul´s epistles, speaking in them of God´s salvation, in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures unto their own destruction (2Pe 3:16).

Conclusion

Believers are encouraged to study the Word of God to be in the best position to explain their reason for their belief to those who ask them about their faith. Making claims to revelation could be dangerous without reflecting it against the written word of God. If any person wants to interpret the word of God in any other way, it is advisable that the original interpretation is given first before it´s applied interpretation is presented.

Prayer: Our Lord God Almighty, we ask that you give us the zeal and the joy of studying your word and the wisdom required to explain our faith to those who question it, so that we may be able to bring them into your Kingdom. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN!

Introduction

The Lord of the universe and everything therein has promised His people His peace. The peace that the world cannot give because it does not have it. In this edition of our Newsletter, the nature of the peace of God and how it is accessed are discussed.

Nature of His Peace

Jesus gives us His peace not in the manner that the world gives it (Joh 14:27). The world gives from interested motives because it has either received or hopes to receive as much in return (Luk 6:33-34). For when the world says ‘Peace, peace,’ but there is no peace” (Jer 6:14). Jesus gives it sincerely, substantially, and eternally (Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary) and His peace is secured. The wicked and the workers of iniquity speak peace to their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts (Psa 28:3). But the peace of God surpasses all understanding and it keeps our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Php 4:7).

The Way of Peace

It is very evident that the only source of peace for believers in the world is from Jesus Christ, the Lord. This is read from the greetings of Paul that “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ” (1Co 1:3, Gal 1:3, Col 1:2, 2Thes 1:2). He further adds “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Rom 15:13). It simply means that he petitions God to make believers joyous and peaceful for believing in Jesus Christ. If this is fulfilled in the lives of believer they would be settled in their hearts concerning their faith, and they would say with David that he was glad when he was invited into the house of God (Psa 122:1). They would no longer worship God or go to church grudgingly when they have joy in serving the Lord. “For having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1). It is the power of the Holy Spirit that sheds peace abroad in the hearts of believers as He does with His love (Rom 5:5). The peace of God is already available to all believers but they need to be able to access it for themselves.

Accessing the Peace of Peace

The peace of God comes by living by His word. Our children would also have the peace of God if they are taught the Word of God (Isa 54:13). If this happens, they would not be seeking peace from the use of alcohol, drugs or inappropriate relationships and behaviors. It is this sure word of prophecy that gives light and shines in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the day star arises in the hearts of believers (2Pet 1:19), and to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide their feet into the way of peace (Luk 1:79). So then, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2Co 4:6). Therefore, the light of Christ crushes every dark deed that robs believers of their joy, and restores quietness in their spirits.

Again, as Isaiah puts it, “the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever” (Isa 32:17). Those who practice righteousness reap its effects, that is quietness in the heart and assurance forever. When mercy and truth meet, righteousness and peace kiss each other (Psa 85:10).

Moreover, to have peace is to avoid being carnally minded, because to be carnally minded is death; whereas to be spiritually minded is life and peace (Rom 8:6). This has been strongly emphasized by Christ Jesus, that in Him we might have peace but in the world tribulation but we should be of good cheer because He has overcome the world (Joh 16:33). Peace is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22), so if the Holy Spirit of God lives in the hearts of believers, they would surely have the peace that is from above.

God, our Peace

God does not only give us peace but “He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us (Eph 2:14, 2Thes 3:16, Heb 7:2). The birth of Jesus Christ ushered us into Himself. it is written of Him that “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isa 9:6). There is no way to peace except by Him. As the prince of peace, He governs the hearts of those who desire to have Him as their King.

Control over nature and affairs of men

When God promises His people peace, He really means it. This is because He is All-Powerful and has control over everything that has the potential of playing down our peace. It is stated that “The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King forever (Psa 29:10). This tells that the Lord God has control over the flood, so He says “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” (Isa 43:2).

Once you trust in Him as your king He would work things out to secure your peace even if He needs to change the hearts of people who are supposed to decide on your case. The Bible says that “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” (Pro 21:1). God is King over authorities and all powers and that He controls their thoughts and decisions. He works on the behalf of His children and brings them the desired peace for their souls and spirit.

Conclusion

There is real peace for the children of God. This peace is sincere and certain and it is found only in Jesus Christ. It is not in material wealth but those rich in Christ have it. It does not matter whether one´s circumstances is good or challenging because God has shed it abroad in their hearts and nobody takes it from them.

Prayer: May the genuine peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of all, be with you and your household, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!