Would you turn back to Luke,
chapter 12? While you're turning there, my mom
went into the emergency room this afternoon. She may be having
some gallbladder problems, so everybody remember her. Luke, chapter 12. The Lord says
in verse 1, or verse 51, I'm sorry. Luke, chapter
12, verse 51. Suppose ye, you know there are
a lot of suppositions we make, aren't there? A lot of suppositions, a lot
of wrong suppositions. I make them every day. I suppose
certain things. He says, suppose ye that I've
come to give peace on earth, that I've come to make everybody
get along and be friends with one another, I tell you, nay,
but rather, division. I've entitled this message, not
peace, but division. Now what does the Lord mean by
that? We know people who are contentious and argumentative. There are people that are looking
for a fight and love to stir things up and love controversy. And you know that the Lord is
not talking about that type of individual when he's talking
about, I didn't come to send peace on the earth. Not peace,
but a sword. Matthew's account says it this
way. Think not. I like that. I like the way when the Lord
tells us how not to think. Think not that I'm come to send peace
on earth, but rather a sword. a sword of division, I'm come
to set men at variance with one another, at odds with one another,
and these divisions, or this division, will even be within
our own home. The Lord Jesus Christ is called
the Prince of Peace. Don't you love that name of his?
The Prince of Peace. He is called the King of Salem,
which means the King of Peace. When the angels announced his
birth, they said, glory to God in the highest and on earth,
peace, goodwill toward men. The gospel is called the gospel
of peace. And God is called the God of
peace. So what does the Lord mean when
he says, think not that I'm come to send peace on the earth. I've
come to send division. Why does the Lord say that? When the Lord was born into this
world, there was an immediate murder attempt. You remember
how Herod had every child in that area under two years old
slain? Can you imagine what a scandal
that was at that time? Soldiers coming in and taking
swords and killing two-year-olds. And it's because they wanted
him stamped out. During his public ministry, how
he was despised. His very first sermon in Nazareth,
his hometown, after he was finished, the people became so angry that
they grabbed him and rose up and brought him up to a cliff
to throw him down headlong. They were so infuriated with
what he said. Numerous times during his preaching,
The crowds picked up stones to throw at him and to bash out
his brains. That's what their motive was
for picking up these stones. He was a hated and a despised
man, especially hated by religious men, and he ended his life. with a cruel death, his enemies
literally nailing him to a cross in hatred. And they enjoyed doing
it. They enjoyed seeing him suffer.
The scripture says, setting down, they watched him there. They enjoyed what they were seeing. He testified, they hated me without
a cause. freely, because that's what they
wanted to do. The apostles were all put to
violent deaths, with the exception of John, who was exiled to the
Isle of Patmos. The rest were either crucified
or beheaded. The Lord told them, while he
was with them, you'll be hated by all men for my sake. He said, whoso killeth you will
think that he does God a service. You know, I think it's interesting
how people today, they brag on dead preachers. They won't have
anything to do with living ones, though. And the Lord said it
would be that way. He said it would be that way. They put to
death The people that put to death
the reformers and said they loved the apostles, and it's really
no different today. God is not different, men are
not different, and the gospel is not different. Now, what did
the Lord mean when he said, I'm not come to bring people together
in unity and peace, but rather I've come to send division? Those are very strong words.
They're very sobering words. What do I know about them in
my life? Do I know anything about what
the Lord is talking about when he said, I came not to send peace,
but division. At first, there is a peace, the
Prince of Peace came to bring it there. Aren't you thankful
for that? I love his name, the Prince of
Peace, the King of Peace. He came to bring peace with God. Now understand, may God give
us the grace to hear what's being said. God is holy. Now what all does that mean? I don't even know. I don't even
know. Means he's not like me and you,
I know that. Means that more than anything else. Means he's
altogether righteous. It means he hates sin. And it means he is going to punish
all sin. That's the truth. No sin will
be left unpunished by a holy God. God is holy. He said concerning himself, I
will by no means clear the guilty. Now you know what's said there?
Under no circumstance will I clear anybody who has any guilt whatsoever
upon them. If you have any sin, God will
send you to hell. That's what that means. God is
holy. Christ came to make a way for
God to be just like He said, holy. He must punish all sin
and by no means clear the guilty. Christ came to make a way for
God to be just like He said He is and yet justify ungodly men
and women like me and you. That's the peace He came to make. Christ came to make a way for
God to be just and justify the ungodly. Now listen to this scripture.
Colossians chapter 1 verse 20 says, Having made peace by the
blood of His cross. By Him. To reconcile, to bring
back into harmony all things unto Himself. By Him, I say.
Whether they be things in earth, things in heaven, And he says,
And you that were before times alienated, and enemies in your
mind by wicked works, yet hath he now reconciled in the body
of his flesh through death to present you holy, unblameable. and unreprovable
in his sight." Now what that says is this holy God, when he
sees everybody that Jesus Christ died for, he sees them not as
the way we think he sees us. I tell you, when I think of the
way God sees me, I think of him seeing me as a sinful, defiled
individual, someone who sins. But when he sees a believer,
he sees someone who really is holy. Holy as He is. Unblameable. Nothing to lay to
their charge. Unreprovable. Nothing to rebuke
them for in His sight. Now that's peace, isn't it? Christ
Jesus came into the world to make peace. And that's what he
did. I think of people who say, have
you made your peace with God? Absolutely not. Jesus Christ,
the Son of God, the excellent, glorious Redeemer made my peace
with God. and we enjoy, God's at peace
with me, and we enjoy peace with God. The joy and peace of believing.
It's what the Bible calls justification. Justification is not some paper
that tells me that I'm justified. You know, in many Bible schools
and Sunday school classes when they try to talk people into
believing and becoming Christians, they'd always give them papers
saying you're eternally secure because salvation's by grace
and you're eternally secure since you made this decision. You don't
have anything to worry about. You're saved. You're safe. It
says so on this piece of paper. Now, how much comfort would that
give you? Absolutely none. But before God,
every believer really is justified without guilt, without sin, and
what peace there is in that. You know, there's such peace
in hearing his words, it is finished. I can't describe to you what
peace I feel from knowing there's nothing left for me to do. Right
now, it's already finished. He completed the work. Colossians
2.10 and 9.10 says, In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead
in a body, and you are complete, lacking nothing. In Him. There's the piece of
I John chapter 3 verse 5 where it says, He was manifested to
take away our sins. And in Him, is no sin. And bless God, that means if
I'm in Him, I have no sin. And the only thing that gives
me any peace is if I have no sin. If one sin is left on me,
I don't have any peace. I don't have any joy. I don't
have any confidence. But in Him is no sin. 1 John 4, 17 says, as He is, Here's how we have boldness in
judgment, and that's quite a statement, isn't it? Do you mean to stand
before God in judgment with boldness? And here's how we have boldness
in judgment, as he is. So are we in this world. Now, how is Jesus Christ right
now? We could say so many glorious things. He's altogether lovely.
He's holy. He's without sin. He's absolutely
secure. He's in the very presence of
God. He's seated on the throne of God. Whatever true description
we give of Him as He is, so are we in this world. Is that peaceful? If God be for us, who can be
against us? He that stared not his own son,
but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not? freely with
Him give us all things. Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? Paul's almost given a dare at
this time. Go on, bring it on. Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? God justified them. Who is He
that condemned? It's Christ that died. I need
no other argument. I need no other plea. Is there
peace there? There is therefore now no condemnation. to them that are in Christ Jesus. Like the songwriter said, no
condemnation now I dread. I am my Lord's and he is mine. Alive in him, my living head,
and clothed in righteousness divine. Hebrews 1.3 says, he
by himself. And I love it. I love it the
fact that he didn't say he purged our sins, although that would
be true. But it says he by himself. purged our sins. You know what
that means? That means you didn't have anything
to do with it. They were purged with no contribution from us. Do you get peace from that? The
joy and the peace of believing? I think of Simeon Lord Now lettest
thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation."
Christ Jesus is God's salvation. To this point, Ephesians 2.14
says He is our peace. The peace Christ spoke of in
John 16.33 when he says, These things have I spoken unto you,
that in me you might have peace. In the world, you'll have tribulation,
but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world." Now,
I've quoted a lot of these, but let me ask you to turn with me
to John chapter 13. And before I read these verses,
I want you to remember that these chapter divisions are man-made. They were not inspired by the
Holy Spirit. They were placed there by men, and I'm glad they
put them there, because I'd hate to have to say, look somewhere
in John. You know, I mean, John's a big book. I'm thankful for
these chapter divisions, but remember, they're placed there
by men. Now, read these verses with me. Verse 36. Simon Peter, John chapter
13, verse 36. Simon Peter said unto him, Lord,
whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, whether I
go thou canst not follow me now, but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
Peter said unto him, Lord, why can I not follow thee now? I
lay down my life for thy sake. Jesus answered him, wilt thou
lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto you,
the cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice. Let not your heart be troubled." Now, did you hear that? You're
going to deny that you even know me, Peter, three times. Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also
in me. I love the piece of Romans 828,
and we know that all things work together for good. That person
who slanders your character, remember, God told him to do
it. He's in control of that, and
it's for your good, and it's for his glory. Everything that
happens, he's in control of. Does that give you peace? Everything,
he's in control of. I love the piece of Romans 14,
17. The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness.
And what comes out of perfect righteousness? Peace and joy
in the Holy Ghost. It's the peace of be careful
for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication. With
thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. Aren't
you thankful the Lord says that? He says, don't be worried about
anything. Whatever it is, however tried
it may seem, let your request be made known to God. With thanksgiving,
and the peace of God which passes understanding. It's beyond anything
human. The peace of God that passes
understanding shall keep your minds and hearts by Christ Jesus. It's the peace of like-mindedness
with our brethren, the ones we love, the ones who Christ loves,
members of the same body. I love that question Paul asks
in Corinthians. Is Christ divided? Are there
denominations? Are there divisions within the
body of Christ? No. No. You see, we have the
same Savior. We've been saved the same way.
And we all believe the same thing. We love the same Savior. We love
one another. Oh, the peace and joy of brethren dwelling together
in unity. Now, peace. There is a peace
He came to bring. That's obvious, isn't it? There
is a peace he came to bring. But he still said, think not
that I've come to send peace. He's talking about men getting
along with men of the world. Think not that I've come to send
peace. I came not to send peace, but rather division, variance. Now, what is it that divides What is it that brings variance
even in a household and puts people at odds with one another?
What is it that divides? And Christ said, I came to send
division. Now what is it that divides?
Here's a summary of everything. We read in John chapter 7 verse
43, there was a division because of him. And that's the division. There
was a division because of him. He is the issue. Here's the cry of every natural
man. We will not have this man to
reign over us. If he reigns over us, that means
we have no control and we won't have it. In John chapter 10 verse
19, it says there was a division among the Jews for these sayings. What he said, you see, you can't
separate the person of Christ from what he said, from his doctrine. Somebody says we preach Christ.
Well, that is an empty claim unless you preach who he is and
what he did and what he said. There was a division among the
people because of His sayings, the very words of the Lord Jesus
Christ, the doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ. You know, His name
is the Word of God. Now, the response of the people
to His message in John 6 was, this is a hard saying. This is
harsh. This is unsympathetic toward
humanity. This is sharp. We don't like
hard sayings. We like soft sayings. We like
easy sayings. We like sayings that seem more
agreeable to our state. You know how the Lord replied? The words that I speak unto you
that you call harsh sayings are words of spirit and words of
life. That's how the Lord's people
find his words. Words of spirit and words of
life. And we're going to come back
to John chapter 6 in a minute, but turn with me to John 10.
John 10. Verse 31, then the Jews took
up stones again to stone him. Can you imagine that? I mean,
we almost can't imagine something like that in our civilized day.
When our Lord was finished with this message, the crowd picked
up rocks and said, we're going to stone you and hit you with
these rocks until you fall down on the ground dead. That was
their response to this message. Well, what did he say? Well,
you have to read the entire 10th chapter of John. It's where he
said, I lay down my life for the sheep and so on. And he said,
beginning in verse 24, Then came the Jews round about and said
unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be
the Christ, tell us plainly. Was there ever a time the Lord
didn't speak plain? That's such a cop-out. Such a cop-out. Jesus
answered him, I told you and you believe not. The words that
I do in my father's name, they bear witness of me, but you believe
not because you're not of my sheep. That's pretty strong language,
isn't it? He doesn't say you're not my
sheep because you don't believe. He says you believe not because
you're not of my sheep. My sheep, Hear my voice, I know
them, they follow me, I give unto them eternal life, and they
shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my
hand. My Father which gave them me is greater than all, and no
man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my
Father are one." I'm one with the Father. I'm equal with the
Father. I'm equal with God. I'm in absolute
control. You fellas are in my hand, and
it's up to me as to what's going to happen to you. And that's
what our Lord is saying at this time. Verse 31, Then took the
Jews up stones again to stone him. And Jesus answered them,
Many good works have I showed you from my Father. For which
of these works do you stone me? The Jews answered him, saying,
For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy, because
that thou, being a man, makest thyself God." Back in John chapter
8, verse 59, Then took they up stones
to cast at him, after he had preached. They were going to
stone him to death. But Jesus hid himself and went out of the
temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by." Will
you read the things that he said in John chapter 8? Just take
the time, as the Lord enables you, to read what was said that
infuriated these people so much that they picked up a bunch of
rocks to stone him to death. I'll tell you one of the things
he said. He said, before Abraham was, I am. He said in verse 24,
if you believe not that I am, you'll die in your sins. He said
in John chapter 8, you're of the father of the devil, and
the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from
the beginning, and he bowed not the truth. Why can't you hear
my speech? Even because you can't hear my word. He that's of God,
heareth God's words. You therefore hear them not,
because you're not of God. They said, say we not well that
thou hast a devil and are mad. You're crazy. And they end up
getting ready to stone him. because of this. It started in the very beginning
of his public ministry when he turned to Luke chapter 4 for
a moment. I've already referred to this. Verse 28, And all they
in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with
wrath. And they rose up, and thrust
him out of the city, and laid him under the bra of the hill,
whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down
headlong. But he passing through the midst
of them went his way. Now, I love reading that passage
of scripture. This is where he read that prophecy
from Isaiah chapter 61, which everybody knew exactly what he
was saying. He was saying, I'm the Messiah. I'm the Messiah. This prophecy is of me." He said,
this day, this scripture is fulfilled in your ears. And oh, they became
upset at this time. They said, it's not this Jesus.
It's not this the carpenter's son. And that's when he said,
a prophet is not without honor, saving his own home and among
his own kin. And that's just true. That's
just true. Any true prophet has found that to be the case. But
he said, let me tell you something. There were many widows in the
days of Elijah, and God passed every one of them by and saved
a Gentile widow. And there were many lepers in
the days of Elisha, Jewish lepers, and God passed them all by and
saved a Syrian leper, named him the Syrian. What he's saying
is, you don't believe, but let me tell you why. God has passed
you by. And they became furious over
this. And they took him up to the brow
of the hill to cast him down headlong. Turn to John chapter six. This
is the last passage of scripture we'll look at. Verse 66. From that time, Many
of his disciples went back and walked no more with him. Now this is that group of 5,000
that he fed. After they heard this particular
message, they withdrew themselves. They said, enough of this. We're
going back to the way we used to be. They walked no more with
him, even after he had fed them miraculously. After they heard
what he said, they said, we're not having this. Now look back
in verse 27. This is after they had found
him. He had fed them miraculously
and left them, and they found him. And he said in verse 26,
Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
you seek me not because you saw the miracles, not because of
some conviction concerning who I am, but because you did eat
of the loaves and were filled. Labor not for the meat which
perishes, but for that meat which endures an everlasting life,
which the Son of Man shall give unto you. For him hath God the
Father sealed. Then said they unto him, You're
talking about laboring and working. What shall we do that we might
work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto
them, This is the work of God, that you believe on him whom
he hath said. And I love what comes after that.
a period. That's God's work. And you go on reading. He says
in verse 36, but I say unto you, you've also seen me and you believe
not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me. And him
that cometh to me I'll in no wise cast out. He speaks of divine
election. This is the Father's will which
is sent me, verse 39, that of all which he hath given me, I
should lose nothing but raise it up again at the last day.
He speaks of his effectual atonement for his elect. Look in verse
43, Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Mona, not
among yourselves, no man can come to Me except the Father
which has sent Me draw him. And I'll raise him up at the
last day. Now think about what He says to these people. He says, you
can't come to Me except the Father which has sent Me draw you. You're
utterly in His hands. He says in verse 44, it's written
in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man
therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh
unto me. Oh, I love what he says. Just
go on reading this chapter. And when he's finished, he says,
Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwells in me, and I
in him. Just a wonderful sermon. And what was their response?
Verse 59, These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught
in Capernaum. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had
heard this, said, This is a hard saying. This is harsh. Who can be expected to listen
to this? When Jesus knew in himself that
his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, does this
offend you? What, and if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up
where he was before? I love the way he says that. He said, you're
offended now? You're really going to be offended.
When you find out who I really am, when you see me ascend back
up to the Father at His right hand, ruling and reigning, you're
offended now, you'll really be offended then. He says in verse
36, it's the spirit that quickens, that gives life. The flesh profits
nothing. The words that I speak unto you
that you find harsh, they are spirit, they are life. But there are some of you that
believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that
believed not and who should betray him. He said, therefore I said
unto you that no man can come to me. except it were given to
him of my father. From that time many of his disciples
went back and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto
the twelve, Will you also go away? Now he speaks to his disciples,
and he says the door is open. If you want to leave, feel free
to. What's a sobering thought, isn't
it? If you want to leave, there's the door. Lord's not going to
have any unwilling disciples. If you want to leave, there's
the door. And Simon answers as the spokesman
for every believer. Then Simon Peter answered him,
Lord, where would we go? You say, if you want to leave, it's
not like we even have an option. Where would we go? These words
that they find harsh, we find to be words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that
thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. Now, we may
be looked upon as uncooperative and not trying to join with the
religion of this day. We may be looked upon as narrow-minded,
my way or the highway mentality, dogmatic, unbending, that's all right. That's all right. There is still a division because
of him. And if there is no division,
in my life, my personal life. If there is no division in my
life, it's because I am not confessing Him. It's not because I'm such
a nice person that I can just get along with everybody. It's
because I am not confessing Him. The Lord said, Suppose ye that
I've come to send peace on the earth, I tell you no, but rather
division. Now, I love the peace he came
to bring, don't you? I love it. But I also, by his
grace, want to be his faithful witness that brings division
in my life. with those who have no love for
him or his gospel. It's not like we're looking for
a fight, but I tell you, I love what Paul said. He said, if I'm
not persecuted, I've taken the offense out of the cross. I've
taken the offense out of the gospel. I don't want to be guilty
of that, do you? I don't want to remove the offense
from the cross. May the Lord enable us to deny
ourselves, to take up our cross. You know,
people talk about, this cross has been laid on me. I'm not
talking about a cross that's laid on you. I'm talking about a cross
you willingly pick up. This confession of Christ. Every
believer is called upon to deny himself, to take up his cross,
and to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. May God give every one
of us grace to do just that. I want to be a follower of Christ.
Well, how do you follow somebody? You keep your eyes on them. That's
how. Let's pray. Lord, you've told us in your
word that you didn't come to send peace, but rather division. Lord, we thank you for the peace
that you did come to give us. The peace that you worked out
on the cross, the peace that we experience and believe in
your gospel. And Lord, we don't want to be
out seeking divisions and controversy. Lord, we want to be peacemakers. But Lord, deliver us from hedging
on this thing of confessing you in such a way that those who
don't believe you understand what we say and get angry. Lord,
enable us to be faithful witnesses of thy son. Forgive us for our many sins
for the Lord's sake. Lord, do for us that which we
can't do for ourselves. Lord, we ask in Christ's name
that you would touch each heart here and cause us to lay hold
upon thy son. How we thank you for him. In
his blessed name we pray, amen. Paul, I'd like to sing Am I a
Soldier of the Cross. That's a, seemed like that would
be an appropriate song.