I Corinthians XI
For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. (I Corinthians 14:33 ESV)
Peace
I like to defeat my enemies… be that a rival football team, a different political party, a rude neighbor, a hostile nation, or someone who does not laugh enough at my jokes.
But God is a God of peace.
Not a doormat God, though. Not a God who ignores key differences, though. Not a God who looks the other way. Not a God who is afraid of His enemies.
But His goal is not warfare against His enemies. That’s our nature, not His.
His goal is not conflict and winning. That’s our nature, not His.
His goal is not chanting victory songs for eternity in heaven. That’s our nature, not His.
God desires peace by conversion of His enemies into His children. That is what He did with me.
God desires peace by making the division of “two kinds of people” simple, and not confusing. Folk are either united to Him in Christ… or not.
God desires peace by defeating the real enemy. Not the other political party, or the other nation, or the other worldview, or the other favorite color. He defeats sin, mankind’s rebellion, and death.
And God brings that peace only through the Prince of Peace… the Sacrificial King… the Gift of Substitutionary Atonement.
In other words… God is the God of peace through Jesus.