Beware of False Peace!
The sermon warns against false peace and encourages listeners to seek true peace by desiring to please Jesus Christ and trusting in conviction.
Theodore Epp warns against the dangers of false peace, emphasizing that a sense of peace does not always indicate alignment with God's will. He encourages believers to assess their peace in relation to their relationships within the Body of Christ, suggesting that true peace is accompanied by harmony with others. Epp highlights the importance of desiring to please Jesus in all actions, as this desire can safeguard against false peace. He reminds us that true peace comes from loving God's law and being in right standing with Him.
Text
Colossians 3:13-17
We must beware of false peace. Some who do wrong may have a peace about it, but it does not come from God. As someone has said, "Peace of heart alone is not always the peace of God."
A significant test to apply to determine the origin of the peace is this: If I have peace in my heart about a matter, do I also have peace with others in the Body of Christ concerning it?
Understandably, not everyone will agree on any single issue, but if only the person himself thinks he is right, he has reason to question his decision. If we are out of the will of God, we will bring discord and disharmony to the Body of true believers.
I realize the difficulty in assessing who is a true believer, especially in a group situation. Sometimes those who are part of the group do not evidence salvation themselves.
Other times, some may clearly evidence salvation but give little evidence of mature judgment in things related to the Christian life.
One of the best safeguards against a false peace is simply making sure that you have the desire to please Jesus Christ in all that you do.
If it is your concern "that in all things he might have the preeminence" (Col. 1:18), you can trust Him to bring conviction and a lack of peace when your life is not honoring to Him.
"Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them" (Ps. 119:165).
Sermon Outline
- Beware of False Peace
- Assessing True Believers
- A Safeguard Against False Peace
- The Difficulty of Assessment
- Evidence of Salvation
- Desiring to Please Jesus Christ
- Trusting in Conviction
Key Quotes
“Peace of heart alone is not always the peace of God.” — Theodore Epp
“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them” — Theodore Epp
Application Points
- Make sure you have a desire to please Jesus Christ in all that you do to avoid false peace.
- Trust in conviction when you're unsure about your actions or decisions.
- Look for evidence of salvation and mature judgment in the Christian life of those around you.