Things New and Old: If the son of peace be there...

Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Monday, March 12, 2018

If the son of peace be there...

Are there sons of peace among them?
The gospel ministry can make them manifest.

If the son of peace be there...

Luke 10

2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.

5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.

6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again

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Note a few things:

1. His harvest: the harvest is of the Lord of harvest, it is ripe for harvest; it is ready to be gathered into His church.

- Labourers are sent out to bring in the harvest field; they are not sent to till and sow to produce the crop. It is the work of gathering in the harvest into the barn, i.e., gathering in what's already there by the Lord of the harvest.

2. Carry neither purse...: beware of doing lollipop evangelism or money mission if you want to gather in the Lord's harvest. Banana-churchianity is the popular game today; tricks and treats financed by a fat purse attract crowds easily.

- I have seen the ugliness of money mission first-hand in Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Words like "Give us this amount of US$ and we will bring these churches to join you..."

3. If the son of peace be there:
- his presence precedes the coming of the labourers sent by the Lord.
- the son of peace is one whom God has reconciled to Himself through His Son, the Prince of Peace. Such can, and needs to be called out by the gospel ministry.
- The work of the labourers is to look for such and gather them into the kingdom of God. The gospel ministry will draw them out into the light; it is like a magnet drawing out iron nails among the plastic junks.

The preachers of the gospel of peace are sent forth to bring the gospel of the Prince of peace to the sons of peace whom the Prince of peace has reconciled to God, and whom the Spirit of God has freely regenerated.

Rom 1:17

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

For in the gospel is the righteousness of God proclaimed by those in whom the Spirit of God has worked faith and have been brought to believe the gospel, to those in whom the same Spirit has worked the same faith that they may be brought to believe the truth of the same gospel of salvation.

The sons of peace alone are able to receive the gospel of peace.

1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV —

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.