The Book of Romans: The Pursuit of Peace

 

The Book of Romans

Welcome:

Good morning, Eastern Shore Baptist Church. My name is Stuart Davidson. It is really awesome to be here with all of you this morning. I am genuinely thankful that you have chosen to come and worship with us today.

For those of you who may be visiting with us for the very first time, or for those who may be watching online, I want you to know how grateful we are that you have chosen Eastern Shore Baptist Church. You could be a lot of different places right now. You could be doing a lot of different things. Yet you have chosen to devote this hour and a half to worshiping the Lord with us. We do not take that lightly. We are honored that you are here.

I also want to remind you that we have a prayer line available for you. That number is 251-222-8977. If you have a prayer need, a praise report, something heavy on your heart, or even something you would rather share privately, we would love to hear from you. Whether you are a long time member, a first time guest, or someone watching online, please feel free to utilize that prayer line. Our staff and prayer team would count it a privilege to pray with you and pray for you.

We believe God still hears prayer. We believe God still answers prayer. We believe God still moves when His people call on Him.

Introduction of Today’s Message:

Not long ago, a national news outlet ran a story about how public confrontations are becoming more common in everyday places. Airplanes turning around because passengers are fighting. Youth sporting events being stopped because parents are yelling at referees. Restaurant workers being cursed out over slow service. Road rage incidents escalating into physical altercations.

One sociologist in the article made this observation.

“We are living in an age where everyone feels justified to express their anger, but very few people feel responsible for pursuing peace.”

That line stuck with me.

It seems like we are surrounded by people who feel entitled to vent, unload, clap back, and fire off responses. The louder voice is often celebrated. The sharpest comeback gets the most likes. The angriest post gets the most engagement.

Yet God’s Word consistently calls us in a different direction.

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.”

That is a completely different vision of peace than what our culture promotes.

The world says peace is avoiding people.

The world says peace is blocking people.

The world says peace is cutting people off.

God says peace is something you pursue.

Not passive.

Not accidental.

Not automatic.

Peace is intentional.

That is why Paul writes in Romans 12:18, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

Which leads us to today’s message. In fact friends, that is the title of my message this morning…”The Pursuit of Peace”.

Today’s Message:

“The Pursuit of Peace”

Introduction To “Today’s Thought”:

When we talk about peace, it is important to understand that not all peace is the same.

One of the most fascinating examples in modern history is the relationship between North Korea and South Korea.

Technically speaking, the Korean War never officially ended. In 1953, an armistice was signed. An agreement to stop active fighting. Yet there was never a formal peace treaty.

Between these two nations sits what is known as the Korean Demilitarized Zone, often referred to as the DMZ. On the surface, it appears calm. No gunfire. No battles. No visible chaos.

Yet the reason it is “peaceful” is because both sides have massive military forces positioned just outside of it. Weapons aimed. Troops ready. Tension simmering.

It looks like peace.

It feels like peace.

Yet it is not real peace.

It is a false peace.

It is a pseudo peace.

It is peace enforced by fear.

In many ways, that is the same kind of peace the world offers.

The world says you can find peace at the bottom of a bottle.

The world says you can find peace through pills.

The world says you can find peace through pleasure, success, or distraction.

Yet all of those forms of peace are temporary.

All of them wear off.

All of them eventually leave us emptier than before.

Jesus spoke directly to this when He said:

John 14:27 (ESV)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Jesus makes a clear distinction.

There is a peace the world gives.

Then there is a peace only God can give.

The peace God offers is not based on circumstances.

It is not dependent on comfort.

It is not rooted in avoidance.

It is rooted in relationship with Him.

That brings us to today’s thought:

Today’s Thought:

Peace May Not Always Be Possible, But It Should Be Our Priority

Explanation of Today’s Thought:

Paul acknowledges something we all know to be true.

Some people will refuse reconciliation.

Some people will choose hostility.

Some people will not want peace, no matter how gracious we are.

Peace requires two willing parties.

You cannot force someone else to live at peace.

Yet Paul places responsibility squarely on us.

“So far as it depends on you…”

In other words, you are responsible for your posture.

You are responsible for your tone.

You are responsible for your response.

Peace may not always be achievable.

Yet it should always be our aim.

Friends this is also where we may need a bit of clarity. Is Paul telling us to throw out our morals, our values, our obedience just so that we can go along to get along? No. 

Neither Paul nor Jesus is telling us to sacrifice biblical truth in the hopes that everyone will like us.

We are not called to compromise God’s Word for the sake of harmony.

We are not called to soften sin so people feel comfortable.

We are not called to abandon obedience to avoid conflict.

Biblical peace never comes at the expense of Biblical authority.

You can stand on truth and still speak with grace.

You can hold convictions and still show compassion.

You can disagree without being disagreeable.

God’s peace is not about pretending everything is fine.

God’s peace is about responding in a way that reflects the heart of Christ.

Peace may not always be possible.

But for the follower of Jesus, it should always be the priority.

Which leads us to the question Paul forces us to wrestle with.

How do we actually live that out?

Well, we will talk about that in just a few moments. 

Introduction of Today’s Quote:

Friends that brings me to one of my favorite Christian writers, J. C. Ryle.

Ryle wrote a classic book called Practical Religion, and as the title suggests, it focuses on what real, everyday Christianity looks like when it is lived out in ordinary life. Not theoretical faith. Not Sunday-only faith. But boots-on-the-ground, Monday-through-Sunday faith.

Listen to what Ryle says:

Today’s Quote:

“A true Christian will be one who makes it a habit to strive for peace. He will labor to promote unity, to allay strife, and to pour oil on troubled waters. He will not be a quarrelsome man, but gentle, patient, and ready to forgive.”

JC Ryle’s “Practical Religion” 

That sounds an awful lot like Romans 12:18, our Scripture this morning. 

Paul says, “Live peaceably with all.”

Ryle says, “Make it a habit to strive for peace.”

Paul is not describing a personality trait.

Ryle is not describing a temperament.

They are both describing a spiritual discipline.

Living peaceably does not mean you never face conflict.

It means you refuse to be the source of unnecessary conflict.

Did you hear me there friends. That is an important distinction. “It means you refuse to be the source of unnecessary conflict.” 

It means we become people who work toward unity, not division.

People who calm situations, not inflame them.

People who reflect the heart of Christ in how we treat others.

Background and Context of Romans 12:18:

Before we dive any deeper into Romans 12:18, it helps to remember who wrote these words and what was going on when he wrote them.

The author of the book is the Apostle Paul.

By the time Paul writes this letter, he is not a new believer. He is not a novice in ministry. He is a seasoned missionary, a church planter, and a man who has suffered deeply for the sake of the gospel.

Paul is writing to believers in Rome around the mid to late AD 50s, while he is in Corinth during his third missionary journey. He has never personally visited the church in Rome at this point, but he knows about them. He loves them. He prays for them. He longs to eventually come and minister among them.

These believers are living in a hostile environment.

Rome is the center of the Roman Empire.

It is saturated with pagan worship.

It is dominated by emperor worship.

It is increasingly suspicious of Christians.

Believers are mocked.

Believers are misunderstood.

Believers are marginalized.

On top of external pressure, there are internal tensions inside the church.

Jewish believers and Gentile believers are learning how to worship together.

They come from very different backgrounds.

They carry different traditions.

They hold different preferences.

So Paul is writing to a church dealing with cultural friction, relational tension, and growing opposition from the outside world.

That context matters.

Paul is not writing from a beach somewhere with a cold drink in his hand.

He is writing as a man who has been beaten.

A man who has been imprisoned.

A man who has been lied about.

A man who has been run out of towns.

A man who has been betrayed by people he loved.

Yet it is this same man who says:

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

Paul is not naive about human nature.

Paul is not minimizing pain.

Paul is not pretending conflict does not exist.

Paul knows exactly how ugly people can be.

Which makes his command even more powerful.

In Romans 12, Paul shifts from theology to practice.

Chapters 1 through 11 focus heavily on what we believe.

Chapter 12 begins focusing on how we behave.

In other words, because of what God has done for you, this is how you now live.

Romans 12:18 is part of a larger section where Paul addresses everyday relationships.

How believers treat enemies.

How believers respond to mistreatment.

How believers handle personal conflict.

How believers reflect Christ in a broken world.

Paul’s message is pretty clear here friends.

The gospel does not only change where you are going when you die.

The gospel changes how you live while you are alive.

Living peaceably with all is not a suggestion.

It is not a spiritual bonus.

It is part of the normal Christian life.

Paul writes Romans 12:18 to believers who are feeling pressure from a increasingly hostile world, believers who are feeling misunderstood, faithful Christians who are living in a tense culture.

Sound familiar? Sure it does. Sounds just like you and I today. 

So, this message, Paul’s words are very relevant for all of us today. 

Paul is calling the church there in Rome, and he is calling us to rise above our culture. He is telling us that we need to reflect Christ instead of reflecting the world and that we should all pursue peace even when it is difficult. 

So as we prepare to read today’s Holy Scripture, I want to remind you that…

Statement of Belief:

“We are opening the living and powerful Word of God…truth without error, breathed out by Him, and fully sufficient for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. It is our authority, our guide, and our hope. In honor of the God who gave us His perfect Word, I invite you to stand with me as we read it together.”

Today’s Scripture:

Romans 12:18 ESV

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Pastor: “This is the Word of the Lord!”

Congregation: “Praise His name, praise His Holy name.”

3 Ways To Live At Peace…

First…Consider The Past 

Friends, now that we have read Romans chapter 12, verse 18, I believe Paul has given us three ways to live at peace.

Here is the first one.

First… Consider the Past.

Before we unpack that, look right there on your outline. You will see an explanation of today’s first point:

You never know what someone else is going through or experiencing. It helps to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.

That is the heart of this point.

Everybody has a past.

Everybody has a story.

Everybody has experiences that have shaped them.

Every person in this room is informed by their past.

Whether you are the preacher behind the pulpit.

Whether you are the guy with the guitar leading worship.

Whether you are on the praise team.

Whether you are in the sound booth.

Whether you are seated out there in the congregation.

All of us are shaped by both the good and the bad.

We are shaped by applause and accolades.

We are shaped by encouragement and affirmation.

We are also shaped by abuse and abandonment.

We are shaped by betrayal and disappointment.

We are shaped by private pain that nobody else sees.

That is why considering the past matters so much when it comes to living at peace.

During the Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles made headlines around the world when she stepped away from several events in the middle of competition.

Immediately, social media lit up.

Some people called her weak.

Some people called her a quitter.

Some people said she was letting her country down.

Yet as more of the story came out, the tone began to shift.

Simone spoke openly about the intense mental and emotional pressure she had been under for years. She talked about anxiety. She talked about the crushing weight of expectations. She talked about carrying trauma from past abuse.

It did not change what happened.

But it changed how many people viewed it.

Why?

Because context creates compassion.

When people understood what she had been carrying, many moved from criticism to understanding.

It did not excuse everything.

Yet it did explain a lot.

When we stop and ask, “What might this person be carrying?” it changes how we respond.

Are they reacting this way because of trauma in their past?

Are they reacting this way because of abuse?

Are they reacting this way because they were abandoned?

Are they reacting this way because of private pain they have never told anyone about?

It does not make sinful behavior acceptable.

But it does help us understand the mindset.

It helps us grow empathy muscles.

It helps us slow down instead of snapping back.

It helps us ask questions instead of making assumptions.

It helps us seek peace instead of escalating conflict.

Considering the past does not mean we excuse sin.

It means we choose to see people as complex, broken, and in need of grace, just like us.

That is exactly how Jesus treats us.

Listen to Hebrews 4:15.

Hebrews 4:15 (NLT)

“This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.”

Jesus came to walk a mile in our shoes.

He knows what it is like to be tired.

He knows what it is like to be misunderstood.

He knows what it is like to be betrayed.

He knows what it is like to be rejected.

He knows what it is like to suffer.

Jesus is not distant from our pain.

He is sympathetic.

He is empathetic.

If Jesus treats us that way, then we are called to treat others that way.

When you consider the past, you make room for compassion.

When you consider the past, you slow your reactions.

When you consider the past, you move one step closer to living at peace.

Paul says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

One of the ways we do that is by choosing to consider the past.

3 Ways To Live At Peace…

First…Consider The Past 

Second…Commit To Being Patient

Friends, let’s move on now to our second point.

Again, the first way that we can live at peace is to consider the past of those around us. People in our circle. Family, friends, fellow students, and coworkers. 

The second way to live at peace is this: Commit to Being Patient.

Look again at your outline. You will see an explanation of today’s second point:

“Everyone is on a different journey, walking a unique path. God is working in them as much as He is working on you.”

Let me ask you a simple question.

Are you a patient person?

Most of us would say, “Well, I try to be.”

Sometimes we even pray, “God, give me patience.”

We expect God to update us like the software on our phones or computers, just download patience into our hearts.

That’s not ever how God works is it?

Usually, God develops patience in us by allowing things into our lives that directly confront our impatience.

Traffic.

Delays.

Difficult people.

Slow progress.

Unanswered prayers.

Those moments become God’s classroom.

Patience is not something you receive instantly.

Patience is something you develop with practice.

When I think about patience, I think about a lot of people.

Yet probably one of the most patient people I know is our chairman of deacons, Phillip Webb.

I have known Phillip for going on sixteen years.

He is in his sixth year serving as chairman of deacons here at Eastern Shore Baptist Church.

During those six years, Phillip has never received a paycheck.

He has never received a plaque.

Nothing has ever been named in his honor.

Yet he has carried more weight, shouldered more anxiety, and dealt with more conflict than any single lay member in our church.

I guarantee you over the years Phillip has heard complaints about the preacher.

Complaints about the pianist, (Pause for Laughter).

Complaints about staff members.

Complaints about deacons.

Maybe even complaints about himself.

Yet Phillip has remained steady.

Calm.

Measured.

Patient.

One of the reasons Phillip has been such an effective chairman of the deacons is because he understands something deeply.

None of us are running a tied race.

We are all at different places.

We all have different backgrounds.

We all have different strengths.

We all have different levels of maturity.

We are all at different places on the course of life. Some of us younger, others of us are older. Some are more mature, others less. Some more experience, others less. 

One of the things that I have always loved about Phillip is that he understands that growth takes time. Years ago our church was going through a difficult time. A large portion of our congregation was unhappy. Truth be told, they were unhappy with me. One of our prominent members went to lunch with Phillip. At this lunch, this member told Phillip every problem that he had with me. 

Stuart’s to young. Stuart’s to inexperienced. Stuart’s not a good enough teacher and the cherry on top was Stuart’s just not a very good leader. Now Phillip only told me this because I made him tell me. Im not going to lie to you friends, when he confessed to me everything this man said about me, it stung. It really hurt. 

But Stuart, do you know what I told him?

No Phillip. What did you tell him?

First off, I told him that he was wrong. Dead wrong. I told him that I didn’t believe any of those things were true. But I also told him that even if he still felt that way to be patient with you, that you were growing, that God was working in you, developing you, and that one day you’d be the man, the pastor, and the friend, that he was looking for. I told him to be patient!

Folks, that meant more to me that you could ever know. That’s the type of man you want as your friend. The man who won’t bail out on you when you are in the fox hole and the bullets are whizzing above your head. The man who stays calm when the arrows fly. The sort of fella who doesn’t just tell you that he’s praying for you but puts his arm around you and walks with you when you are walking through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. That’s the patience of Phillip Webb. 

That kind of patience makes peace possible.

Now let me push this a little further.

Patience is not only about being patient with others.

One of the most difficult forms of patience is learning to be patient with yourself.

Some of you get discouraged because you are not as far along spiritually as you think you should be.

You look at your struggles.

You look at your habits.

You look at your failures.

You forget that God is still working.

So how do we develop patience?

Let me give you three biblical anchors.

First, remember that God is not finished with you.

Philippians 1:6 (ESV) says, “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Growth is a process, not a single event.

Second, learn to slow down and seek God’s presence.

Psalm 46:10 (ESV) says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Stillness nurtures patience. Be still. Slow down and smell the roses. My brother has told me on a number of occasions that it is important to “touch grass”. That means to stop, look down, live in the moment. If you are moving so fast that you can’t give God a moment, you are moving too fast. Slow down before God slows you down. 

Third, practice small acts of endurance.

James 1:2–4 (ESV) teaches that trials produce steadfastness, and steadfastness leads to maturity.

Patience grows when we keep showing up, even when it is hard.

Patience is built one moment at a time.

When you commit to being patient, you lower the temperature of conflict.

When you commit to being patient, you give people room to grow.

When you commit to being patient, you create space for peace.

Paul summarizes it beautifully:

Ephesians 4:2 (CSB)

“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.”

If we want to live at peace, we must commit to being patient.

3 Ways To Live At Peace…

First…Consider The Past 

Second…Commit To Being Patient

Lastly…Choose To Pardon

Friends, we have made it to our last point.

Three ways that we live at peace.

One, consider the past.

Two, commit to being patient.

And lastly…

Choose to Pardon.

Once again, you can see the explanation right there on your outline:

No one is perfect. Not even you. Choose to show grace. One day you’ll need it yourself.

Forgiveness sits at the very heart of living at peace.

You cannot cling to bitterness and have peace.

You cannot rehearse offenses and live at peace.

You cannot stockpile grudges and expect peace to flourish.

Choosing to pardon is choosing freedom.

Let me give you a powerful real-life example. The other day I was running on the treadmill and I opened up Netflix and I saw that there was a documentary about the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart that had just premiered. It was one of the highest rated shows on the platform and I love documentaries. So I opened the program and watched with bated breath. 

Those of you who are old enough remember the Elizabeth Smart story. It gripped the nation and was on every newspaper and television news broadcast for weeks. 

She was taken from her home.

Held captive for months.

Physically abused.

Emotionally traumatized.

After she was rescued, people assumed she would spend the rest of her life consumed by hatred.

Instead, in the documentary, Elizabeth made a startling statement.

She said that forgiveness was not something she did for her captor.

Forgiveness was something she did for herself.

She said she realized that if she held on to bitterness, then he would still have power over her life.

Choosing to forgive did not minimize what happened.

It did not excuse what happened.

It did not pretend it was okay.

It simply meant she refused to let what was done to her define who she would become.

That is the power of choosing to pardon.

Now let’s get very practical.

So friends, how do we forgive? Isn’t that the million dollar question?

First, understand that forgiveness is a choice, not a feeling.

If you wait until you feel like forgiving, you will never forgive.

Forgiveness is an act of obedience before it is an emotional experience.

Colossians 3:13 (ESV) says,

“Bear with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

You choose to forgive today.

You choose to forgive tomorrow.

You choose to forgive when the wound still aches.

Over time, the feelings begin to catch up to the choice.

Second, remember that we are all sinners who drop the ball.

The other day my son Jack was pitching in a baseball game.

He threw a pitch.

The batter popped it up.

Routine play.

Easy fly ball to first base.

The first baseman called for it.

The ball came down.

Hit his glove.

And he dropped it.

The stands erupted.

The players were frustrated.

As a dad, I was frustrated too.

How does a high school player drop that ball?

Then on the way home, it hit me.

Everybody drops balls.

That is baseball.

Baseball is a game of failure.

Everybody strikes out.

Everybody makes errors.

Even the best players in the world fail.

Even Shohei Ohtani strikes out.

Even legends like Bill Buckner had moments they wish they could redo.

Nobody was more embarrassed about that play than the kid who dropped it.

When I talked to Jack later, I told him, “Be an encourager. We have all dropped balls.”

My oldest son also plays baseball. He told me the other day that he had had a particularly bad practice. He didn’t hit well. He didn’t field well. He was frustrated. I guess he was a bit down the dumps. I guess you could sort of see it in his countenance and body language. There is a kid on the team named Jabez Samson. Jabez is a senior. He has been through all the ups and downs of playing college baseball. He saw that Jay was feeling pretty low and he put his arm around him and said “Jay, what’s got you down?”

Jay told him. 

Jabez gave Jay some great advice. 

Jay, you’re being a downer. You don’t want to be a downer. You want to be an upper. I’m an upper Jay, come be like me. Be an upper.”

Jabez was not minimizing Jay’s frustration.

He was not pretending the bad practice didn’t happen.

He was reminding Jay of something bigger.

Jabez was basically saying, “I have been where you are. I have felt what you are feeling. I have failed too. And I survived it.”

That is grace.

That is perspective.

That is what it looks like to remember that everybody drops balls.

Spiritually speaking, the same thing is true.

Every one of us has blown it.

Every one of us has missed the mark.

Every one of us has failed God.

Every one of us has sinned.

That is why Paul writes:

Romans 3:23 (ESV)

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Not some.

Not most.

All.

Which means I cannot look down my nose at you.

You cannot look down your nose at me.

We are all standing on level ground at the foot of the cross.

When you remember your own failures, it becomes much easier to forgive the failures of others.

When you remember how much grace God has shown you, it becomes much easier to extend grace.

Church, don’t be a downer.

Don’t be someone who constantly reminds people of their worst moments.

Don’t be someone who keeps replaying other people’s mistakes.

Don’t be someone who keeps score.

Be an upper.

Be someone who lifts people up.

Be someone who points people forward.

Be someone who reminds others that God is not finished with them.

Do you know why you can be an upper this morning, friends?

One word.

One name.

JESUS.

Because Jesus did not treat you according to your worst moment.

Jesus did not cancel you when you failed.

Jesus chose to pardon you.

And because He pardoned you…

You and I can choose to pardon others.

When you remember your own failures, it becomes easier to forgive the failures of others.

Lastly, and this is big, follow the example of Jesus. If you want to learn how to forgive, read up on Jesus.

Yes, Jesus prayed from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

But I also love how Jesus treated Peter.

Peter denied Jesus three times.

Not once.

Not twice.

Three times.

Publicly.

Passionately.

Painfully.

Yet after the resurrection, Jesus did not shame Peter.

Jesus restored Peter.

Jesus recommissioned Peter.

Jesus entrusted Peter with leadership.

Jesus forgives and gives second chances.

That is our model.

Which brings us to Paul’s words:

Ephesians 4:32 (GNT)

“Instead, be kind and tenderhearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.”

Friends, living at peace requires that we…

Consider the past.

Commit to being patient.

Choose to pardon.

And at the end of the day…

Give G.R.A.C.E.

God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.

Because that is what we have received.

And that is what we are called to give.

Closing Prayer:

Father God,  we are so grateful for Your grace. Thank You for reminding us through your Word that You have called us to be a people who pursue peace, not because it is always easy, not because it is always comfortable, but because it reflects the heart of our Savior.

Lord, help us to be men and women who consider the past of others, who remember that everyone has a story, everyone carries burdens, and everyone needs grace. Teach us Lord to commit to being patient, with the people around us and even with ourselves. God You are still at work in all of our lives and we should extend forgiveness the same way You have extended it to us through Christ.

Holy Spirit, search our hearts. If there is anyone we need to forgive, give us the courage to obey You. If there is bitterness we are holding onto, give us the strength to lay it down. Shape us into peacemakers who reflect Jesus everywhere we go.

Thank You for the grace You have given to us. Thank You that You did not treat us according to our worst moments, but according to Your mercy. Help us to live out that same grace toward others.

We love You. We trust You. We ask all of this in the strong and saving name of Jesus.

Amen.