Peace in One Body

Peace in One Body

God’s elect have been taken from widely different nations and families. Their upbringing, behavior, habits and ways of thinking vary greatly, even though they can all have a good conscience. Therefore it is difficult to bear with one another. Yet what is alike for these elect is that they are saved by grace and not by works, so that no one can glory in himself. After we have been raised with Christ and have been sat in heavenly places, He can begin to work with us. We are being created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Eph. 2:6-10.

This takes time, and it can only occur if we are all crucified with Christ and no longer live for ourselves. However, the understanding of what it means to live no longer for ourselves but according to the workings of the Spirit varies considerably; therefore we have much to bear with each other. But God has made it so that we are baptized with one Spirit to be one body, and He has composed the body in such a way that He gave the least honorable member the greatest honor “that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.” 1 Cor. 12:13-25.

If I am to bear all those who are so different from me, and continue to have peace, I have to know how to work out my salvation with fear and trembling. Phil. 2:12. Paul says this in connection with having the mind of Christ—He who took the form of a servant and humbled Himself. We read further in Colossians 3:12-13: “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind . . . bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”

Then the peace to which we have been called in one body will rule in our hearts, and we will be thankful for all the elect, as well as for how Christ has placed them in the body. If, then, a person does not have peace in his heart, it is because he lives for himself. There is something he wants—such as correcting the others— even accusing them. He does not understand how to work out his own salvation so he is able to be forbearing and forgiving, just as Paul explains it.

Together with all these saints we are to be able to comprehend the breadth and length and depth and height—“to know the love of Christ which passes all knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Eph. 3:16-19. We have this wonderful opportunity to work out our salvation together with all these different people. We can’t do that unless we are grounded in love. “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect?” However, those who do not know how to work out their own salvation do this. The peace of Christ does not rule in their hearts. They are not along in edifying the church. The fact that they are good speakers and can explain the doctrine does not help them anything at all. A person cannot build fellowship so that we become one if he does not have peace in his heart. God’s kingdom is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. “For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” Rom. 14:17-19.

Sigurd Bratlie