#140 The Triumph, Peace, and Power of True Christianity - Part 7
The Triumph, Peace, and Power of True Christianity part 7, by Pilgram Marpeck
The Peace of Christ
For the sake of peace among the rebellious children of Israel, God gave the sword to Moses to enforce his laws. Joshua, David, and others were given the sword for the same reason—to keep an outward, temporary peace among unconverted men. But Christ and his followers have another calling. Christ does not bring the peace of Moses, nor an outward peace of the flesh. Rather, he calls his followers to have peace one with another and says: "I give you peace. I leave it with you, not as the world gives" (John 14).
The world does not know the peace of Christ, nor has it experienced peace of heart. Only with peace in the heart can one endure persecution, no matter how severe it may be. Before Christ, no one knew about a peace like this. Christ freed us so that we could have peace, and he left this world so that the comforter might come to us (John 16). Now we go through all manner of earthly tribulations without complaining or protesting, because we have peace in our hearts.
True Christians are those who do not complain or protest, as do those who bring each other to trial for offences among them. Those who accuse each other do not know true peace. They are children of the world. But true Christians have peace in their hearts because Christ is their Lord and judge, and they know that he will finally judge the whole world (Acts 17).
To Serve, Not to Rule
So much higher is the office of Christ than the office of Moses, that his followers can no longer be accused by the law neither do they accuse others (Hebrews 3; Hebrews 8; II Corinthians 3). Where one is accused or judged on the basis of Moses' law, the work of Christ has no effect (Galatians 5). Christ said to the Jews who would not believe in him: "I will not judge you. The one who will judge you is Moses in whom you trust" (John 5).
Neither Christ nor his followers accuse men in spiritual or physical ways. Rather Christ and his followers are of a faithful, patient, and meek spirit. Jesus said to his followers: "If you keep to my way of talking, you will be my true disciples. You will know the truth and the truth will make you free" (John 8).
This freedom of Christ is lord over all. All creatures must serve it, but it does not seek to rule. It seeks only to serve (I Corinthians 9–10). The Lord Most High, Christ Jesus, did not come to rule, force, judge, accuse, or have anyone accused before him. Rather, he came to serve, and to allow himself to be ruled over, forced, accused, judged, condemned, and mistreated. He is the mirror into which we must look if we want to see whether we resemble Christ or not. If we would do so, the question of whether we should take part in worldly government would soon be resolved!