My previous blog post reflected on love and humility as the distinguishing marks of a Christian and on how Jesus displays those qualities perfectly in the gospel. Indeed, it was Jesus’ love and humility that saved us. A sentence in a letter that John Newton wrote to his friend and fellow minister the Reverend Mr. Whitford proved to be the jumping off point for that post. Newton wrote to Whitford, “I am persuaded that love and humility are the highest attainments in the school of Christ, and the brightest evidences that He is indeed our Master.”[1] Christians are marked by love and humility because they are being conformed into the image of their loving, humble savior, Jesus, the Son of God.

“I am persuaded that love and humility are the highest attainments in the school of Christ, and the brightest evidences that He is indeed our Master.”—John Newton

Well, as it turns out, Newton has grabbed me again with another sentence—well two sentences actually. It looks like at least a two-part series inspired by John Newton is in order. Who knows, it could run longer.

Newton’s Sentence(s)

In another letter written to Mr. Whitford, Newton continues to encourage him to be a beacon of gospel cooperation in divisive times within the church. Newton addresses “seeking after peace and holiness” and the “Vanity of religious disputation.”[2] The sentences that grabbed my attention this time were these: “The two great points we are called to pursue in this sinful divided world, are peace and holiness…These are the peculiar characteristics of a disciple of Jesus; they are the richest parts of the enjoyments of heaven; and so far as they are received into the heart, they bring down heaven upon earth; and they are more inseparably connected between themselves than some of us are aware of.”[3]

“The two great points we are called to pursue in this sinful divided world, are peace and holiness…These are the peculiar characteristics of a disciple of Jesus; they are the richest parts of the enjoyments of heaven; and so far as they are received into the heart, they bring down heaven upon earth; and they are more inseparably connected between themselves than some of us are aware of.”—John Newton

According to Newton, when the climate of the day, even in the church, is that of divisiveness, the most “peculiar characteristics” that mark a disciple, the marks they should seek to pursue are peace and holiness. Like love and humility, peace and holiness go hand-in-hand, as Newton observes. Let’s consider how.

Peace and Holiness

After heralding the gospel in the first eleven chapters of Romans, including what many consider the greatest stretch of Scripture in the Bible in Romans 8–11, Paul sets his sights on his audience in Romans 12 to exhort them to live in light of the gospel reality. (This is Paul’s typical pattern for his epistles and a good framework to utilize when reading Paul. He outlines gospel indicatives and then issues gospel imperatives. Essentially Paul says, “This is the gospel…Therefore, you who are in Christ, live like this!”). First, consider the gospel indicative. It answers the question: What does the gospel of Jesus mean? Answer: the gospel of Jesus means our holiness before and our peace with God. And God is the “richest parts of the enjoyments of heaven.”

Paul touches on this in Romans 5. Through faith in Jesus we have peace with God: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). By trusting in Jesus’ perfectly holy life and perfect sin atoning sacrifice, we are justified. That is, through the cross, God declares us righteous. And through the cross by the Holy Spirit, God imputes the righteousness of Jesus to us. So then, we are ones who are called to be holy (1 Peter 1:14). In one sense, we have been perfected in this holiness through Jesus’ sacrifice (Hebrews 10:14). His holiness is ours, and we are made saints, that is, holy ones (Romans 1:7; 8:27; 12:13, etc.).  Likewise, just as we have holiness through the gospel, we also have peace through the gospel. Our justification means our holiness, and because of our holiness, we have perfect peace with God through Jesus. God himself—”The richest parts of the enjoyments of heaven”—is ours because through Jesus we have peace and holiness. In another sense, though, we are still being made holy (Hebrews 10:14), and we must still strive for peace and holiness with one another. Thus, Paul moves on to the gospel imperatives in Romans 12 and exhorts the Roman Christians to live in light of both of these gospel-won realities, peace and holiness.  When we bear these marks, we bear witness to the world that Jesus saves, and bearing these marks “bring[s] down heaven upon earth.”

In Romans 12, Paul begins exhorting the Roman Christians with an umbrella command that subsumes much of what follows: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1). We seek to be holy because in Christ God has made us and is making us holy, which yields our peace with God. And, in light of our peace with God, we strive to live in peace with one another: “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding” (Romans 14:19). The gospel of Jesus means our holiness before God and our peace with God. Therefore, the gospel of Jesus means our pursuit of holiness and our pursuit of peace with one another: “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). This is how we “bring down heaven upon earth.”

Heaven on Earth and Wisdom for the Church

This pursuit of peace and holiness hits at a very practical level in the church. There are many important theological issues that are not essential to our salvation. And there are many faithful Christians, who hold biblically informed yet different views on these theological issues. Some of these differences will lead to natural separation in local church fellowship for the sake of conscience (For example, different viewpoints regarding non-salvific baptism—credobaptism v. pedobaptism—though, there are churches that are made up of brothers and sisters who disagree on this issue yet worship together in happy unity). But these doctrinally distinct churches still love each other across those lines of disagreement and partner together as they rally around the essentials of the gospel. This has been the hallmark of organizations such as The Gospel Coalition and conferences like Together for the Gospel. Yet, sadly these secondary or tertiary theological issues can sometimes be elevated to the place of primary, essential doctrinal issues, thus leading to sinful tribalism in the local church. However, many of these disagreements need not lead to division in fellowship (For example the different conclusions regarding divorce and remarriage, which we will be considering at DGCC this weekend). Rather, than let different, biblically informed conclusions regarding these secondary and tertiary theological issues divide us, we should allow them to foster a spirit of humility, love, and, yes, peace and holiness. Some of us will be wrong regarding these secondary and tertiary issues like baptism and divorce and remarriage. But thank God that our conclusions regarding those issues will not determine our salvation. Our salvation comes through faith in Christ alone by grace alone. So let us then, proceed with humility, caution, and robust biblical faithfulness with an eye to the gospel and our own present imperfection as we engage these sensitive, important, but non-essential—with regard to salvation—theological issues. Again, let us take our cue from John Newton.

“I allow that every branch of gospel truth is precious, that errors are abounding, and that it is our duty to bear an honest testimony to what the Lord has enabled us to find comfort in, and to instruct with meekness such as are willing to be instructed; but I cannot see it my duty, nay, I believe it would be my sin, to attempt to beat my notions into other people’s heads.” [4]

Let us likewise pursue peace and holiness in divisive times. For Jesus won us peace with and holiness before God, who is “the richest parts of the enjoyments of heaven.” And our peace and holiness as with one another diverse Christians is most “peculiar” in the eyes of the world. Indeed, through the peace and holiness of the church we “bring down heaven upon earth.”

[1] John Newton, Letters of John Newton, ed. Josiah Bull (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2018), 39.

[2] Newton, Letters of John Newton, 41.

[3] Newton, Letters of John Newton, 41–42.

[4] Newton, Letters of John Newton, 42.