Gospel Living (17): Be at Peace With All Men! (Romans 12:18) by Rev. Angus Stewart
I. The Misunderstanding
II. The Qualifications
III. The Meaning
Robert Haldane on Romans 12:18: “Calvin justly cautions us ‘not so to affect the security of the favour and esteem of men, as to refuse to incur, for the sake of Christ, the hatred of any human being, when necessary.’ As some Christians may be naturally of a contentious disposition, so others may, from a selfish desire of having the favour and good opinion and praise of men, be inclined to keep out of view whatever is most offensive in the religion of Christ. Such persons may congratulate themselves on the possession of a spirit of peace, but it is only a spirit of cowardice and selfishness, a spirit of worldly indifference to the glory of God and the salvation of men. We are never to seek to maintain peace, either with the world or with Christians, by the sacrifice of any part of Divine truth. A Christian must be willing to be unpopular, that he may be useful and faithful. To whatever obloquy or opposition it may expose him, he ought earnestly to contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
Albert Barnes on Romans 12:18: "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men."
18. If it be possible - If it can be done. This expression implies that it could not always be done. Still it should be an object of desire; and we should endeavor to obtain it.
As much as lieth in you - This implies two things:
(1) We are to do our utmost endeavors to preserve peace, and to appease the anger and malice of others.
(2) We are not to begin or to originate a quarrel.
So far as we are concerned, we are to seek peace. But then it does not always depend on us. Others may oppose and persecute us; they will hate religion, and may slander, revile, and otherwise injure us; or they may commence an assault on our persons or property. For their assaults we are not answerable; but we are answerable for our conduct toward them; and on no occasion are we to commence a warfare with them. It may not be possible to prevent their injuring and opposing us; but it is possible not to begin a contention with them; and when they have commenced a strife, to seek peace, and to evince a Christian spirit. This command doubtless extends to everything connected with strife; and means that we are not to provoke them to controversy, or to prolong it when it is commenced; see Psalm 34:14; Matthew 5:9, Matthew 5:39-41; Hebrews 12:14. If all Christians would follow this command, if they would never provoke to controversy, if they would injure no man by slander or by unfair dealing, if they would compel none to prosecute them in law by lack of punctuality in payment of debts or honesty in business, if they would do nothing to irritate, or to prolong a controversy when it is commenced, it would put an end to no small part of the strife that exists in the world.