Peace and Salvation

By E. W. Rogers (England)

The nation of Israel is God’s object-lesson to men. Their sufferings consequent upon their sins, and God’s ways with them (both in judgment and mercy), are intended to warn others not to follow their ways, and to encourage those who, having done so, yearn for recovery.

Jerusalem has for long been “trodden down of the Gentiles” and the Jew has been scattered all over the earth; for centuries he has been hated and persecuted. Oh, how they long for some good news! How they yearn for peace! Listen to the two-fold testimony of the prophets Isaiah and Nahum: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation: that saith unto Zion, thy God reigneth!” Isa.52.7; Nah.1.15. This is not yet fulfilled. Why the delay?

The Lord Jesus once came to that people, and Simeon said “Mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.” But Israel did not know this nor the things “which belonged to their peace.” Instead, they rejected their would-be Saviour and deprived themselves of peace. The Lord has returned to heaven, and His earthly people have been left alone.

From among them, however, God has a remnant according to the election of grace. One of these was Saul of Tarsus, who became the Apostle of the Gentiles. He knew that his Lord had been cast out and that Israel had been “broken off,” but his vision was much larger than that of merely one people, his eye was also on the whole of the Gentile world. They, too, needed salvation: they longed for peace. Salvation, not from earthly foes so much as from eternal perdition. Peace, not so much among men, as “peace with God.” Paul saw all men as perishing, and knew that they were “enemies in mind by wicked works,” as he once was.

Yet to him had been entrusted “the gospel of peace”: like his Lord he went and “preached peace to them that were afar off” — the Gentiles — as also to “them that were nigh” — his fellow-nationals. He calls the message he proclaimed “the gospel of your salvation”: he showed unto men “the way of salvation.” Peace and Salvation he offered to all men everywhere. What a message!

And not Paul only, for Paul was accompanied by fellow-workers who preached the same message. Others, too, in their own sphere did the same. Of one he says “He worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.” That original band of preachers has grown until, throughout the centuries, untold numbers have heralded Peace and Salvation.

No marvel then that when Paul quoted Is.52.7 in Rom.10.15 he altered the pronoun “Him” to “them.” The Lord’s feet have left the earth for the time being and will not stand here again till they do so on the Mount of Olives. But meanwhile, there are numberless other feet that are going hither and thither with the same message of Peace and Salvation. The sound of these feet does not spread terror; they are “beautiful” feet, in many cases those of welcome messengers.

Paul argues thus: “There is no distinction between Jew and Greek: the same Lord of all is rich unto all that call upon Him: for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” But, he says, they cannot call on One in whom they have not believed; and faith cannot exist apart from a message; and if they are to have the message then there must be a preacher; and if one is to preach he must be sent. But have any been sent? Yes, says Paul. Listen to Isaiah and listen to Nahum, and till the day comes when that Great Messenger shall return, let us be His messengers, His mouthpieces, declaring to all men everywhere Peace and Salvation.

Yet, how easy it is to go unsent or to mistake the path and be in the wrong place! How tragic it would have been had Philip not obeyed! There can be little doubt that “beginning from” Is.53 he preached to the eunuch Peace and Salvation. No marvel that he went on his way rejoicing: and not only he but Philip also; the eunuch in that he had found that for which his heart longed, and Philip in that he was in the place where he could effectively tell the message.