Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14
When the apostle wrote this command to pursue peace with all men, what exactly did he mean? First, notice that it was with all men, both saved and unsaved, that he admonished his audience to pursue peace with. The apostle wrote to believing Jews who were under severe persecution and were contemplating leaving the faith. To these people he told to pursue peace with all men, including those who were persecuting them.
But with this admonition of pursuing peace with all men is added, 'and holiness'. But why is holiness necessary for one who is pursuing peace even with his persecutors? Pursuing peace with all men had to be distinguished from compromising their beliefs in order to make peace, hence "and holiness without which no one can see God". Elsewhere, the apostle Paul wrote, "as long as it lies with you, be at peace with all men". In seeking peace with all men, we must not do so at the expense of what we know to be true according to the gospel, in other words, peace is not to be sought at the expense the truth. To do so will be an unholy act.
It is, however, important to know that pursuing peace with men is not the basis of our relationship with God, but rather the outcome of it. Our relationship with God is founded on the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. All who have believed in the name of Jesus Christ are required to pursue peace with all men.
Toni
