Partial Peace

And now, dear reader, I desire to warn you against another danger, and that is, being satisfied with a partial peace. Perhaps you wonder what I mean by partial peace. Well, the Lord’s servants meet with persons on all hands, who are practically in the state that these words describe. They have a measure of peace; they enjoy it at times. They are not unbelievers, without peace at all. They say that they are not resting upon their own doings to get salvation. No; they speak confidently of having believed in Jesus. But although they believe on Him, and are pardoned through God’s grace for His name’s sake (1 John 2:12), yet they have still some question as to whether they will arrive in glory after all. I do not know a better name for them than “unbelieving believers.” They believe that their sins are forgiven up to date, but― But what? Well, if― If what? Ah! then it all comes out. Christ has saved them up till today; as though He only endured the penalty of some of their sins, and the rest depends upon an awkward but and if. In other words, depends upon them.
That is, Christ has done His part, and if we do ours, all will be well. “Christ has finished His work,” they say, “but suppose I don’t do my part right to the end, what then?”
Is this your case, my reader? I see where you are. It is Christ and you, as though He needed a little makeweight. Your salvation depends partly upon you after all. You don’t like me to put it in that way. It is not quite what you mean, perhaps. But it is what you say, and it is your practical state. The result, partial peace.
Oh! away with such delusions, dear soul. Christ’s finished work needs no patchwork additions of yours. Whether you bring your own righteousness to God, or add a little of your own to His, you spoil His best robe. No wonder your peace is disturbed; no wonder it is but partial peace. How can you expect to have true lasting peace with God, if it partly depends upon your conduct?
“Well, but we must act and live right, if we do believe in Jesus,” you will say. Surely we must; but not to be saved, but because we are saved. Not to keep the peace we have, but because we are amongst those who have peace with God. “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4). It is no good saying, I know God, and I am at peace with Him, and go on living in sin. Your life would then be an utter denial of your confession. But, wherever there is true faith in the Son of God (and it is the outward look of faith that gives peace within), that faith will surely produce fruit to the glory of God and His Son (John 14:23).
But the moment souls make their peace in any form or shape whatever depend partly upon themselves, it must be but partial peace. There is the work of the Holy Ghost in the soul, it is perfectly true, but it is impossible to find peace through being occupied with that; it is only through resting by faith upon the work of Christ for me. May God give you to cease from self altogether, and to enjoy peace with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ.
One might add much more upon this subject, but space will not permit. Let us now see from God’s Word how true peace is to be had.