Peace

Scripture describes two primary kinds of peace. The most tremendous peace that anyone can experience is the peace with God that occurs whenever someone is reconciled with Him through faith in Jesus Christ. This is the purpose for which Christ came into the world. Paul said, “In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them” (2 Cor. 5:19). Once enemies of God because of our sin, sinners enjoy peace with God by and through the blood of the cross of Christ (Col. 1:20). This objective peace with God enables us to experience a subjective or inner peace before Him. The second kind of peace is found in the Beatitudes of Jesus when He labels all believers “peacemakers” (Matt. 5:9). Since God is a “God of peace,” it stands to reason that His children take on the same characteristic and become peacemakers (Rom. 16:20; 1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 13:20).

One of the great gifts of Christ to His church is peace. Jesus said in John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” The peace that Christ offers originates not in this world but from God Himself, who is the God of peace. Since the fall, all people except Jesus are born enemies of God. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, however, those who were once God’s enemies become God’s children, are freed from condemnation, and are ushered into an eternal state of peace with God. Being “justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). Nothing can rob us of this peace or destroy this peace, for Christ now makes intercession for us (Rom. 8:34). Furthermore, His peace is shed abroad in our hearts, and our relationship with God changes; we change from being His enemies to being His friends. One of the great miseries of those without Christ is that they know no peace with God (Isa. 48:22; 57:21). Peace is birthed and fostered by the Holy Spirit. This peace is available to us as part of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22), and it anchors the soul of every believer in the storms of life in the conscious assurance that our sovereign God is the controller of every detail and is working all things for our good and His ultimate glory (Rom. 8:28).

Jesus calls those who have experienced peace with God “peacemakers” (Matt. 5:9). Those who have a right relationship with God will seek right relationships with others. In English, the word peace often refers to inner tranquility, quietness of the heart, and peace of mind. However, biblical peace includes communal well-being in every direction and in every relationship. Peacemakers are reconcilers. This extends even to our relationships with enemies. Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:43–45). Peacemaking and love go hand in hand and seek to build bridges in reconciliation and harmony, but never at the expense of truth.

While all believers long for peace and strive for peace with everyone, peace is not always attained. Dr. R.C. Sproul asked: “Why are we not more involved in making peace? One of the main reasons we shrink from the task of being peacemakers is that it is a dangerous job. If you step in between two men in a fight, you might be the one who gets the next punch. And a peacemaker is a lightning rod; he tends to become the target of hostilities from both sides. If ever there was a thankless job given to a human being, it is peacemaking.” In Romans 12:18, Paul says, “If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all.” Peace is the goal of the peacemaker, but it is often not realized on this side of heaven. Regardless, those at peace with God always love peace and work for peace.