Faith in the News Christian News
Here are three great ways to understand the Peace of God.
God Has Already Made Peace with You
Romans 5:1 says “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” If you have been born again, you should realize that God is already at peace with you through Jesus’ death on the cross. This was because “he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility” (Eph 2:14). His death on the cross was so that He “might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility” and that was why He “came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near” (Eph 2:16-17). We can never have the peace of God until we have made peace with God (John 3:16). It is through the God of peace that we can have peace with God and as Jesus said “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” (John 14:27). What Jesus gives will remain so if you have doubts, then you must believe God and not trust what you feel.
In the World, Tribulation, in Christ Peace
Once again, read what Jesus said “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). When everything else looks to be falling apart around you, take heart because He says that only “in me you may have peace.” Isaiah writes “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3) so we not only have the peace of God but perfect peace. Why? It is “because he (or she) trusts in you.” “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble” (Psalm 119:165) and “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 7). We should not worry about our needs because “the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:17). Whatever things look like, remember that “God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (1 Cor 14:33) and can bring peace even out of chaos.
Obedience Brings Peace
No one can ever be sinless in this life but God promises that “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me (Paul)—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil 4:9). In fact, peace comes from living an obedient (no, not perfect) life and is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). When Jesus sent the disciples into the boat, He sovereignly knew that they would be going through a severe storm but the peace of God comes from the God of peace since Jesus “rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39). It was “by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous” (Rom 5:19) and that Man was Jesus Christ, the God-Man. Since we have been made righteous through Jesus Christ’s perfect obedience (2 Cor 5:21), when we are striving to live an obedient life, we can pillow our heads at night knowing that we are at peace with God and God has made peace with us through Calvary and Jesus’ atoning sacrifice.
Conclusion
If you have never been born again, God’s wrath remains on you (John 3:36b) and whoever has not yet believed, stands condemned (John 3:18) so why not share with the lost how they too can be at peace with God “through our Lord, Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1).
May God richly bless you,
Pastor Jack Wellman
[ssba]Image source: CC BY-SA Ben Smith
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