WHAT IS PEACE?
Cremer defines peace as “a state of untroubled, undisturbed well being.”
Wuest agrees explaining that the peace Peter prays for is what Wuest refers to as sanctifying peace, that state of untroubled, undisturbed tranquility and well being produced in the heart of the yielded saint by the Holy Spirit. We have this peace to the extent that we are yielded to the Spirit and are intelligently conscious of and dependent upon His ministry for us.
John MacArthur adds that at the individual level his experiential peace, unknown to the unsaved, secures composure in difficult trouble, dissolves fear, and rules the heart of God’s people to maintain harmony.
William Barclay explains that peace, in contemporary colloquial Greek, had two interesting usages. It was use of the serenity which country enjoyed under the just and beneficent government of a good emperor, and it was used of the good order of a town or village. Villages had an official who was call the superintendent of the village’s peace, the keeper of public peace. Usually in the New Testament, the Greek word “eirene” stands for the Hebrew “shalom” and means not just freedom from trouble but everything that makes for a man’s highest good. It is interesting to note that “chara’ (grace) and “eirene” (peace) both became very common names in the Church.
Charles Spurgeon writes the following on peace: Peace in poverty, I have seen the Christian man in the depths of poverty, when he lived from hand to mouth, and scarcely knew where he should find the next meal, still with his mind unruffled, calm, and quiet If he had been as rich as an Indian prince, yet could he not have had less care. If he had been told that his bread should always come to his door, and the stream which ran hard by should never dry; if he had been quite sure that ravens would bring him bread and meat in the morning and again in the evening, he would not have been one whit more calm. There is his neighbor on the other side of the street not half so poor, but weaned from morning till night, bringing himself to the grave with anxiety.
C. Norman Barlett rightly writes that we cannot have the peace of God until we have made our peace with God through Him who is our peace. Being reconciled, we have the “peace that passes all understanding,” (Philippians 4:7). If we abide in Jesus, as we ought, there is in our souls a calmness that no outward hostility can upset. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusts in Thee (Isaiah 26:3) For the Christian surrounded by foes there is ever open a secret passage to the heart of God.
Ray Ortlund encourages us to set no limits where God Himself sets no limits. It is not possible to have too much grace and peace. We have not exhausted the possibilities. Most of us don’t even thing in terms of the possibilities of what God can do for us. But the Word of God greets us here with this open ended encouragement: “Grace and peace be your in abundance! May they be multiplied to you!
Jim Walton was translating the New Testament for the Muinane people of La Sabana in the jungles of Columbia. But he was having trouble with the word “peace.” During this time, Fernando, the village chief, was promised a 20-minute plane ride to a location that would have taken him 3 days to travel by walking. The plane was delayed in arriving at La Sabana, so Fernando departed on foot. When the plane finally came, a runner took off to bring Fernando back. But by the time he had returned, the plane had left. Fernando was livid because of the mix up. He went to Jim and launched into an angry tirade. Fortunately, Walton had taped the chief’s diatribe. When later translated it, he discovered that the chief kept repeating the phrase “I don’t have one heart.” Jim asked other villagers what having “one heart” meant, and he found that it was like saying, “There is nothing between you and the other person.” That, Walton realized, was just what he needed to translate the word “peace.” To have peace with God means that there is nothing, no sin, no guilt, no condemnation, that separates us. And that “peace” with God is possible only through Jesus Christ. Do you have “one heart” with God today? Do you have peace with God and the peace of God? If you are a believer, you have peace with God but you may not be experiencing the peace of God. May His grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.
In the Old Testament the Hebrew word “shalom” most often represents the concept of peace. Its basic meaning is “wholeness” or “well being.” The Law, the Prophets, and the Writings of the Old Testament each bear testimony that such peace is the gift of God, for God alone can give peace in all its fullness.
Spiritual peace may be equated with salvation, while its absence may be equated with judgment.
This peace is clearly identified with a righteous life apart from which no one is able to find true peace. Thus peace and righteousness are often linked in the Old Testament.
Throughout the Old Testament spiritual peace is realized in relationship. It is realized when people are rightly related to each other and to God.
The Greek work “eirene” corresponds to the Hebrew “shalom” expressing the idea of peace, well being, restoration, and reconciliation with God, and salvation in the fullest sense. God is “the God of peace.” God has made this peace a reality in Jesus Christ, who is “our peace.” We are justified through Him, reconciled through the blood of His cross, and made one in Him.
In Him we discover that ultimate peace which only God can give. This peace is experienced as an inner spiritual peace by the individual believer. It is associated with receptiveness to God’s salvation, freedom from distress and fear, security, mercy, grace, love and righteousness.
Such peace is a fruit of the Spirit that forms part of the “whole armor of God,” enabling the Christian to withstand the attacks of the forces of evil. Thus, the New Testament gives more attention to the understanding of spiritual peace as an inner experience of the individual believer than does the Old Testament. In both the Old and New Testaments, spiritual peace is realized in being rightly related, rightly related to God and rightly related to one another.
The Hebrew word for peace is “shalom.” It is a Hebrew word so much richer in its range of meanings that the English word “peace,” which usually refers to the absence of outward conflict or to a state of inner calm. The concept of “shalom” includes these ideas but goes beyond them, meaning, “wholeness,” “completeness,” “finished word,” “perfection,” “safety,” or “wellness.”
Shalom comes from living in harmony with God. The fruit of that harmony is harmony with others, prosperity, health, satisfaction, soundness, wholeness, and well being. When you pray to Yahweh Shalom, you are praying to the source of all
Peace. No wonder His Son is called the Prince of Peace.
One of the benefits of the Gospel is the peace of God. The Gospel settles, strengthens, and stabilizes us.
In Ephesians 6:15, we are to told to have our feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. It says that the firm foundation of the Gospel is that we walk in peace.
We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1)
We have peace between Jew and Gentile, as well as among races, social and economic classes, and genders. (Ephesians 2:14; Galatians 3:28)
We have peace in believing, which causes us to abound in hope. (Romans 15:13)
We have peace in the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 3:16)
We are unified as a body through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3)
We have peace from God at all times. (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
The Bible also says that we are not to go anywhere or do anything, think any thought or make any statement that does not maintain the peace of God in our lives.
Only the peace of God will keep us in standing firm when the violent attacks of the enemy come against us.
“For you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace.” (Isaiah 55:12)
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts.” (Colossians 3:15)
“And make straight paths for your feet, Follow peace with all men.” (Hebrews 12:13-14)
“And the peace of God which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)
The peace of God brings balance to our lives, keeps our priorities in godly order, and shows us His perfect will.
God’s peace is our compass in life.
When the devil does his utmost to walk down the wrong path t lead us astray, the peace of God will keep us on the right road.
The peace of God will lead us back to the safety of His will.
I like this passage of Scripture on peace:
"The steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3)
What does peace mean to you?
