By : Bailey QueenWhen we are looking through the attributes in the Fruit of the Spirit, a word that resonates with all of us that we have experienced at one point is peace. We can think about past experiences that gave us peace, whether that is when you looked out on the mountaintop and gaze upon the endless range, found some relief in stressful situation, or thought back to a fond moment in your life. Peace is something that we can all say we have experienced. We think of it as an emotion or a way to describe a moment or season in life.
For the Christian, what does peace mean? Not just the emotion of peace, but something that is truly tangible that does not fade away as our emotion fades away, but a peace that will always be true for us for all of eternity. We find it in Romans 5:1-2:
“1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
The true peace that the believer has is peace with God. The good news of this verse is that because of Christ’s sacrifice we are no longer enemies of God. We are no longer condemned for our sin, but instead have been given grace, and the righteousness of Christ has been imputed to us. We are not under God’s wrath, but rather his grace. Look at the wording of verse two – we are not just under his grace, but standing in it. We are in a secure position with God. Absolutely nothing in this life can take that truth from you. You are always in God’s grace.
When the father looks upon you and me he no longer sees our sin or sees an enemy. When the father looks at you, the only thing he sees is his child. Since we have been adopted as children of God, we have gained access to the father because of the finished work of Jesus. We can approach God with no fear whatsoever. We can bring him our request, sin, shame, and suffering in confidence. There is no safer, or more peaceful place for the Christian than in the presence of our heavenly father.
The truth is that we can approach him with confidence because we are at peace with him and because of Jesus’ finished work at the cross. Jesus did the work, and we reap the benefits of being at peace with God. We no longer have to be afraid of the day of judgement because God’s wrath will not be for us on that day. It will be for his enemies. We can rest in the reality that our peace is not an emotion that fades, but we can rest in a true reality that we can stand firm in him forever. As the end of verse two says, “Rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” We can rejoice because we have hope since we have peace with a loving, but also a wrathful God. Peace is not something God gives, but it is who he is (1 Thes. 5:23).
God has set forth right in front of us what relationships should look like in his relationship with us. He has made peace with us. As we have been shown peace, we should also extend peace into all areas of our life. When we look at this world around us, we can use words of rage and anger to describe it. These are just normal practices in the world. If someone disrespects you, it is time to lash out at somebody. If you disagree with someone on an issue, it is time to show them how right your opinion is on the matter. The rage and anger are just normal practices. Just scroll through Facebook for a few minutes, and you will see it without looking for it.
As Christians, we are called to be set apart from this world (Rom. 12:2). The opposite of these normal practices that is peace. Jesus goes so far as to tell us to turn the other cheek when reviled by another. It is not our responsibility to make peace in the situation, even if we have a reason to be upset. Romans 12:17 says, “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.”
When God’s own is mistreated, God is angry too. God does not call us to make it right. The lord says, “Vengeance is mine…” The Lord will judge rightly those who have gone against us. He is the only who judges justly, and we are unable to do so because we are imperfect humans with no ability to judge rightly. Do what is honorable in the situation – extend peace as God has extended peace to you.
Paul does continue to tell us in verse 18, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
There is an acknowledgement that it is not always possible to live in peace with all. We are once again reminded that it is not up to us to repay evil, but it is God’s job. It is not our job to put any more wrath in the world because God’s wrath is enough for this world. Do not just practice peace but live in it.
If there can be any bright spot in this world to show true peace among a people, let it start with the Church. Churches can be known for their division and drama to the world. The Church should not be a hub for rage among a people, but a people that shows what peace truly looks like. God’s people should be marked by peace because we have been shown the most real form of peace that this world has ever seen. How can you live at peace among your brothers and sisters in Christ? Do not allow family drama to dim the beauty of Christ and his Church. We are the true bearers of peace in this world. Let us show what peace really is to a world that desperately needs it.