“For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us” (Ephesians 2:14).

Peace, dude!

Peace out.

Peace. What is it?

For many peace is an ideal, a concept.

Merriam-Webster defines peace in this way:

• State of tranquility or quiet
  • freedom from civil disturbance
  • a state of security or order within a community
• Freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
• Harmony in personal relations
• A state or period of mutual concord between governments; a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war

The peace that our world knows is an ideal, a concept.

The peace that God offers us is not like that at all. In fact the right question to ask regarding peace is not “What is peace?” but “Who is peace?” As far as God is concerned, peace is a person. The person has a name. His name is Jesus, the Christ, the Savior, the Messiah, the Lord.

The peace that God offers us is Jesus. It is Jesus who makes all things right. It is Jesus who makes all people right with God. It is Jesus who is able to unite all people. It is Jesus who is able to give us the peace that we so long for.

At the announcement of the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, the angel choir sang, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors” (Luke 2:14).

Peace comes through Jesus. Jesus is our peace.

“For he is our peace…” (Ephesians 2:14).

Do you know him? Are you spending time with him? There is peace in no one else. Jesus is the source of peace.

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:7).

Grace and peace.

This is typical of the Apostle Paul’s greetings, and they always come in that order: grace and peace. You would think peace should sometimes lead the way. Why does it always have to be grace and peace? Why can’t it be peace and grace?

The reason for this is because peace is impossible without God’s grace. Let me explain.

The peace – becoming whole, becoming one, being put back together, well-being – these things are all the result of grace. No grace, no peace. Peace is the by-product of grace.

You want peace in the world? Give them Jesus!!!

Only when we have been graced by the love of God through Jesus can we have peace. Only by having our sin problem dealt with can there be peace.

Grace and peace.

Always in that order.

 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

This week, we will be looking at the third characteristic listed in reference to the fruit of the Spirit – peace.

The Greek word for peace is eiréné (pronounced i-ray’-nay). The direct meaning of the word is: one, peace, quietness, rest, wholeness.

The Greek word for peace is derived from the root Greek word eirō. This verb literally means to tie together into a whole that which is scattered. It means to join to make whole.

The peace that the New Testament speaks of is not the absence of difficulties, trials, or tribulations. The peace that the New Testament speaks of is the ability to tie together all the broken and scattered pieces together to bring it to wholeness, oneness, so that there is rest, quietness…peace.

I love that! The world you and I live in is broken and scattered. God’s peace is not an escape from this broken and scattered world. The peace that God offers us in Jesus Christ is the ability to bring broken and the scattered things of this world to make it whole again, to give it rest, to make it one.

God’s peace is not an escape from this world. God’s peace is the antidote and the vaccine for all that is broken and scattered in our world. God’s peace is the only way broken and scattered things can be whole again.

That’s what God offers you and me in his peace. That’s the peace we get to offer to our broken and scattered world.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).