LIVE IN PEACE

All scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Romans 12:18

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”

Peace is a state free of both internal and external disruptions. A state free of internal, oppressive thoughts and emotions and a state of tranquility, harmony, and absence of external violence. Strictly speaking, it is the state of God, for no one can have ‘peace’ except God. Many passages in the Bible tell us that He is the God of peace. For instance, 1 Thessalonians 5:23 clearly says: “The God of peace Himself.”

Now this does not mean He is just a peaceful God, but that He is the Author of peace. No human can have peace apart from Him. Many times the apostle greeted the recipients of his letters, he made it known to them that peace could only come to them from God. Like in Ephesians 1:2, he said:

“Grace to you and peace FROM GOD OUR FATHER and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Emphasis added). 

Additionally, in the verse above, and also in every other portion related to it in the scriptures, peace was said to come not just from God but God the Father. Therefore, if God is only your God, that is, your Creator; you cannot receive peace from Him. For you to be able to receive peace from the Author of peace, who is God the Father, you must be begotten of Him. He must be your Father and you must be His child. And John 1:12-13 reveals how to be born of God. It reads:

“But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born…of God.”

To be born of God and have the right to become His child that you may have peace, you must receive Jesus Christ by believing in His Name. Then, the peace of God can be released to flood your heart. 

Additionally, according to the Bible, peace is said to come not only from God the Father, Who is the Author of peace, but also from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of peace. 

“Grace to you and peace FROM GOD OUR FATHER AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST” (Emphasis added). 

So, it is not enough to have received Jesus and be born of God, for you to have all round peace, Jesus Christ must also be your Lord. That is, Jesus becomes your master and you are His servant. He takes charge of your life and you follow Him as He leads. In Romans 1:1, the apostle empathically said: “Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus.” No wonder in the midst of turmoil, he was always at peace. Even while he was in chains and was imprisoned, he would still write to comfort those who were free and send to them the peace of God. There are many who, although having been born of God, reject the lordship of Jesus Christ. They walk in disobedience and disorderlines. They lead a life contrary to the life of Jesus Christ. Such people, although born again, cannot experience the peace of God. After receiving Jesus by believing in His Name to be born of God, you must also submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ that the peace of God may be established in your life. 

Having the peace of God will enable you to live peaceably with others. Whoever has no peace within himself cannot live peaceably with others. For you to live peaceably with others, you must have peace and of course be a child of God. Therefore Matthew 5:9 says:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

Only those that can make peace and live in  peace with others are the sons of God.

Then the scriptures reveal to us how having the peace of God can make us live in peace with others. 

Firstly, Philippians 4:7 says:

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

For your heart and mind to be guarded against the attacks of people and the enemy, you need peace as your covering. So many times the devil afflicts people with depressing thoughts by taking advantages of the circumstances and people around them. He projects upon their minds hopelessness and throws them into anxiety and therefore get them discouraged and frustrated. But when the peace of God comes into you, it will shield you from all these attacks, that even though people are hostile to you, the peace of God beyond all understanding will give you rest and cause you to live peaceably with others irrespective of their character. 

Secondly Colossians 3:15 says:

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

For believers to live in peace among themselves and become one in the Spirit, they must have the peace of God in their hearts whenever they attempt to do anything. And if anything is done and the believer loses the peace, he must quickly amend his way. The peace of God is given to us to rule and guide us. Since the peace of God is administered into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, He uses it to make us one in Him. For if you do anything contrary that will bring disharmony in the body of Christ, you will lose His peace which is a sign that you have gone against His will. If believers follow the rule of the peace of God, it will bring about oneness since it is into one Spirit they have been baptized. He will not guide them to do things that conflict each other but rather complement each other.

For you to have peace with yourself and everyone around you, you must be born of God and as well submit to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then you can experience peace and live in it with others.