Peace: What Is It? (According to the Bible)

Let there be peace on earth.

The past two posts were about grace and mercy. Today’s blog post is about peace. What is peace? There are many Bible verses that deal with peace. One of them is 1 Tim 1:2 (KJV), which says:

Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

According to Strong’s Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary, the word “peace” in 1 Timothy 1:2 comes from the Greek Word: εἰρήνη (Transliteration: eirēnē). Eirēnē means “one, peace, quietness, rest.” By extension, eirēnē also means prosperity. The peace of God comes when we unite with God by faith in Jesus. Oneness with the Father brings peace, quietness, rest and prosperity.

Jesus Is the Prince of Peace

Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace Who promised us “peace that passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). Christ completed His work to secure this blessing for us when He died and rose from the grave. This is why the Bible says, “the chastisement of our peace was upon Him”, and “by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). This is why Jesus’ perfect and eternal sacrifice, heals us from the curse of sin and all natural and spiritual afflictions. The Savior poured out His precious blood, which ended our war against God. Jesus sacrificed His life so that we could have access to the rivers of the living water that come from abiding in Him.

The Peace of God Has Conditions

All wars end with conditions of surrender or terms of peace. Heaven also has its terms of peace. Acceptance of and abiding in the will of a God is a condition for receiving the peace of God. But, surrendering our wills to God is a daily battle. Every day, we have to take up our cross to follow Jesus, and allow the fire of the Holy Spirit to burn away the sin-nature that lays dormant in all the children of God. Burning signifies purification. For example, the peace-offering was an offering made by fire. Leviticus 3:9 illustrates this:

And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat thereof, and the whole rump, it shall he take off hard by the backbone; and the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards…

The use of fat in the peace-offering has both physical and metaphorical significance for our lives. In the Western world, excess comforts and sedentary lifestyles have created an epidemic of obesity and death from related illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and premature death. The fiery trials spoken of by Paul are ways that the Lord burns through the fat of comfort, possessions, attachments and past errors that lay “hard by” our backbone (will), in our rumps (things we rely and rest on instead of God) and inwards (thoughts and passions).

1 Peter 4:12 says:

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

The Opposite of Peace Is War

If you are at war with anyone (yourself included), stop and consider that peace is a weapon in the battles of life. For this reason, our we should have our “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” as stated in Ephesians 6.

Being at war causes confusion. Confusion makes it hard for you to reach your goals, because it wastes your time and creating emotional distress. But, the Lord does not want us to be distressed or fearful. Even in your deepest confusion, know this: The Lord desires that you have peace. Take time to think about the ways that you are at war with yourself and others.

Not at Peace? Then You Are at War.

Are you at war on your job, in your marriage or other relationships? You can find out if you are by asking yourself this question. Are you constantly angry or fighting with my parents, spouse, co-workers, neighbors, or friends? If your answer is yes, then you are at war in that area. If your answer is yes, hink about why you are at war. Make a list of reasons for each embattled situation. Pray about and consider ways to make peace. Here are some verses for you to put in your pocket and meditate on. If you don’t have time to write them down now, come back later. Please take you time and meditate on them. Have a blessed day, and may the peace of the Lord be with you.

Verses to Help You Know Peace

Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 6:15
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Colossians 1:20
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

May these words educate and comfort you today. Until we meet again: “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10).

– Verneda

Updated July 8, 2016