by Timothy W. Burnett
Jesus Christ said that he did not come to send peace on the earth, but to send a sword (see Mathew 10:34). This could be subject of another study. In short, true peace will never exist on the earth as we know it. There will always be strife and wars between people and nations while the current earth is in existence.
At the same time it is possible for individual people to walk with true peace within their minds and hearts. David spoke of peace in the following verse, "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep. For you, Lord, only make me dwell in safety" (Psalms 4:8).
Peace is in direct opposition to strife. The apostle James wrote, "Where there is envy and strife, there is confusion and every evil work." Strife is included in the list found in Galatians 5:19-20.
The earlier Greek word for peace was eirene and meant tranquility, freedom from the rage and havoc of war, harmony and without fear. What a wonderful blessing it is to spend lots of time in God's word studying true peace!
The context of peace related to the spirit of God is about peace that is available in each person as a result of walking with God by His spirit in all trust and confidence toward Him. The above words from David drove in that point in that he could sleep peacefully knowing without a doubt that God was able to keep him safe from his enemies. And David truly had many crafty and deceitful enemies all around him. Yet, he could sleep in peace knowing that only God could truly make him to dwell safely.
In Philippians 4:7 God's people commanded to be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thankful hearts, let their requests be made known to God. And the peace from God which surpasses all knowledge absolutely shall guard their hearts through Christ Jesus.
That's right, it's through Christ Jesus that true peace can now dwell in all of God's saints. This true peace is a direct result of what God did by raising Jesus from the dead. It says in Ephesians 2:14 says that in Jesus' death and resurrection, the middle wall of partition that separated man from God was completely removed. It figuratively referred to the wall in the Old Testament Tabernacle that could only be passed through by the high priest.
According to Colossians 1:20 Jesus Christ made peace between man and God by the spilling of his perfect blood, making him the true, one and only sacrifice for all of mankind.
What a fantastically true peace is now available for all who believe the gospel of Jesus Christ! Praise God in heaven!!!
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