Today’s post encourages you to find rest in God’s peace! I invite you to consider how God gives us peace as we seek Him in our spiritual journeys. There are numerous passages that one can read concerning peace in God’s Word. For this post, let’s focus on Romans 5:1-5 and Philippians 4:4-9.
I selected theses passages because of their unique and encouraging message. Scriptural passages are from Berean Standard Bible available online at https://biblehub.com/bsb. I use Berean Bible due to it’s free copyright. Images created using Night Cafe Studio. May God’s Word and insights bless you! I am using some links to Got Questions to help explain various terms. Got questions explains their ministry identity:
“We are Christian, Protestant, evangelical, theologically conservative, and non-denominational. We are a para-church ministry, coming alongside the church to help people find answers to their spiritually related questions.” source:https://www.gotquestions.org/about.html
I find their articles to be an excellent source of relevant scriptural passages, historical and cultural explanations as well. Their ministry helps me to keep these articles within a reasonable length.
Photo taken in TN Crepuscular rays after rainstorms
Why we have peace with God:
The Triumph of Faith
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Peace comes through faith particularly Jesus’ work of grace and redemption. Peace in this context is more than an emotion or feeling. It’s being in restored to fellowship with our Creator! Paul reminds us here that we stand in grace through faith. Notice that Paul links justification, faith, peace, grace, hope, and God’s glory all together in two verses! These two verses could generate multiple sermons!
Image of prayer, worship, and fellowship of believers in God’s house
Understanding the terms
So let’s break the terms down and if you desire more in-depth explanations check out the provided links.
Justification-God declares us to be righteous because of our faith in Jesus Christ as the One who makes us right with God. Romans 5:18-19 (one of many passages)
https://www.gotquestions.org/justification.html
Faith–believing in God (Hebrews 11:1).
2 components of faith: “This definition of faith contains two aspects: intellectual assent and trust. Intellectual assent is believing something to be true. Trust is actually relying on the fact that the something is true.”
https://www.gotquestions.org/definition-of-faith.html
Peace–“a state of tranquility or quietness of spirit that transcends circumstances.”
We’ll consider Philippians 4:7 later in post
https://www.gotquestions.org/peace-of-God.html
Grace–a beautiful aspect of God’s mercy that extends His salvation and Gospel to us (Ephesians 2:1-10)
https://www.gotquestions.org/definition-of-grace.html
Hope “is a peaceful assurance that something that hasn’t happened yet will indeed happen. Hope must involve something that is as yet unseen. . .” Hope and faith are closely linked together. This link explains how both work together yet are uniquely different..
https://www.gotquestions.org/difference-faith-hope.html
Rejoicing in the Hope of the Glory of God: also in Romans 12:10-12
Brief Explanation: emphasis mine
“The nature of our hope is joyful and sure because it rests on the character of Christ, the One in whom we place our hope. In Christ, we can trust that we will receive everything He has promised, even though we must wait for it. For now, we stand by faith in His grace, delighting in the knowledge that one day His glory will be revealed in us.”
Source: https://www.gotquestions.org/rejoicing-in-hope.html
Hope is present as we rejoice in God’s glory–our hope that we will be made anew and like our Savior. Consider 2 Corinthians chapter 5: specifically verses 16-21.
https://biblehub.com/bsb/2_corinthians/5.htm
AI image of surfer preparing to enter the water to enjoy surfing. Consider that surfers don’t surf on calm, flat seas.
God’s Peace Guards Our Hearts
Paul advises the believers to seek God’s peace through prayer.
Philippians 4:4-9
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be apparent to all. The Lord is near.
He commands us to rejoice in the Lord. We rejoice in Jesus not in our circumstances or the temporal things of this earthly pilgrimage. We are to be gentle with others in a manner that others can see. Notice that Paul reminds us that “the Lord is near.” God is close and we rejoice knowing that He is near. Paul explains how that prayer and removing anxiety help us:
6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
What anxieties trouble your soul? Why is it that we see problems and concerns as being bigger than God Whom spoke all things into existence? This is a trap of our sinful nature and adversary. God’s peace which is “surpassing greatness” hyperechō above all understanding. Consider how this same word is used in various passages.
https://www.billmounce.com/greek-dictionary/hyperecho
God’s peace guards our hearts and minds in Jesus. What does this mean?
A peace that his beyond our ability to full comprehend–it’s so great that we can’t full understand it! Similar to God’s love (Ephesians 3:19)–the vastness of this great gift exceeds our grasp of comprehension!
The believer who places his or her full confidence in a loving God and is thankful in every circumstance will possess a supernatural peace.
An inner calm will dominate the heart. The faithful believer will know peace—his heart and mind are “guarded” by it—despite the tempest raging without.
https://www.gotquestions.org/peace-that-passes-all-understanding.html
God’s presence in our lives produces “streams” of life and peace that can nourish and encourage others.
Our Focus
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
What we think and reflect on impacts our view about ourselves, others, and the world around us. The key to living in God’s peace is to consistently consider and practice the noble and honorable pure things of God! Consider His divine nature and goodness in redeeming and sanctifying us! Meditate upon His Word and the many accounts of how God intervenes to save His people (Hebrews 11). Finally, let us put into practice the Gospel and serve and build each other up in Christ! May God and His peace be a radiant force in your life and witness. Remember that boats are made for sailing the waters, not staying tied up the dock in harbor! Christians are called to go forth and share the Good News of Jesus!
Words of Grace & Hope 