The Nature of Biblical Peace

In a world often characterized by strife, anxiety, and division, the concept of "peace" stands as a profound and comforting truth within the Holy Bible. Yet, the peace spoken of in Scripture is far more comprehensive and enduring than the world's understanding of mere tranquility or the absence of conflict. The Hebrew word for peace, shalom, encompasses a rich tapestry of meaning, signifying not just a cessation of hostilities, but also wholeness, completeness, welfare, prosperity, health, security, and right relationship with God, self, others, and creation. It is a state of well-being that flows from God Himself, the ultimate source of all true peace. The Bible reveals that peace is both a divine gift to be received and a righteous pursuit to be lived out by believers. Understanding biblical peace requires examining its multifaceted dimensions, from reconciliation with God to inner serenity and harmonious living among men.

Peace With God: The Foundation

The journey to true peace begins with reconciliation between humanity and its Creator. Due to sin, mankind is naturally alienated from God, in a state of enmity and separation. As Isaiah 57:21 declares, "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." However, the glorious message of the Gospel is that God, in His infinite love, has provided a way for this breach to be healed through His Son, Jesus Christ. Christ Himself is our peace.

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Ephesians 2:14

Through Christ's sacrificial death on the cross, He bore the wrath of God against sin, making atonement for us. This act of divine love allows for justification by faith, leading directly to peace with God. Romans 5:1 beautifully states, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." This peace is not dependent on our feelings or circumstances, but on the finished work of Christ. It is a permanent, positional peace that resolves the fundamental conflict between a holy God and sinful humanity, enabling us to enter into a right and loving relationship with Him. This foundational peace is the prerequisite for all other forms of biblical peace.

The Peace of God: Inner Tranquility

Once peace with God is established through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are then invited to experience the "peace of God," an inner tranquility that guards the heart and mind amidst life's challenges. This is not a peace that the world gives, which is often conditional and fleeting, but a supernatural calm that transcends human understanding. Jesus Himself promised this to His disciples:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

This divine peace is cultivated through a life of trust, prayer, and devotion to God. The Apostle Paul exhorts believers in Philippians 4:6-7 to cast their anxieties upon the Lord: "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." When our minds are fixed on God, His peace becomes our portion. Isaiah 26:3 affirms this: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." This peace acts as a spiritual guardian, protecting believers from the turmoil and fear that often overwhelm those without Christ. It allows us to face trials with composure, knowing that God is in control and working all things for our good.

Peace Among Men: A Christian Mandate

Beyond personal reconciliation with God and inner tranquility, the Bible also calls believers to be agents of peace in their relationships with others. Peacemaking is a defining characteristic of those who follow the Prince of Peace. Jesus declared in Matthew 5:9, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." This beatitude highlights that active pursuit of harmony and reconciliation is a mark of divine sonship.

The Apostle Paul urges us to strive for peace in our interactions: "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men" (Romans 12:18). This mandate extends to forgiving those who wrong us, seeking reconciliation, and promoting understanding rather than discord. The wisdom of God, unlike worldly wisdom, is characterized by peace:

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

James 3:17

Furthermore, the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace (James 3:18). Christians are called to be ambassadors of Christ's peace in a broken world, demonstrating His reconciling love through their words and actions. This involves resolving conflicts, seeking justice, and extending grace, even to enemies. It is a challenging but essential aspect of living out our faith, reflecting the very nature of God who is peace.

The Future of Peace: God's Ultimate Plan

While peace with God, the peace of God, and peace among men are present realities for believers, the Bible also points to a glorious future where universal peace will ultimately prevail under the reign of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament prophets foretold a time when the world would be transformed by His righteous rule. Isaiah 9:6 famously prophesies concerning the Messiah, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

During His millennial reign, Christ will establish a kingdom of perfect peace and justice on earth. The prophetic vision in Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3 speaks of a time when nations "shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." Even creation itself will experience this pervasive peace, as described in Isaiah 11:6-9, where the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox, for "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." This ultimate peace will culminate in the new heavens and new earth, where righteousness dwells, and there will be no more sorrow, pain, or death (Revelation 21:4). This future hope gives believers perseverance and joy, knowing that God's plan for complete and eternal peace will surely come to pass.

Conclusion: Pursuing and Possessing Peace

The Bible's message on peace is profound and transformative. It begins with the essential truth that peace with God is freely offered through the atoning work of Jesus Christ, reconciling us to our Creator. From this foundation flows the incredible gift of the peace of God, an inner calm that guards our hearts and minds amidst life's storms. As recipients of such divine grace, believers are then called to be active participants in promoting peace among men, living out the love and reconciliation of Christ in their relationships. Finally, we look forward with anticipation to the glorious future when the Prince of Peace will establish His eternal kingdom, bringing universal peace and righteousness to all creation.

Therefore, let us heed the exhortation to "Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it" (Psalms 34:14). May our lives be a testament to the comprehensive peace that only God can give, reflecting His character and preparing for the day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father, in a world finally at perfect peace.