Bible Ideas : Peace by Stephen Coffin Bible:Psalm+85:1-13, Bible:Ephesians+2:13-22

Consider first these question

• What does the word mean to you?
• In what contexts do you use it today?
• Is it more than the absence of war?
• How is the peace Jesus offers different?
  • “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14v27)

We are going to look at the following ares:

• Peace with God
• Jesus and peace
• Peace with ourselves
• Peace with others
• Peacemakers
• Peace beyond death

My thesis is that our wrong living robs us of of peace with God, with ourselves and with others. Jesus is the one who restores peace with God to us, although he also warns that following him will lead to conflict. Thanks to Jesus we can find an inner peace, which can then flow from us in peaceful relationships with others, and which empowers us to become peacemakers. Ultimately the fullness of peace will be found with God beyond death in heaven.

Peace

• Shalom (Hebrew) = completeness, soundness, well-being
• Used 250 times in the Old Testament, so an important concept.
• Eirene (Greek) = same under influence of the Old Testament
• Used 91 times
• In classical it Greek means only the lack of war
• God is himself peace:
  • But the LORD said to Gideon “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace. (Judges 6v23-24)

Peace with God

• “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.” (Isaiah 48v22; 57v21)
• The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks in them will know peace. (Isaiah 59v8)
• “ ‘Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity….’ “ (Jeremiah 33v6-7)

• But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53v5)
• Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.... (Romans 5v1-2)
• For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Colossians 1v19-20)
• You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26v3)

Jesus and Peace

• Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7v50)
• Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14v27)
• “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16v33)
• “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law - a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.’ ” (Matthew 10v34-36)

Peace with ourselves

• The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. (Isaiah 32v17)
• Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. (Psalm 119v165)
• But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. (Psalm 37v11)
• The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8v6)
• But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5v22-23)
• Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4v6-7)

Peace with others

• For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility…. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. (Ephesians 2v14-17)
• Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. (Colossians 3v15)

Peacemakers

• Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. (Matthew 5v9)
• How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace…. (Isaiah 52v7)
• Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it….“ (Jeremiah 29v7)
• If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12v18)

Peace beyond death

• Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. (Psalm 85v10)
• The wolf and the lamb will feed together…. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain. (Isaiah 65v25)
• He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. (Revelation 21v4)
• On each side of the river stood the tree of life…. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. (Revelation 22v2-3)

The blessing of Peace

• I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. (Leviticus 26v6)
• Tell Aaron and his sons, This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." (Numbers 6v23-26)
• May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15v13)