The Reality and the Experience
Dearly beloved of God, our God is the God of peace, and He has gone to extreme lengths so we can enjoy His peace. The pressures and troubles of this life can be overwhelming at times, but through all of them we can have a peaceful life.
Peace is the Greek word “eirene,” which is peace, rest, the end of strife. The peace of God is not dependent on circumstances, it is an accomplished reality.
Each of the Church epistles begin with, “Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
There is peace between God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and us. There is no longer strife between us. God is not against us; He is for us. We are God’s beloved children, and beloved brethren of the Lord Jesus Christ; we are members of his body.
We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. He also ended the strife between the Judeans and the Gentiles. He abolished the enmity between us in his flesh. He created in himself of the two one new man, so making peace. Through Christ we both have access by one spirit unto the Father.
The thinking of the flesh is death, but the thinking of the spirit is life and peace. The thinking of the flesh is hostility against God, it is not subject to the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus.
If we are to experience the reality of the peace of God we must think according to the spiritual realities that Christ Jesus accomplished.
Those in the flesh are conformed to the thinking of this evil age, but we are no longer in the flesh but in the spirit since the spirit from God dwells in us. We have Christ in us, the hope of glory, so set your affection on the things above where Christ sits at the right hand of God. This is the foundation for our peace.
The chastisement of our peace fell upon Jesus. He endured more mental abuse and torture than any other human being in order to procure our peace.
Dearly beloved, the Lord told his disciples, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid [cowardly.]”John 14:27
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation [trouble, affliction, anguish]: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
The Lord Jesus Christ is our peace. He made the peace. Now we can live a peaceful life in spite of worldly events, in spite of troubles, afflictions, and mental anguish. Peace is an accomplished reality.
If we will lead our thoughts captive to Christ, and we are transformed by the renewing of our minds to who God made us in Christ, we will experience the peace of Christ ruling in our hearts.
This peace enables us to hear God’s voice, so we can follow His lead, and He can direct our steps. It is impossible to receive revelation without the peace of God.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
If we will do these things the God of peace will be with us, and His peace will guard our hearts.
Dearly beloved, Christ saved and redeemed us. He made us the righteousness of God. He justified us. God forgave us in Christ by the riches of His grace which He abounded toward us. He gave us an entrance into the kingdom of God, and a standing in it as the dearly beloved children of God, and His heirs. He provided the access to the Father by the spirit. He made us holy and without blemish in His sight. The Father freely gives us all things with Christ. He blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm. He gave us the hope of being glorified with Christ as joint-heirs, new bodies, life in new heavens and a new earth, and so much more.
Knowing who we are in Christ, and the purpose of the ages that God determined and planned for in the Christ, should enable us to have peace in our hearts day by day.
Today we face physical challenges, mental anguish, sorrow, pain, and even death, but we have the absolute certainty of the glory to come. We have the proof; we can speak in tongues.
The suffering of the present time does not compare to the exceeding heavy weight of eternal glory that will be revealed to us.
Christ is coming, and when he comes he will transform these mortal bodies to be like his glorious body. We have an inheritance that is reserved for us in heaven, and we can look forward to the new heavens and earth where we will live under God’s provision and kindness forever and ever. We have the victory through Christ Jesus our Lord!
Until then we have all of the new birth realities; Jesus Christ’s work of redemption, and by his stripes we were healed. We can believe the promises of God to us; we have communion, prayer, the nine manifestations of the spirit including the gifts of healing. In Christ we have access to the Father by the spirit, so confidently and boldly go to Him day by day.
“May the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely, and may your entire spirit and soul and body be blamelessly preserved at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He Who calls you, Who will also do it.” II Thessalonians 5:23, 24 The Working Translation
“Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.” II Thessalonians 3:16. So be it, dearly beloved.