“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”

and peace

There are two kinds of peace. There is peace with God and peace of God. First, peace with God is the peace that Jesus won for us in reconciling us from being enemies with God to people eternally at peace with Him or reconciled to Him (Ro 5:10).

Secondly, the peace of God is God’s very own peace. It is the peace that He possesses. As Christians, we can possess the kind of peace God Himself has. If the Christian does not apprehend grace, then he will not know peace. Grace always precedes peace. 

Is 26:3, “You will keep him in perfect peace [peace, peace],

   Whose mind is stayed on You,

     Because he trusts in You.”

We will know “perfect peace” if we keep our minds on God’s provisions.

Peace also comes through a person, the person of Christ.

Jn 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Jn 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

There is a peace that is characteristic of God’s kingdom and comes through the Holy Spirit. 

Ro 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Peace comes through believing:

Ro 15:13, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

A result of the filling of the Spirit is peace:

Ga 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”

The peace that God possesses transcends our capacity to understand and guards our hearts:

Php 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

PRINCIPLE:

Peace is God’s peace that comes to us because of grace.

APPLICATION:

Peace always follows grace. We cannot understand and apprehend God’s peace without first understanding and appropriating God’s grace. Grace eliminates the wear and tear of our souls.