The preachers quoted here say peace is rooted in God's own character and in knowing his presence. They stress that peace with God has already been made by Christ and is to be believed, and that the peace of God then guards the heart.
The Bible's word for peace is larger than the absence of trouble. The Hebrew shalom means wholeness and well-being;1 the New Testament's eirene carries the same sense over.2
Scripture distinguishes peace with God from the peace of God. The first is a settled fact for the believer: "being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). Christ "made peace through the blood of his cross" (Colossians 1:20), and "he is our peace" (Ephesians 2:14). Without it there is none: "There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked" (Isaiah 48:22).
The peace of God is the experience that follows. "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" (Philippians 4:6-7). The verb "keep" is a military one, to guard as a garrison guards a city.
It is Christ's own gift. "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). It does not depend on calm circumstances: "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (16:33).
It is kept by trust. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (Isaiah 26:3). Augustine wrote, "The peace of all things is the tranquillity of order", and held that the heart finds that order only when it rests in God.3 Scripture also warns of a false peace, of those who say "Peace, peace; when there is no peace" (Jeremiah 6:14).
Peace is fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and is meant to govern life together: "let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body" (Colossians 3:15). Those who have it are to spread it: "Blessed are the peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9).
- Strong's Hebrew 7965, shâlôwm: "safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace".
- Strong's Greek 1515, eirḗnē: "peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity".
- St. Augustine, City Of God, "Chapter 13.--Of the Universal Peace Which the Law of Nature Preserves...".
In their own words
Each line below is quoted exactly from a sermon on this site. Follow the link to hear or read it where it was said.
Peace is actually centered in the very character of God Himself.
Stewart Ruch
in Learning How to Practice Peace
Listen at 6:31
Peace is knowing the presence of God, the Prince of peace.
Gareth Evans
in Peace, Perfect Peace
Listen at 16:58
Peace is already made by Jesus Christ, and is now declared unto you.
D.L. Moody
in Sweet Words
Read in context
This peace is the guardian and the garrison of our heart.
A.B. Simpson
in Philippians Chapter 6 a Spirit of Love, Joy, and Peace
Read in context
The peace of God is not just the peace He gives.
Anton Bosch
in The Peace of God
Listen at 37:13
PEACE is a condition of things greatly to be desired.
C.H. Spurgeon
in The Peace of the Devil and the Peace of God
Read in context
What Scripture says
- Philippians 4:6-7 the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts
- John 14:27 my peace I give to you, not as the world gives
- Romans 5:1 justified by faith, we have peace with God
- Isaiah 26:3 you will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you
- Colossians 3:15 let the peace of God rule in your hearts
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