Fruit of the Spirit – Peace
John 14 Philippians 4
‘Peace, perfect peace – in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.’
Peace can seem in short supply in this present world in which war and strife seem constant. Even in a relatively pleasant, secure community neighbours can fall out and all kinds of worrying things disturb our sleep.
Jesus promises to give His followers ‘peace’. What does He mean?
Let’s understand that peace in the Christian, Biblical sense is firstly and crucially reconciliation with God.
The New Testament teaches that God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Jesus His Son and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself…by ‘making peace through His blood shed on the cross’. The Apostle Paul wrote that to people who had become Christians, but they hadn’t always believed in or followed Jesus so he goes on to say this: ‘Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your sinful behaviour. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight without blemish and free from accusation…’ (Colossians 1v19-22)
By nature human beings are sinners, rebels against God and liable for judgement and that should fill us with anxiety. Hell is no joke! To suffer God’s holy anger and punishment for sin would be an absolutely dreadful, terrifying thing. But peace comes with the presence of the Holy Spirit when we trust in Jesus as our Saviour Who suffered instead of us when He gave His life on the cross to atone for our sin.
Peace is a gift from Jesus, a fruit of the Spirit within. Peace is knowing we are no longer alienated or shut out but in Christ we are forgiven, considered righteous and welcomed in! Jesus said, ‘My peace I give you’, the assurance we are God’s beloved children, in good standing with Him, destined to enjoy eternal life with Him.
The world out there can appear to be falling apart, descending into frightening chaos and yet a Christian can experience peace within, knowing their sins are forgiven, their offense removed, the Judge has become their Father, the rebel has become a dearly loved and gladly obedient child.
This perspective changes everything.
Christians don’t just trust once in something that happened long ago. Yes, we believe Christ suffered once and for all that day, His sacrifice doesn’t need to be repeated, nor do we need to become Christians over and over again, we have been saved, accepted, brought from darkness to light, we are no longer lost but found. We are now among God’s people. But, there’s more!
We serve a risen, living Lord as our Shepherd Who leads and provides for us day by day. As we learn to trust that He really is in control of everything and He is looking after us this brings to our hearts a great contentment.
When Paul wrote to the Philippian Christians he was in prison and had already suffered considerably for his work. He had been slandered, falsely accused, lynched, flogged, imprisoned and he knew he might very well be executed and yet this letter resonates with joy! He instructs his readers to ‘rejoice in the Lord’ and pray and promises, ‘the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’ He had lost all earthly wealth and comfort and was being persecuted yet he was deeply content in the knowledge of the love and ongoing grace and faithfulness of his Master. His heart and mind were being kept safe in God’s peace.
The peace the Spirit brings in knowing Jesus is remarkable, extraordinary, it may seem at times not to make sense – how can you be so cheerful when things are so challenging? But it’s good, a wonderful blessing from a kind and generous Lord.
In closing consider this. These things we’re considering, love, joy, peace and so on -in one very real sense they are gifts from God but in another they are things we must actively embrace and live out every day. So let’s realise peace is something to be chosen and practised daily!
If we choose to harbour unforgiveness and resentment, if we neglect to pray and instead fill our minds with dark, sinful things let’s not expect to feel much peace! The Apostle instructs us here to pray continually, to practise gratitude as a way of life, to read and watch and fill our minds and hearts with good things, to love our neighbour even when we disagree. These are strategies that overcome evil with good!
The Lord Jesus is very candid when He tells us that in this present world we can expect trouble but look how powerfully and peacefully He has overcome the world!
This amazing peace He shares with His followers.
John 14 Philippians 4
‘Peace, perfect peace – in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.’
Peace can seem in short supply in this present world in which war and strife seem constant. Even in a relatively pleasant, secure community neighbours can fall out and all kinds of worrying things disturb our sleep.
Jesus promises to give His followers ‘peace’. What does He mean?
Let’s understand that peace in the Christian, Biblical sense is firstly and crucially reconciliation with God.
The New Testament teaches that God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Jesus His Son and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself…by ‘making peace through His blood shed on the cross’. The Apostle Paul wrote that to people who had become Christians, but they hadn’t always believed in or followed Jesus so he goes on to say this: ‘Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your sinful behaviour. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight without blemish and free from accusation…’ (Colossians 1v19-22)
By nature human beings are sinners, rebels against God and liable for judgement and that should fill us with anxiety. Hell is no joke! To suffer God’s holy anger and punishment for sin would be an absolutely dreadful, terrifying thing. But peace comes with the presence of the Holy Spirit when we trust in Jesus as our Saviour Who suffered instead of us when He gave His life on the cross to atone for our sin.
Peace is a gift from Jesus, a fruit of the Spirit within. Peace is knowing we are no longer alienated or shut out but in Christ we are forgiven, considered righteous and welcomed in! Jesus said, ‘My peace I give you’, the assurance we are God’s beloved children, in good standing with Him, destined to enjoy eternal life with Him.
The world out there can appear to be falling apart, descending into frightening chaos and yet a Christian can experience peace within, knowing their sins are forgiven, their offense removed, the Judge has become their Father, the rebel has become a dearly loved and gladly obedient child.
This perspective changes everything.
Christians don’t just trust once in something that happened long ago. Yes, we believe Christ suffered once and for all that day, His sacrifice doesn’t need to be repeated, nor do we need to become Christians over and over again, we have been saved, accepted, brought from darkness to light, we are no longer lost but found. We are now among God’s people. But, there’s more!
We serve a risen, living Lord as our Shepherd Who leads and provides for us day by day. As we learn to trust that He really is in control of everything and He is looking after us this brings to our hearts a great contentment.
When Paul wrote to the Philippian Christians he was in prison and had already suffered considerably for his work. He had been slandered, falsely accused, lynched, flogged, imprisoned and he knew he might very well be executed and yet this letter resonates with joy! He instructs his readers to ‘rejoice in the Lord’ and pray and promises, ‘the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’ He had lost all earthly wealth and comfort and was being persecuted yet he was deeply content in the knowledge of the love and ongoing grace and faithfulness of his Master. His heart and mind were being kept safe in God’s peace.
The peace the Spirit brings in knowing Jesus is remarkable, extraordinary, it may seem at times not to make sense – how can you be so cheerful when things are so challenging? But it’s good, a wonderful blessing from a kind and generous Lord.
In closing consider this. These things we’re considering, love, joy, peace and so on -in one very real sense they are gifts from God but in another they are things we must actively embrace and live out every day. So let’s realise peace is something to be chosen and practised daily!
If we choose to harbour unforgiveness and resentment, if we neglect to pray and instead fill our minds with dark, sinful things let’s not expect to feel much peace! The Apostle instructs us here to pray continually, to practise gratitude as a way of life, to read and watch and fill our minds and hearts with good things, to love our neighbour even when we disagree. These are strategies that overcome evil with good!
The Lord Jesus is very candid when He tells us that in this present world we can expect trouble but look how powerfully and peacefully He has overcome the world!
This amazing peace He shares with His followers.
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