Christ Is Our Peace (2)

Once again contemplating Paul’s statement Ephesians 2:14—For [Christ] is our peace—Scripture reveals that there are two major aspects of peace that the believer possesses, the first of which is peace WITH God.

Second, the believer also possesses the peace OF God. Philippians 4:6-7 is one of those truly wonderful and comforting passages. In it Paul proclaims three principles.

He first voices a Warning, “Be careful for nothing.” “Careful” translates merimnao, which speaks of being anxious, full of care, worried, and nervously concerned. The Lord Jesus used this word in Matthew 6:31, “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” (emphasis added). He then adds in verses 33-34, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (emphasis added). Literally, our Lord is saying, “Be not anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for the things of itself.” This, of course, doesn’t mean we don’t think ahead or plan ahead; if that were true, the farmer would never plant. Rather, you need not worry of the end result because worry won’t change the outcome. Paul, therefore, gives us this warning because worry will defeat us.

Paul secondly offers an Encouragement, “But in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Simply put, we don’t worry about anything because we pray about everything.

Paul thirdly adds a Promise, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” The Greek behind “keep” (phroureō) is a military term that pictures protection by a military guard, either to prevent hostile invasion, or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight. If we pray and leave it there, God will walk around the ramparts and towers of our lives and protect us from invaders and prevents us from leaving the safety of His care.

This peace comes into two areas. It comes first into our “hearts” to prevent the wrong feelings. We live in feelings-oriented age. Most people are conscious of and are always expressing their “felt needs.” But if we may be so bold, if they would simply turn to Christ and trust only Him, they would stop whining, they would know true comfort, and would keep their emotions in check. Second, this peace will keep our “minds” to prevent the wrong thinking. Many Christians today think the same way the world thinks, but with God’s peace in their minds, they will think the way God thinks.

How can we possibly worry and fret when we believe in the sovereignty of God? I would, therefore, offer this definition: The peace of God is not the absence of trial on the OUTSIDE but a quiet confidence in God on the INSIDE no matter what the circumstances.

Coming back to our text, knowing we have peace with God and the peace of God, makes peace possible between men. Again, as the Bible declares, and history illustrates, there is no hatred greater or conflict sharper than Jew verses Gentile. But Paul declares that Christ is OUR peace. That personal pronoun our (hēmon) is all inclusive, meaning all believers—Jew, Gentile, and all flavors of homo sapiens. As we’ll see in another installment, shame on us if we rebuild any walls that God has already torn down.