THE PEACE OF GOD

GOD’S PEACE

John 14:27 “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.”

ALL OF US AS CHILDEREN OF GOD DESIRES TO HAVE PEACE OR ET BE AT PEACE, THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT BEING AT PEACE OR HAVING GOOD INTER PEACE. PEACE OF MIND, PEACE IN YOUR HEART, YOU JUST HAVE PEACE AT EVERYTHING YOU DO, IT’S GOOD TO HAVE ALL THAT PEACE, IT CAUSES YOU TO REST IN THE LORD .

Biblical teaching on inner peace centers on a relationship with God rather than the absence of external trouble. Jesus offers “peace” that differs fundamentally from what the world provides (John 14:27), and this peace comes through faith in him, even amid worldly tribulation (John 16:33).

The pathway to inner peace involves both trust and mental discipline. Rather than anxiety, believers are called to bring their requests to God with thanksgiving, resulting in “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,” which protects hearts and minds through Christ (Phil 4:6–7). God maintains perfect peace in those whose minds remain focused on him and who trust in him (Isa 26:3). A spiritually-minded orientation produces “life and peace,” contrasting with the death that accompanies carnal thinking (Rom 8:6).

Inner peace operates as a subjective, inward experience—a mindset of “life and peace” characterized by reconciled and submissive harmony with God1. This divine peace relieves believers’ fear of God’s judgment and strengthens them to serve him fearlessly, even under persecution1. Peace consists of “that sweet tranquility of soul which arises from a well-grounded persuasion of being accepted by God,” combined with confidence that God governs all circumstances1.

Maintaining this peace requires active engagement. Believers preserve the peace of God by bringing requests to him with thanksgiving, focusing their thoughts on God’s character, and practicing obedience to his Word1. Those who love God’s law experience great peace, with nothing causing them to stumble (Ps 119:165).

Believers experience God’s peace through multiple interconnected pathways that address both their standing before God and their inner emotional reality.

Peace begins with justification by faith, establishing a permanent reconciliation with God through Christ (Rom 5:1). This foundational peace—positional and external—differs from the experiential, internal peace that fluctuates with circumstances1. The gospel speaks peace to believers’ consciences when Christ comes by his Spirit, creating a mindset of “life and peace”—an inward state of reconciled and submissive harmony with God

LET US LOOK AT PEACE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE NEW.

PEACE — a word with several different meanings in the Old and New Testaments.

The Old Testament meaning of peace was completeness, soundness, and well-being of the total person. This peace was considered God-given, obtained by following the Law (Ps. 119:165). Peace sometimes had a physical meaning, suggesting security (Ps. 4:8), contentment (Is. 26:3), prosperity (Ps. 122:6–7) and the absence of war (1 Sam. 7:14). The traditional Jewish greeting, shalom, means “peace” and was a wish for peace.

Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have they which love thy law: And nothing shall offend them.”

Psalm 4:8 “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: For thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.”

Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on thee: Because he trusteth in thee.”

Psalm 122:6–7 “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, And prosperity within thy palaces.”

1 Samuel 7:14 “And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.”

In the New Testament, peace often refers to the inner tranquility and poise of the Christian whose trust is in God through Christ. This understanding was originally expressed in the Old Testament writings about the coming MESSIAH (Is. 9:6–7). The peace that Jesus Christ spoke of was a combination of hope, trust, and quiet in the mind and soul, brought about by a reconciliation with God. Such peace was proclaimed by the host of angels at Christ’s birth (Luke 2:14), and by Christ Himself in His SERMON ON THE MOUNT (Matt. 5:9) and during His ministry. He also taught about this kind of peace at the Lord’s Supper, shortly before His death (John 14:27).

The apostle Paul later wrote that such peace and spiritual blessedness was a direct result of faith in Christ (Rom. 5:1)

For the Greeks, peace was the absence of war, but for the Hebrews it was a positive blessing growing out of a right relationship with God. So when Jesus leaves peace with these men He is giving them one of the fruits of the great gift of salvation. This positive word of farewell is greater than all their troubles and fears.

John 14:27 “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.”

Jesus promised, Peace I leave you. My peace I give to you. Please understand what Jesus is and is not promising here. He is not promising the absence of a storm. Anyone can be at peace when nothing is wrong. Rather, he promises peace in the midst of a storm. He’s talking about peace in the midst of tribulation—at a time when you shouldn’t have any peace. This, of course, doesn’t come from the world. It’s the peace of God, “which surpasses all understanding, [and guards] your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7).

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

THE PEACE THAT JESUS HAVE TO OFFER IS TOTALY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE WORLD HAVE TO GIVE, BECAUSE THE WORLD WILL GIVE IT AND TAKE IT BACK, AND CAUSE CONFUSION AND HEART BREAK.

BUT THAT, JESUS GIVES CAUSES UNDERSTANDING, AND NOT JUST UNDERSTANDING BUT ALL UNDERSTANDING, UNDERSTANDING TO THE POINT THAT IT PROTECTS OUR HEART AND MIND, NOT ANY PEACE CAN DO THAT AND CERTINELY NOT THE WORLDS, THE WORLD PEACE BREAKES WHILE JESUS PEACE KEEPS FROM BREAKING

Next Jesus said, Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful. In the coming hours, the disciples would have good reason to be troubled. Likewise, you will have experiences that prompt you to fear. But with a sovereign God ruling the world and “the peace of Christ” ruling in your heart (see Col 3:15), you can overcome trouble and fear.

Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”