What does the Bible say about peace?

There are three statements about it, each expressing something the believer is privileged to enjoy. First, peace with God. Second, the peace of Christ. Third, the peace of God. The first concerns the conscience, the second the heart, and the third is to garrison the heart.

Peace was made in the blood of the cross. He who died for our sins is our peace... Sometimes Christians ask others if they have made their peace with God. They mean turning from sin, repentance, conversion, surrender, and so on, as if such actions on our side could make peace with God. This is wrong, and it is the very reason so many professing Christians lack the assurance that they have peace with God — they are constantly trying what they call "being right with God." Peace does not need to be made. It was made when Christ died for our sins.

When Paul knew by faith that he was justified, peace with God was his. When I knew that I was justified, peace was mine. When you knew, peace was yours. And until we did know, peace was not ours. Instead of having peace with God we had doubts and fears, and probably plenty of them.

The Lord distinguishes between peace left to us and peace given to us. "Peace I leave with you" is peace with God as to every question of sin. He made it by the blood of His cross... It was the precious legacy of His death... It is peace of conscience. He could not speak of it as His. He never needed it; we did, and He made it and left it to us.

He gives us His own peace: that calm, undisturbed state which always flowed from confidence in the Father's love. He would have us be without a troubled heart, or fear, during the whole time of His absence.

Peace with God is ours as the result of what Christ has done; the peace of God is ours as the result of what we do... Anxious about nothing; prayerful and thankful to God in everything. Peace with God is ours through faith; this is ours through prayer and thanksgiving.

How did this difference come about? Was it a change of circumstances, or the removal of what caused the sorrow? Not at all; the circumstances had not altered; she was still the barren woman. The secret of the change is that she had poured out her soul before the Lord... Her sorrow is poured out and God's peace is poured in.

The peace is only for those who are brought into right relations with God. It is not for the wicked who, far from Him, are as restless as the sea. The winds keep the sea in constant agitation. Satan, who is "the prince of the power of the air," keeps the wicked in a condition like the sea, and all their visible actions are like "mire and dirt."

He did not come to send peace on earth, that is, to make men comfortable with one another while still in a state of guilt. Rather, His presence is like a sharp, dividing sword, bringing into focus the reality of some and the rebellion of others.

Universal disturbance came in through sin; peace and reconciliation result universally from its removal by Him who died and rose again... Israel will rejoice in the Saviour soon as "the Prince of Peace"... but righteousness, peace and joy shall fill the earth, and the heavens likewise.

Everyone who knows human nature and the affairs of life knows how hard it is to live at peace with all. The apostle admits the difficulty and limits the command by saying, "If possible"... The Christian is called not only to keep peace, but to be a peacemaker, and a blessing of unusual honour belongs to all such.