Peace with God

Therefore, having been justified [aorist passive participle – declared righteous] by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1)

The above verse tells us that the true believer, the one who has been declared righteous by faith is intended by God to live in peace. The Greek word translated as peace is eirene and it has multiple meanings and applications. The primary meaning is that which is the opposite of war. It can mean harmony between individuals. Another meaning might be tranquility, a state of peace. It also has the sense of health, welfare or prosperity, every kind of good. We can also understand eirene in light of the Hebrew word shalom which stands for wholeness, soundness, hence health, well-being, or prosperity. It is through our Lord [Kurios – master, supreme, sovereign one] Jesus [Iesous – God saves] Christ [Christos – anointed one, Messiah] that this peace comes to him. Peace and all of its implications is experienced by the one who recognizes Him as Lord, Savior and Messiah.

Imputed Righteousness

The doctrine of justification [dikaiosis] is addressed most completely by Paul in his letters. In Romans 4, he ties the doctrine directly to Abraham and his willingness to trust God in spite of impossible situations. In Genesis 15:6, Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. Romans 4:4-5 reveals that any payment for work is considered a wage, but to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited [logizomai – counted, imputed] as righteousness. This righteousness means that the believer is perfect in his position (state), but faith exercised in the details of life determines his experience. In Romans 1:17, For in it [the gospel – Jesus paid the full price], the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” The believer is accepted into a perfect relationship with God by faith. He then realizes the Lord’s righteousness each time he exercises faith in the Lord. It is not dependent on keeping the Law of Moses.

I will hear what God the Lord will say, for He will speak peace [shalom –peace, tranquility, wholeness] to His people, to His godly ones; but let them not turn back to folly. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land. Lovingkindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. (Psalm 85:8-10)

Peace Fulfilled

The above passage is an Old Testament reference to the coming new covenant in Christ, where the attributes of the new birth come together in a spiritual connection to God’s perfect justice. It anticipates the Messiah’s arrival and His mighty accomplishments at Calvary. According to John Gill’s Exposition of the Old and New Testaments, when righteousness and peace kiss each other:

Righteousness may intend the essential justice of God, which will not admit of the pardon and justification of a sinner, without a satisfaction; wherefore Christ was set forth to be the propitiation for sin, to declare and manifest the righteousness of God, his strict justice; that he might be just, and appear to be so, when he is the justifier of him that believes in Jesus [Romans 3:25-26].

Righteousness and peace or prosperity, these two inseparable brothers, kiss each other there, and fall lovingly into each other’s arms (Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament). Justification provides the environment where peace with God is fulfilled. According to the Jewish tradition, there are three symbols for peace: the river, the bird, and the kettle:

Three Symbols

A river was traditionally used as a means of connection between one town and another. It was a way for people to do business with each other and meet one another. A river is also, of course, a source of life for people, their livestock, and their crops.

A bird makes its home on land but can fly high up in the sky. It lives in both heaven and earth as it travels between the two.

The kettle takes two opposing forces and brings them together to create something good. Fire wants to boil away water; water seeks to extinguish a fire. However, when a kettle comes between them, both thrive and together they create a substance that contributes to mankind.

What we learn from all three symbols is that peace does not mean sameness. The two towns do not merge. They share a river. Heaven and earth, the spiritual and material worlds, are harmonized within the bird who lives in both, yet they remain two separate realms. Finally, water and fire reach their higher purpose so long as they remain separated by the kettle.

Jesus is our Peace

For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR. (Ephesians 2:14-17)

Since peace is manifested in the person of Jesus Christ, its implications go far beyond peace with God. It means that Jesus, a Jew, as the Jewish Messiah, connects the Jew and Gentile into one family by one new man, thus establishing peace, through the cross. Peace is the basis of brotherhood within the Body of Christ since any enmity is abolished in Christ. The tranquility of unity through the Holy Spirit keeps the believer moving forward, pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).

Peace, Peace

For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, “I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. “For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before Me, and the breath of those whom I have made. “Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry and struck him; I hid My face and was angry, and he went on turning away, in the way of his heart. “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners, creating the praise of the lips. Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is near,” says the Lord, “and I will heal him.” But the wicked are like the tossing sea, for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up refuse and mud. “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” (Isaiah 57:15-21)

The Lord desires his people to experience His peace. As the God of peace (Hebrews 13:20), He draws His people into the pathway of peace, where a forgiving God is always looking to offer His peace to him who is far and to him who is near. Ultimately, the contrite and lowly heart finds the God of peace.

A Zionist Dream

In 1903, Joseph Chamberlain, the British Colonial Secretary, made an offer to Theodore Herzl and his Zionist group. The British were prepared to give the Jews 5,000-square miles in Uganda, Africa to serve as a Jewish homeland. The proposal evoked a fierce debate. On one hand, the land would provide the Jews with a homeland where they would be free to live in peace and protect themselves from danger.

On the other hand, it fell far short of the Zionist dream to return to the ancient homeland of the Jews — Israel. Thankfully, the offer was declined because the land was deemed unsuitable. However, the question remained: Even though the historical homeland of the Jews is Israel, does it really matter where the Jewish homeland is today?

There is a peace offered by the world, but it will never measure up to the quality of peace the believer experiences in his relationship with God. “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace [shalom, shalom], because he trusts in You” [Isaiah 26:3]. A perfect peace, in Hebrew shalom, shalom, is the Lord’s heart toward all His people, Jew or Gentile. Peace, I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful (John 14:27).