THE unsaved have not peace. They are trying to find happiness in the world without God. They may be amiable, virtuous, benevolent, but their consciences are not at rest when they think of death and judgment. Righteous and blameless as some are in their dealings with their fellow-men, yet they know that matters are not right between them and God. They have no hope. They fear death. They tremble at the thought of having to give an account to God, and are afraid to think of the eternal torment of the damned.
Peace! peace!
O how sweet a thing is peace!
But where can peace be had? The world is trying to bring about outward peace; but that is not peace with God. Most men are laboring for comfortable, peaceful circumstances; but that is not peace with God. Some are hoping to obtain peace by their regular observant of religious duties; but after years of dutywork and diligent religiousness, they find themselves as far off from peace with God as ever. Some men have riches; others are laden with honors. Some are filled with remunerative occupations; others are devoted to pleasure; but it may be that neither of them have peace with God.
Scripture clearly teaches us the true ground of “peace with God.” There we read also of “the peace of God” keeping our hearts and minds, and of “the God of peace” being with as. Let us briefly look at each of these subjects.
1. Peace with God.
God Himself is the peace-maker. He gave His only begotten Son that we might live through Him. Jesus made peace through the blood of His cross. So that after His resurrection from the dead He could show His disciples His hands and His side, and say, “Peace be unto you.” This is the true ground of peace. It is the blood which maketh an atonement for the soul. No one can have peace with God but on the ground of the death of Christ. Man naturally is at enmity with God; his thoughts and ways are all contrary to God. He has nothing in common with God; for God is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His thoughts. How therefore could man be reconciled to God? for sin must be judged, condemned, and put away. The law could not meet the case, for it was tried, and only proved man to be incurably bad, alienated from God, a transgressor. As to man, therefore, the case was utterly hopeless; for he was justly exposed to everlasting destruction from the presence of God. God, however, has resources in Himself. He is the only wise God. The only-begotten Son in the bosom of the Father came forth. The Word was made flesh. God was thus manifested in the flesh. He could, as perfect man, be a fit substitute for sinners; and because He was God, He could bear all the just punishment of sin, and satisfy the infinite demands of divine justice, so that God might be just and the Justifier of him that believeth. The death of Jesus, the Sin-bearer on the cross, opens wide the river of God’s love, which freely flows toward man (sinful and undone though he be), meeting all the defilement of conscience and estrangement of heart that made him feel so afraid of God. By a faith’s view of the sacrifice of Christ, the fears of heart are all allayed; mistrust and doubt vanish; the conscience is thoroughly purged, because we sea God dealing in strictest judgment with our guilt, by condemning sin in Christ instead of us; and now, knowing that He who was dead is alive again, and gone into heaven at God’s right hand, because the sins laid upon Him had been justly condemned and put away, the soul unhesitatingly draws nigh to God, through Jesus, in full rest and peace. We have, therefore, peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Peace having been made, we are not called on to do anything to make peace, but to take shelter in the peace-making, peace-speaking blood of the Son of God. So perfect is God’s estimate of the cleansing power of that blood, that He saith, “Their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” So fully is the believer justified through Christ, that the Scripture saith, “By Him all that believe are justified from all things.” (Acts 13:3939And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:39).) Praise God for such a rich, and full, and free salvation! What rest of soul for the sinner, to find a hiding-place in the bosom of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the hater of sin and the friend and Saviour of the sinner!
2. THE PEACE OF GOD KEEPING OUR HEARTS AND MINDS.
When the soul is brought to enjoy peace with God, he by the Spirit worships the Father, and honors the Lord Jesus. Soon, however, he finds that temptation assails him, trouble of some sort or other besets his path, and cares oppress his spirit, so that if he be not watchful, his heart will be so burdened that his work and service to the Lord will be hindered, and his comforts droop. At length, however, he is taught, that God has not only been for him in redeeming him from sin, but that He is always for him, and never will be against him; that God is his unchanging friend, in whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning, and will never leave him nor forsake him; that he is so peculiarly the object of God’s care, that He assures him that “all things work together for good to them that love God,” and that God undertakes to “supply all his need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Hence it is that the believer is instructed to cast all his care upon God, because He careth for him; yea, to be careful for nothing, but to pray about everything, confidence in the flesh. In this path we are assured that the peace of God―that calm, unruffled mind which Jesus had amid all the temptations and sorrows that crowded upon His path of unparalleled woe, a peace and quietude of spirit which surpasseth all understanding―shall keep our hearts and minds. Only observe, that here also it is “through Christ Jesus.” As “peace with God” is realized by us through Christ Jesus, so is the “peace of God;” for if we are not abiding in Him, if we have lost communion with Him, where are we? It is then, when either care or something else comes in to hinder our present fellowship with the Lord Jesus, that our minds are easily disturbed, we are quickly drawn aside with something unworthy of the Lord, and cannot enjoy that “peace of God which passeth all understanding.” (See Phil. 4:77And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7).)
We can see therefore, I think, why it is, that while many have “peace with God,” so few are in the enjoyment of “the peace of God.” Yet God would have us enjoy both. If a believer is contending for his rights, instead of yielding for the Lord’s sake, ―if he is oppressed with burdens and cares, instead of casting all upon his God and Father, ―if in time of trouble, instead of dealing with God in prayer, he is planning to deliver himself, what is he about but walking in ways of unbelief, dishonoring the Lord, and grieving His Holy Spirit? We must walk in the paths of faith, and love, and truth, if we would have the peace of God ruling in our hearts; we must refine the devices of fleshly wisdom, trust God, expect Him to be as good as His word, and rejoice in the Lord always, to experience “the peace of God.” (Phil. 4:4-74Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4‑7).)
3. THE GOD OF PEACE WITH US.
How blessed! Sometimes God is obliged to disturb and chasten His children. In His discipline with no, He breaks up our plans, disappoints our expectations, and brings us into the most painful experiences. Why? Because He loves us not? No; but because He loves us. As the Father of spirits He reads our motives, sees our objects, understands exactly the course we are pursuing, and cannot approve of our proceedings. He therefore chastens for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness, and be conformed to Christ. “But if we judge ourselves, we shall not be judged.” Happy those who are so addicted to self-judgment that the rod of correction is not needed. Let us tread the obedient path, honor God’s truth, walk in honest ways, choose the atmosphere of purity and love, cherish what is virtuous and lovely; in a word, deny self and walk with God, and God will be with us. And God too, “the God of peace,” will be with us, to hush the storm and quiet the tempest, which may threaten to overwhelm us. When the Lord was in the little ship with His disciples, and the tumultuous wave and stormy wind threatened to swallow them up, there was One with them who said, “Peace, be still; and the wind ceased and there was a great calm.” It was the God of peace. And He will in like manner be with us, beloved, if we are found walking in His ways. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the GOD OF PEACE shall be with you.” (Phil. 4:8, 98Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (Philippians 4:8‑9).)