PEACEFUL CHRISTIANS
by A. Gene Veal

The title of this article, Peaceful Christians, is not referring to people who bring peace and live in a peaceful environment.  After all, Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”  His followers were referred to as “These that have turned the world upside down” and “These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city.”  There was trouble and unrest everywhere the Gospel was opposed by unbelievers.  Many Christians were killed or thrown into prison. 

No, I am talking about the peace that Christians have even when everything around them seems to be falling apart.  It reminds me of The Picture of Peace contest that was held in New York many years ago.  The artists were commissioned to paint a picture of what they thought most pictured the meaning of peace.

Some pictures were what you would expect, like the lazy cows in the lush, green meadow with birds floating overhead in a soft tone of quiet.  However, the winning picture was quite the opposite.  It was a picture of dark clouds with lightening and waves violently crashing against the rocks.  Just off center of the picture was a bird nesting in the cleft of the rock and happily chirping a melodious song of contentment in the midst of the storm.

How does a Christian have such peace as this?  What is the basis of such peace?  What is required of a Christian to experience this kind of peace?  In a word: RIGHTEOUSNESS.  No Christian can know this kind of peace unless they understand the “teaching about righteousness.”  (See our article on Be Reconciled.

The Scriptures tell us: “The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.”  “The mountains shall bring peace to the people, … by righteousness.”  Not so with the unrighteous and wicked: “The way of peace have they not known.”  “There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.”  “The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.”

Some people have come to an artificial peace, not the true peace that Jesus brings: ”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.”  People have been told lies and offered half-truths to get them to join a church or become a part of a group: “They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.”  “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”  We must be sure that the peace we have is a true peace founded on a true righteousness.

So we can see that righteousness and peace go hand in hand or as the Psalmist says, “righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”  Righteousness and peace are joined with joy to describe the Kingdom of God, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”  Peter said, “He that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.  The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ.”  Even when Melchizedek is described as a type of Jesus Christ he is said to be “first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace.”  James even puts them together when he says, “The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”  Righteousness and peace simply go together.

By way of practical application to your life as a Christian, how can you have this peace that “passeth all understanding”?  Well, like everything in the Christian life, it is “by faith.”  You will either believe what God tells you about yourself in Christ or you won’t believe and will not have the fruits of believing.  It is up to you to believe what He tells you and to act accordingly, that is, act as if it is true.  Your feelings may be telling you that you are worthless or no good or such a failure; but you must remain in the truth of who you are in Jesus.  If you have sinned, agree with God that it is a sin and move one in the truth of who you are in Jesus Christ.  Do not remain in the guilt and condemnation in which your flesh loves to wallow.  Your flesh loves to suffer, to be a victim, to be overwhelmed with grief and guilt and condemnation.  Don’t do it.  Step back into who you are in the Spirit of Christ in you.  “If we are going to draw our life from the Spirit, let us stay in step with the Spirit.”

God’s Word declares that if you are a Christian “the Spirit of Christ dwells in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”  And the Word tells us “He is our peace” and you are to “let the peace of God rule in your hearts.”  In other words, when your peace is disturbed you can know that you are not following the leading of His Spirit within you.  You are to “be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace.”  For “to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”  Your mind is the only thing you can control.  You must “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.”

When you find yourself in those difficult circumstances, because you have “set your mind“ you can obey the Scripture that tells you, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

It is up to you to believe God’s Word and “the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.”  God has declared you RIGHTEOUS in Christ and “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Your peace in everyday application will be your believing who God says you are in Christ.  You may not “feel” like it.  It may not “look” like it.  But “if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” in your situation.  “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”  Salvation does not just apply to the ultimate crisis, death and judgment.  No, you need to be “saved” everyday from the world, the flesh, and the devil.  You are secure and at peace in Him Who is your peace because you are “the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.”  Such knowledge applied by faith in your life experience will bring you the realization of the “peace that transcends all understanding” operating in you as a “fruit of the Spirit.”

So the first step to realizing that peace is to know that you are righteous, for peace will not be in “your heart and mind” if there is no righteousness.  And your “righteousnesses are as filthy rags” apart from Jesus Christ.  But through the righteousness that has been imputed, Christ’s righteousness, you have peace.  But be condemned, be guilty and have unconfessed sin and you will not have that peace.  You are righteous so walk in the knowledge of it.  After all, it is His doing, not yours.  Believe Him and be who He says you are.  You do that by faith, believing what He says.  (see our article TRAINED CHRISTIANS.

This peace is very important in your Christian walk.  Almost every writer of the New Testament books will say something about this peace.  For example: “Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means.”  “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly.”  “Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.”  “Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.”

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Click here for more articles on Christian Living

Click here to read article BE RECONCILED

Click here to read article MATURE CHRISTIANS