JESUS IS OUR PEACE
THOSE WHO KNOW THEIR GOD Part 49
“Those who know their God will be strong and do great things.” Dan 11:32
WHAT DO PEOPLE DO TO KNOW GOD?
As we studied yesterday, the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 We determined that the righteousness that God desires for us to have and live in is the righteousness that is by faith. The more we receive that intimacy with God is not about our righteousness is so freeing and encouraging!
The second characteristic of the kingdom of God is peace. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 The opposite of peace is letting your heart be troubled and afraid. God longs for you to know and live in his peace. But, what does peace really mean anyway? In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word used for peace is shalom, and in the New Testament, the Greek word is Eirene. The word peace in the Bible speaks of two things. The first meaning is best explained by the analogy of two tribes or nations who were fighting but now have reached terms of peace. Therefore, peace means to be at one again. When Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you,” he was saying, terms of peace have been reached between you and God. Yes! Because of the blood of Jesus, you and I can have complete unity and oneness with God!
The word peace also includes another essential concept. The Lexham Theological Wordbook says this, “The term šālôm in the OT expresses profound wholeness and well-being. The term can be used in many ways, but it especially designates a state of prosperity or good health.” So the word peace means unity between two parties and a sense of well-being and health. Wow! God not only wants you to enjoy perfect fellowship with him, but he also wants you to experience a sense of well-being and health! This is why the Holy Spirit spoke through the apostle John saying, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3John 2
I hope you see this very important concept that is unfolding. Prosperity and health come from soul prosperity. This is why peace is related to a sense of well-being and health. When you know that you have peace with God, your soul (mind, will, and emotions) prospers. When you’re soul prospers, your whole life follows suit. In John 17, Jesus prayed five times that there would be unity in the body of Christ just as there is unity between Jesus and God. When you know that you are one with God through Jesus Christ, a great hope floods your soul!
Rom 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Because of God’s great desire for us to be one with him, he sent Jesus, and Jesus became our peace.
Ephesians 2:12-15 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace.
Wow! He himself is our peace! When you put your faith in Jesus, you become unified with him and become his body.
Ephesians 2:6-7 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
This whole concept blows my mind! Wow! Do we believe the word? Do we realize what God has offered to us through Jesus Christ? Dear Lord, empower us to grasp the greatness of your provision for us through Jesus Christ! My beloved partner in Christ, those who want to know God must come to God through Jesus. Intimacy with God comes through Jesus because…
JESUS IS OUR PEACE