Romans 5.1-2
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand.”
Both grace and peace come to us through Christ, and both should permeate every part of our life and work. The presence of God’s grace and peace does not exempt us from life’s difficulties and pain, but it does empower us to navigate any circumstance (good or bad) knowing that God is in control and that He will fulfill His purpose in our lives as we trust Him and abide in His truth.
Peace is the Greek word eirene. It is closely tied to the Hebrew shalom (verb shalal), which means “fulfillment and completeness.” Peace is the healing of wounds and the restoration of what is broken. By God’s grace, we who were once estranged and separated from God, we who were fragmented and broken, have been made whole and complete. We have been restored to a right relationship with him.
A central message in scripture: true peace only happens through Christ. As someone once said simply and elegantly: Know Jesus, know peace. No Jesus, no peace.
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.” (Epheseians 2.13-14).
“Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.” (2 John 1.3)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4.6-7)
Apart from Jesus, there is no lasting peace. Let us abide in His grace and embrace the peace which He has given us. And let’s acknowledge that living a life of grace and peace in the real world is not easy.
- When life gets hard and circumstances turn against you, remember: grace and peace.
- When life is good and you are experiencing success, remember: grace and peace.
- When you get into a disagreement with a loved one or friend, remember: grace and peace.
- As you do your job every day, remember: grace and peace.
“May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” (2 Peter 1.2)
