Meaning of PEACE

God is a God of peace; This statement appears frequently in the Scriptures (Rom. 15:33; 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:11; 1 Thes. 5:23; Heb. 13:20, etc.).

Instead, war rages in the world: between Satan and God, between races, nations, individuals and in the heart of each individual.

The universe is disturbed by everything that this entails in insecurity, anguish, dissatisfaction. This is due to the cosmic revolt of angels and fallen men against God; They have all become “rebellious nations” (Ez. 2:3), “sons of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2; 5:6).

The reality is that they also suffer in their state, and ardently desire to enjoy peace, although within their disobedience (Deut. 29:19).

It is pathetic to contemplate the desperate efforts of nations to ward off the dangers of war and atomic destruction, without a sincere movement of repentance and faith.

Scripture declares: "There is no peace for the wicked, says the Lord" (Is. 48: 22; 57:20-21). In the face of this severe declaration, there is no lack of politicians, nor of false prophets who announce: "Peace, there being no peace” (Ez. 13:10; cf. Jer. 6:14; 8:11).

It is unfortunately true that there will be, here on earth, a terrible reckoning and that one day “peace will be taken from the earth” (Rev. 6:4) and that the last conflict will be the deadliest of all (Rev. 6). :8; 19:15-28)

Only Jesus can resolve this ongoing war and restore peace. “He is our peace” (Eph. 2:14). He threw himself into the middle of the conflict, accepting to be struck by the rod of divine justice that persecuted us (Eph. 2:13-17; Col. 1:20).

God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself; He himself established peace and has been proclaiming amnesty ever since; He changes the repentant rebel into a creature of peace (2 Cor. 5:17-21).

This is why every justified believer has peace with God (Rom. 5:1). The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, can henceforth guard his heart and his mind in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7).

He knows joy and happiness; in peace he lies down and sleeps (Ps. 4:7-9). This peace is not the artificial and temporary product of human effort, but the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22), given by God himself (2 Thes. 3:16).

The child of God must now live in peace (Rom. 12:18; 1 Thes. 5:13; Heb. 12:14; James 3:18), however there will be those who will hate and persecute him because Christ came « not to bring peace, but a sword (Mt. 10:34).

And it will be so as long as individuals and nations allow themselves to be seduced by him who is a murderer and a liar from the beginning (John 8:44).

But the glorious certainty of the Lord's return gives us the certainty that peace will soon reign over the entire earth. Peace will be the main feature, along with justice, of the reign of the Prince of Peace (Is. 2:4; 9:5-6; Ps. 27:7). “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Mt. 5:9).