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So our peace comes to us through faith, and as a result of our Lord's victory over sin
and death in His resurrection. We can never thank Him enough for all that He has done
for us, and for our peace with God. (We do not make our peace with God for He has
already done it for us.)
Not only do we have peace with God but we can enjoy the peace of God which keeps
and garrisons our hearts and minds:
"Be careful for nothing . . . . . prayer . . . . . thanksgiving . . . . . requests made known
unto God . . . . . And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep
(garrison) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4: 6, 7).
"Let the peace of God rule in your hearts" (Col. 3: 15).
Added to this is the promise that the God of peace shall be with us.
"Now the God of peace be with you all" (Rom. 15: 33).
"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: 9).
There are eleven references to peace in Romans. In Ephesians, we find 8 occurrences
and here we find a dispensational aspect. The middle wall of partition separated the Jew
and Gentile. But of the two, Christ has made (or created) one new man. "The both" has
been reconciled to God in one body by the cross. Mr. Charles H. Welch expounds this in
detail in The Berean Expositor Volume X, pages 177-180. We can only touch upon the
truth in this article. Here is an outline of the 8 passages where "peace" occurs.
A | 1: 2. Grace and peace (salutation).
B | 2: 14. He is our peace (the Head).
C | 2: 15. The twain.--One new man.
D | 2: 17. Preached peace--those far off.
D | 2: 17. Preached peace--those nigh.
C | 4: 3. Unity--the bond of peace.
B | 6: 15. Gospel of peace (feet shod).
A | 6: 23. Peace and love (benediction).
Let us rejoice that He is our Peace. He has created the one new man, but in the
practical section, we are enjoined to "endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond
of peace". Satan seeks to divide us and we need to be on our guard. Hence Paul says
"endeavour" to keep the unity for there may be times when this is not easy.
Now let us revert to Rom. 8: 6, 7 which says:
"To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. The
carnal mind is enmity against God . . . . .".
We are all aware of the conflict between the flesh & the spirit and Rom. 7: & 8:
contain much about this.