How To Find Peace With God

What does it mean to find peace with God? How can we find peace with God according to the Bible?

The Peace of God

You cannot have the peace of God until you are first at peace with God but how is this possible? Paul tells us in Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.” There it is! Only those who have been justified through faith can have peace with God and be at peace with God and in that “we now stand.” There is no more condemnation for those who are in Christ (Rom 8:1) “because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Rom 8:2) and it is the free gift of eternal life (Rom 6:23) that could never be earned (Eph 2:8-9) and that should give us not only peace, but peace of mind that the wrath of God has been removed off from us because it was placed on God’s Son on our behalf. For those who refuse to believe in Him, Jesus tells them plainly “God’s wrath remains on them” (John 3:36b) and there will be no peace.

No Peace Without God

For those who have not been justified there cannot possibly be any real, lasting peace. Isaiah 48:22 says “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked” and again Isaiah says “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked” (57:21). For those who have not been justified “The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks along them will know peace” (Isaiah 59:8). Even the many false prophets of Israel prophesied peace and even had “visions of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Sovereign LORD’” (Ezk 13:16) because “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace” (Rom 8:6).

Jesus’ Peace

When Jesus gives you something, it is a permanent possession, like when He gives all who believe in Him eternal life (John 3:16). Jesus once told His disciples who were troubled about His leaving them “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). Even further, He says “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). After Jesus’ resurrection He suddenly appeared to the disciples and “came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you” (John 20:19c) and before sending them out to make disciples of all nations he said “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21)!

Peace can Guard our Hearts

If we are at peace with God because of Jesus’ death for us He has made us to be at peace with Him and we will know this peace and it is “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7). The Greek word Paul used for “guard” is “phroureō” and it’s not a feeling but very powerful and potent word as it means “to protect by a military guard, either to prevent hostile invasion” or “to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight.” The word in Greek for “peace” here is “eirēnē” and it also is not just a feeling but it means “a state of tranquility.” Elsewhere, Paul says in Colossians 3:15 to “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” The same word for peace is again “eirēnē” but the Greek word used for “rule” is “to be an umpire” or “to decide” or “determine” so that is not just a hopeful wish but a power from God about the peace of God which will guard, rule, and determine to have our hearts be at peace (or in a state of tranquility). This is why Paul could say with authority to let “The God of peace be with you all” (Rom 15:33) because “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Rom 16:20).

Conclusion

If you are not yet born again, you are not at peace with God and cannot be at peace with God because “God is an honest judge. He is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalm 7:11) because “he is a God of justice” (Psalm 50:6). With a broken heart Paul pleaded with the Greeks in Athens saying “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed” (Acts 17:30-31). My question for you is have you made peace with God through Christ? If not, you are not at peace with God and His righteous wrath remains on you.

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Blind Chance or Intelligent Design available on Amazon.