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Peace
Peace Unknown
The endless wars, conflicts and injustices we see in the world today only proves what the
Bible has always declared concerning mankind: “The way of peace have they not known” (Romans 3:17). All efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace miserably fail for the simple reason
that the root of the problem is not dealt with. Peace unknown on the national and international
levels only proves that peace is unknown in the individual hearts of people. God alone has the
solution to the problem of peace for nations, for individuals, and for you, dear reader. God has
successfully dealt once and forever with the root cause of all distress—sin. He now offers sure
and lasting peace for heart and conscience e in the Person of His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus
Christ who declares: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth,
give I unto you. Let not you heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John. 14:27).
Peace Made
“Having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians. 1:20). Man can never
“make his peace with God.” It cannot be bought, nor can it be worked for. Tears, prayers, and
resolutions are all unavailing to make peace with Him. No human friend can make that peace.
Though patriots and parents who love their nation and their children would lay down their lives
for them, they cannot make peace with God for them.
What a blessed thing it is that what man could never do to make peace, God has done
perfectly and eternally! What is it that has made with Him. It is on the cross, where the full
penalty of God’s judgment against sin was borne, and the cloud of divine wrath burst upon the
spotless Substitute. Hear peace was made so effectually that God raised up His Son, Jesus Christ,
form among the dead in token of His acceptance of the Lord Jesus’ perfect work at the cross.
Peace Preached
“And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh”
(Ephesians 2:17). After His resurrection, our Lord Jesus appeared in the midst of His disciples
and said: “Peace be unto you” showing them the wounds inn His hands and His side. This was
the preaching of peace. He showed the grounds upon which He could declared peace, the witness
of His finished work on the cross. He pronounced that peace upon those who believed in Him.
This blessed work of proclaiming peace has been going on ever since. The Holy Spirit was sent
down from heaven, energizing the people of God to proclaim peace to all mankind. The true way
of peace is only being preached today wherever the true gospel of the grace of God is announced.
Peace Possessed
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”
(Romans 5:1). It is one thing for peace to have been made by His death on the cross, and to have
been proclaimed by our blessed Lord and by the Holy Ghost in the gospel of His grace, but it is
another thing for this peace to be possessed. It is peace for all mankind, but not possessed by all
mankind. This peace must be received, and here is where faith comes in. Faith takes God at His
word acknowledging one’s lost and ruined condition because of sin in his heart and life, and
accepts Jesus Christ as personal Saviour and Lord. Faith is putting one’s trust in Him who died
and rose again to put away the sin which has caused the war inn his heart against God. All who
believe on Him received this blessed peace—It is theirs now, not merely for them, but their
possession. Notice here that it is not a feeling of peace that is spoken of, but a relationship with
God. Instead of being under wrath, subject to judgment, the believer is in the place of accep-
tance, the object of His delight, looked upon as righteous before Him. Can you, dear reader, say
“I have peace with God”?
“He is our Peace” (Ephesians 2:14). Peace does not come from ourselves and we are not to
look within our hearts for the true measure of it. We do have the enjoyment of it here, and the
more simply we believe the Word of God, the fuller such enjoyment will be, for peace is in the
Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Possessing Him as Saviour and Lord, the believer has peace of
conscience as to his sins, and peace of heart as to his circumstances. Jesus said, “These things I
have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace” (John 16:33). Therefore, “Acquaint NOW
thyself with Him and be at PEACE: thereby good shall come unto thee” (Job 22:21)
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D.T.J.
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