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Romans 15:33 – Peace With God

Posted on February 18, 2019 by Will

And the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Truth to Learn

God is the only source of true peace. You can be at peace with God.

Behind the Words

The word translated “peace” is eirēnē, which means “peace or tranquility.” The root of this word is probably the verb eirō, which means “to join.” Hence, to be at peace with someone implies that you are joined together with them for your mutual benefit. It does not simply imply a passive act (that you leave each other alone) but an active one (that you join together with another person to produce good). So, the God of peace means that God joins together with you to produce goodness and peace.

“Amen” is transliterated from the Hebrew awmane, which properly means “firm.” It is used to express trustworthiness or sureness. In other words, it means “surely, truly, it is so.”

Meaning Explained

The primary object of this epistle to the Romans has been to encourage a bond of peace between the believing Jews and Gentiles in Rome, and to show them their mutual obligations and the infinite mercy of God to them all. Now he concludes with a prayer that the God of peace – He with whom we are joined together, from whom it comes, and by whom it is preserved – might be forever with them, Jewish Christian and Gentile Christian alike.

Paul told the Philippians not to worry but to pray unto God with thanksgiving and that they would, in turn, receive the peace of God that no one can fully understand. Here’s how Paul said it to them:

Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

In this fifteenth chapter of Romans, the Lord has been named the God of patience and consolation (verse five), the God of hope (verse thirteen), and now the God of peace. He is the source of everything good and of everything a poor sinner needs both now and eternally.

Application

Do you have God’s peace? Are you joined together with Him for your mutual good?

If not, have you ever truly humbled yourself before Almighty God, admitted that you are a sinner deserving the punishment of Hell, and asked God to save you by His mercy? If you have never done this, then you can’t have real peace; you are still in your sins, and you will pay the eternal penalty for them in the flaming fires of Hell. If, on the other hand, you have submitted yourself to God as an undeserving sinner claiming the blood of Jesus Christ as payment for your sins, then you can know this peace that only comes from God, and you will spend eternity in His presence.

May this peace be yours today, and may God receive the glory!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 15:13 – Hopeful Expectation

Posted on January 14, 2019 by Will

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Truth to Learn

Christians can have joy, peace, and hopeful expectation.

Behind the Words

The word translated “hope” in this verse is a form of the Greek word elpis, which means, “the desire of something good with full expectation of obtaining it.” It is different than the English word “hope,” which implies simply a desire for something but not knowing whether it will happen or not. Paul calls our God the God of hope because we know that His promises will definitely come true.

“Fill” is from the verb plēroō, which means “to fill.” Actually, it means more than just filling something; it means to cram it as full as possible. It is expressed here in the Optative mood, indicating a wish, or desire on the part of the Apostle Paul.

The word translated “all” is the Greek word pas, which means “all, the whole, completely, with nothing missing.”

“Joy” is translated from the Greek noun chara, meaning “cheerfulness” or “calm delight.”

The noun “peace” is from eirēnē, which means “peace or tranquility.” It is a state in which there is no perceived threat or cause for worry present.

The word translated “abound” is the Greek word perisseuō, which means “to be in excess in number or measure.”

Meaning Explained

Having finished his treatise on the unity of Jew and Gentile in Christ, Paul closes this section with a benediction. He starts off invoking the benediction from the “God of hope.” In all that Paul has been teaching us since the first verse of chapter fourteen, it is hope which, among other things, unites us. It is to both the Jew and Gentile the hope of the return of the Messiah, and it is also to both the Jew and the Gentile the hope of the resurrection and salvation that He promised. Not just empty hope, but expectant hope.

In this benediction Paul asks that God will fill us “with all joy and peace” in our believing faith. That is, Paul is asking that God cram us completely full with all possible joy and peace. Not just a lot of it, but all of it, with nothing missing!

And, as a result of that joy and peace that we have in our saving faith, we can thus abound in hope. Because of the joy and peace that we have in our faith, we can be filled to overflowing with expectant hope.

Our salvation is not a salvation of worry or fear (worrying or being afraid that we might lose it), but a salvation of hope, with full expectation and assurance that God will deliver on His promises.

Application

If you have submitted yourself to the lordship of Jesus Christ and have accepted the sacrificial offering of His blood as full payment for your sins, then God will save you according to His promises! This is the greatest truth ever proclaimed to man. Even though none of us is righteous, all of us are sinners, and even though God demands righteousness, we can avoid the penalty of our sinfulness through the blood of the Lamb of God who was sacrificed to pay the penalty of our sins! Praise God!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 14:17 – Calm Delight

Posted on December 4, 2018 by Will

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Truth to Learn

Building up the body of Christ creates a sense of calm delight.

Behind the Words

“Eating” is from the Greek noun brōsis, which is derived from the same root as brōma (food) which we saw in verse fifteen. Brōsis refers to the act of eating and by extension it refers to the food being eaten.

“Drinking” is from posis, which refers to the act of drinking and by extension to the drink itself.

The word translated “righteousness” is dikaiosunē, which refers to the character or quality of being righteous (always doing what is right) or just (guided by truth and fairness). It is a state of being in which God charges no blame because either there is no wrong to be blamed or the wrong has already been paid for and done away with.

“Peace” is translated from eirēnē, which can mean “a state of tranquility” or “the absence of war or the threat of war.”

The word translated “joy” is charis. This word does not refer to “excitement and jubilation.” It refers to “gladness and calm delight.”

Meaning Explained

There are several uses of the term “the kingdom of God” in the New Testament. In some places it refers to the heavenly kingdom that will exist in the new heavens and the new earth after the current heavens and earth have been destroyed. In other places it refers to the earthly kingdom that will be in place during the Millennium, with Christ on the throne in Jerusalem. And in still others it refers to the spiritual kingdom that exists here and now, where Christ is reigning in the hearts of Christians. Although Paul’s use of the term here could refer to any or all of these meanings, it appears that Paul is talking about the spiritual kingdom that exists today of which all Christians are members.

Even though eating and drinking are necessary for our earthly existence, these are not the things that are really important in our spiritual existence. In Matthew 4:4 Christ, Himself, when tempted to create bread from the rocks after having not eaten for 40 days in the wilderness, told Satan,

It is written, “Man will not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God."

The kingdom of God to which we belong today is not centered in the physical world, but in the spiritual world. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father and our daily walk with Him are neither enhanced nor depreciated by what we do or don’t eat or by whether we treat one day as sacred above the others or not. Instead, our focus should be on the spiritual body of Christ by treating each other with righteousness (doing what is right), being at peace with other Christians, and creating conditions that make for joy among all Christians.

Application

Instead of arguing about what foods we can and can’t eat or getting hung-up on how others treat “the Lord’s day,” let’s do what we can to help nurture and grow the body of Christ, the church. By doing so, instead of strife and contention we can all experience a sense of peace and calm delight even in the midst of a world that is filled with evil.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 5:1 – Peace Through Faith

Posted on November 28, 2017 by Will

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Truth to Learn

Salvation by faith produces peace with God.

Behind the Words

“We have” is from the Greek verb echō, meaning “to hold” or “to possess.” However, there is a variation in the form of this verb depending on which Greek manuscripts are used. Some texts have this in the indicative mood indicating it as a present fact (“we have” as it is translated here). Other texts have this verb expressed in either the subjunctive mood (“we may have” or “we should have”) or the imperative mood (“let us have” as a command). The difference in the readings is only the difference between an omicron (short o) and an omega (long ō). In spite of these differences, the reading of “we have peace” is justified by the fact that the parallel verbs (“we have” and “we rejoice”) in the following verse are both in the indicative mood.

The word translated “peace” is eirēnē, which does, in fact, mean “peace.” However, this is not so much an expression of contentment, satisfaction, and quiet, as it is “a state of reconciliation with God.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous chapters the Apostle Paul has shown:

That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
That this applies to both Jews and Gentiles.
That there was no way to obtain righteousness (become justified) except by pardon; not by personal merit, but by grace, through faith.
That this was also the manner in which Abraham and David were accepted before God.

He will now show us a couple of the effects, or fruits, of this justification that we have. The first is: because we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God. About this peace, Matthew Henry in his Commentary on the Whole Bible said,

It is sin that breeds the quarrel between us and God, creates not only a strangeness, but an enmity; the holy righteous God cannot in honor be at peace with a sinner while he continues under the guilt of sin. Justification takes away the guilt, and so makes way for peace. And such are the benignity and good-will of God to man that, immediately upon the removing of that obstacle, the peace is made. By faith we lay hold of God's arm and of his strength, and so are at peace …

Those who try to work for their salvation can never have peace because they never know whether they have done enough (which they never can) and so are always worried about it. In contrast to that, Paul says that because our salvation is given to us as a result of our faith by a loving God who will never take it away, we have peace and assurance.

Next, Paul will show us what else we have as a result of our justification by grace.

Application

Do you have peace with God? Can you stand in His presence assured that He is at peace with you? You can have this peace through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 3:17 – The Peace Path

Posted on October 2, 2017 by Will

And a way of peace they have not known."

Truth to Learn

Real peace is only experienced on God’s path.

Behind the Words

The word translated “peace” is eirēnē, which refers to “the absence of warfare and dissention.” It is also used metaphorically, as in this verse, to mean “peace of mind” or “tranquility.”

“They have not known” is translated from the two words ouk egnōsan. Ouk is the absolute negative in Greek and egnōsan is a form of ginōskō, meaning “to know.” There are several Greek words that refer to knowledge. This particular one refers to acquired or experiential knowledge as opposed to intuitive knowledge. In today’s verse it implies that the people being talked about have never experienced peace.

Meaning Explained

Paul now states another result of having turned out of God’s way and having gone down the path of one’s own choosing. We explained in yesterday’s verse that hodos refers to “a way” or “a road.” Today we think of a road like a highway where cars and trucks travel at high speed. In the first century when this epistle (letter) was written, a road was often no more than a pathway just wide enough for an animal drawn cart to pass. So when we see the word “way” in these verses, it is usually referring to a road or pathway for foot traffic.

Another thing to be aware of is the fact that the definite article is not present before hodos in the Greek text, which leads us to translate this as “a way of peace” not “the way of peace.” In other words, there is not a single way of peace. Any path that God leads us down is potentially “a way of peace,” but the road we select for ourselves apart from God is never “a way of peace.”

Are you lacking peace in your life today? Jesus offers us a very special peace. In his gospel account, the Apostle John recorded these words of Jesus:

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)

And, in his letter to the Christians at Philippi, the Apostle Paul explained how a Christian can experience this peace:

Be anxious about nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

In today’s verse, however, we see that the natural man does not know the way of real peace because he doesn’t know the Prince of Peace. As we learned in the previous verse, the unsaved person will ultimately only know the way of destruction and misery.

Application

Even in the midst of trials and tribulation on this earth, we can experience this peace “that passes all understanding” because Jesus offered it to us. In order to have such peace, however, we need to be walking down God’s road, not our own.

Are you on a path of peace today?

In God's service, for His glory,

2 Thessalonians 3:16 – No Worries, Mate

Posted on September 16, 2016 by Will

And may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.

Truth to Learn

There is no cause for worry when the Lord of peace is our God.

Behind the Words

“Lord” is from the Greek noun kurios, which is based on kuros, meaning “might, power, or control.” Kurios refers to someone who has supreme authority or control over someone else.

The word translated “peace” is eirēnē. It can refer to an absence of war and dissention, that is, harmony among individuals. However, it can also refer to peace of mind and mental tranquility. It is a state in which there is no perceived threat or cause for worry present.

Autos is the Greek word translated “Himself.” This word literally means “self” and is used for emphasis, setting apart “the Lord” from everyone and everything else. In Greek, word order is very important and in the Greek text of this verse, the word autos is the first word, making it emphatic that it is the Lord and no one else who gives us peace.

“Always” and “every” are both translated from forms of the word pas, which contains the idea of oneness and a totality of the whole.

The word “way” is from the Greek word tropō, which literally means “a turn” as one would turn from one path to another. It is used symbolically to refer to “a general manner of life.”

Meaning Explained

Having finished his teaching in this letter, Paul now closes with a benediction, as is his custom. The expression “the Lord of peace Himself” is found nowhere else in the New Testament, although Paul uses the expression “the God of peace Himself” in his first letter to the Christian believers in the church at Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Why is it so important for him to refer to the God of peace or the master of peace? You will recall that the purpose of both of these letters was to correct some false teaching regarding the Day of the Lord. Because of this false teaching, the believers in Thessalonica were confused and concerned that they had missed the rapture and were living during the time of God’s great wrath. Now having corrected this teaching, Paul wanted the Thessalonians to stop worrying and, instead, experience peace in their lives. As the God of peace and the master of peace, only He can provide us with this “peace that surpasses all understanding,” as Paul called it in Philippians 4:7.

Notice that God can give us this peace at all times no matter what is occurring in our lives. “But I don’t feel at peace right now,” you may say. If we believe that Jesus Christ is a loving God, the God of peace, and He is our Lord, the one who has supreme authority over every aspect of our lives, then we don’t have to worry. He will provide for us. He will watch over us. He will protect us. He will guide us. And, He will keep all His promises. What is there to worry about?

Application

Worry is nothing more that lack of trust. No matter what your circumstances, God is there beside you and will take care of you. Work hard and trust in Him. If you do, there’s nothing to worry about, is there?

In God's service, for His glory,

2 Thessalonians 1:2 – Grace and Peace

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Will

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Truth to Learn

People who know God’s grace can experience peace with Him.

Behind the Words

“Grace” is translated from the Greek noun charis, which is from the verb chairō, meaning “to rejoice.” Charis means “that which causes joy, pleasure, gratification, or acceptance as a result of a kindness granted.” It is often translated as grace, thanks, or gratitude.

“God” is translated from theos, which was originally used by the heathen to refer to their gods (idols). It is based on the noun theteres, meaning “placers.” The heathen Greeks thought their gods were the makers and disposers (placers) of all things. For instance, the god of money was referred to as mammon, which Jesus referred to in Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13. In the New Testament, when you see word “god” it refers to a false god (see 1Corinthians 1:20) but when spelled “God” it refers to the one true God.

The word translated “father” is patēr, which is a primary word meaning “father.” It is the word from which we get our English word patriarch (father-ruler).

Meaning Explained

If you compare the opening two verses of this chapter with the opening verse of 1 Thessalonians 1, you will notice that they appear nearly identical. And, in the best manuscripts the words “from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” do not appear in 1 Thessalonians 1:1. They do appear to be genuine in this verse, however.

Paul’s opening message to the Thessalonian church in both 1 Thessalonians 1:1 and in this verse is one of grace and peace. These two represent the source and the result of our salvation. For by grace we are saved (Ephesians 2:5), and this salvation results in a peace that is beyond our understanding (Philippians 4:7). His desire of peace for the Christians in Thessalonica is especially important given the persecution and confusion that existed in the church at that time. “Grace” is “God’s riches at Christ’s expense”; it is God’s unmerited favor which He freely bestows on all who accept by faith Jesus Christ’s substitutionary work on the cross. God gives man the opposite of what he deserves: blessing instead of judgment. “Peace” is the cessation of hostility which has resulted from Christ’s death; God and mankind can be reconciled because the debt of human sin has been paid by Christ. Christians have peace with God through the death of Christ. They also experience the peace of God as a result of Christ’s work. So we see that for a Christian, grace and peace are closely connected.

Application

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you have been the recipient of God’s grace. Because of this, you are at peace with God. One of the challenges of Christian living is recognizing and experiencing that peace, and living a life of obedience to God because of it.

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 6:23 – Peace, Love, and Faith

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Will

Peace to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Truth to Learn

You can experience peace and the love of God through faith.

Behind the Words

The word “love” in this verse is our old friend agapē, referring to a self-sacrificing love demonstrated by our actions.

“Faith” is translated from the Greek word pistis. It is derived from the verb peithō, meaning “to persuade” or “to win over.” Therefore, faith refers to “a firm persuasion, conviction, or belief in a truth.”

Meaning Explained

Having finished his teaching and having informed his readers that Tychicus would relay to them all that has been transpiring with Paul and his associates; the Apostle now makes his final closing benediction. A benediction (from the Latin bene, meaning “well” and dicere, meaning “to speak”) was a common form of closing a letter like this. The practice may have been derived from the ritual benediction that the Jewish High Priest proclaimed:

"The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD cause His face to shine on you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His face to you, and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26)

This particular benediction is still recited today at the end of many protestant church services. Paul’s use of the benediction, however, is not simply a ritualistic blessing. If you look carefully at this verse you will see that there are three things that Paul offers for his readers: peace, love, and faith. These are actually three themes that occur throughout this letter.

Peace (Ephesians 1:2; 2:14, 15; 2:17; 4:3; and 6:15) comes from God the Father. It is delivered in the person of Jesus Christ, who established peace between Old Testament believers and New Testament believers. Our peace with God was purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ and it is the bond that unites all Christians. Finally, as part of our battle armor, peace with God is that which allows us to stand firm against all the attacks of our enemy.

Love (Ephesians 1:15; 4:2, 4:15-16; 5:25, 5:28, and 5:33) is the central characteristic of the Christian faith. It is what allows us to bear one another’s burdens and to gently encourage each other so that we can work together to build up the body of Christ. It is that which a husband demonstrates to his wife, portraying a picture of God’s love for us.

Faith (Ephesians 6:16; 1:15; 2:8; 3:12, 3:17; 4:5, and 4:13) is the essence of Christianity. Without it we cannot please God. Through faith we can quench the fiery arrows slung against us by our spiritual enemy. It gives us boldness as we approach our Almighty God in prayer. And, because of this faith, Christ lives in our hearts and unites us as His body and His bride-to-be.

Application

You, too, can experience the love of God and know the peace that exceeds all understanding. However, these only come through faith in the blood of Christ. You can’t earn them, you can only accept them as part of God’s gift of salvation.

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 2:17 – His Mouth Peace

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Will

And having come, He preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.

Truth to Learn

All Christians should be proclaiming peace with God through the gospel message of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ as payment for our sins.

Behind the Words

The words “having come” are from the verb erchomai, which means “to come” or “to go.” It is expressed as an aorist participle, thus we translate it as “having come.”

“Preached” is translated from euangellidzō, which is a compound verb made up of eu, meaning “good” or “well” and aggellō, which means “to proclaim.” Thus, this word literally means “to proclaim the good news.” This is the word from which we get our English verb “to evangelize.”

“Peace” is translated from eirēnē, which means, as we saw back in verse fourteen, “to be at peace with someone.” In the current verse, the best Greek manuscripts have the word eirēnē appears twice. Therefore, the verse should be translated:

And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and peace to those who were near.

The words “afar off” are from makran, which we saw back in verse thirteen. It means “a great distance away.”

“Near” is translated from the Greek word engus, which is based on the verb agchō, meaning “to squeeze.” Engus indicates that something is “nearby” or “close at hand.”

Meaning Explained

The current verse indicates a direct fulfillment of the words of Isaiah:

“I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to the ones far off and near,” Says the LORD, “And I will heal him.” (Isaiah 57:19)

In verse fourteen we learned that Christ is our peace. In verse fifteen we learned that He made peace between Jews and Gentiles. Now we learn that Christ proclaimed (or announced) peace, both to those who were near and to those who were far away. In verse thirteen we learned that Gentiles are the ones who were once far away. By inference, we know that “those who were near” refers to the Jews.

There are a number of verses in the New Testament in which Jesus proclaimed peace, so it’s not hard to understand what Paul means by saying that he proclaimed peace to those who were near. But, we have to ask ourselves the question, “How did Jesus preach peace to those who were far off?” For the key to the answer to this question let’s look at John’s gospel. He recorded this statement that Jesus made to his disciples in the upper room after He was raised from the dead,

Therefore Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." (John 20:21)

Jesus sent his disciples (and by extension, you and me) into the world to proclaim the gospel of peace. That’s how He proclaims peace to those who are far off.

Application

You and I are the means by which Jesus Christ is still proclaiming peace to those who are far off. When was the last time you shared the Gospel message to people around you?

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 2:14 – Peace Without Fences

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Will

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

Truth to Learn

We now have access to God through the new covenant.

Behind the Words

“Both” is translated from amphoteros, which is an inclusive comparative form of the word amphō, meaning “the two.” Therefore, amphoteros means “each of two” or “both.”

The words “broken down” are from the verb luō, which literally means “to loosen,” “to dissolve,” or “to destroy.”

Mesotoichon (used only here in the New Testament) is the Greek word translated “middle wall.” It is a compound word made up of mesos, meaning “middle” and toichos, which refers to the wall of a building (a different word, teichos refers to the wall of a city). Thus, mesotoichon literally refers to “an inner separating wall, as opposed to a protective wall.”

“Separation” is from phragmos, which is derived from the verb phrassō, meaning “to enclose with a fence or a hedge.” Phragmos refers to a “fence intended to keep someone out.”

Meaning Explained

In yesterday’s verse we learned that Gentiles were not included in the covenant made between God and Abraham. But, we also learned that God abolished the old covenant and created a new one, sealed with the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Now we learn that because of this new covenant, He (Jesus) is our peace. Paul is not talking here about the same personal sense of peace which he told the Philippian Christians about,

The peace that Paul is talking about here is the peace between Jews and Gentiles. We are now joined together in a special way. Paul explains this peace further by saying that both Jews and Gentiles have been made one and that the partition separating us from one another has been dissolved.

In the middle of the courtyard of the former Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, a special partition wall divided the court of the Gentiles from the court of Israel. On that wall was an inscription forbidding Gentiles from going any further. That wall was symbolic of the partition wall separating Jews and Gentiles. However, the partition between us has now been demolished by the new covenant through the blood of Jesus.

Application

Mankind no longer has to practice all the ordinances of the Jewish faith in order to be children of God. Through faith in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, we are cleansed of our sins and we are adopted into His family.

In God's service, for His glory,