A Deeper Study of the Fruit of the Spirit: Peace
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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Do you have peace in your life today? Peace is one of those things that people crave. We hear it in phrases such as: “World peace,” “Peace out,” or “Don’t disturb the peace.” However, what truly is peace?
Jesus said in John 14:27 that He left His peace with us. “Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.”
Today as we study the fruit of peace, may we remember that this is a peace different from what the world offers. Many things leave someone feeling peaceful, but only the Holy Spirit can leave a person peace-filled. What is the fruit of peace?
Peace in the Greek
The Greek word found in Galatians 5:22 is eiréné and it occurs 92 times in the New Testament. It is likely from eiro; a verb which means: “peace; by implication, prosperity." It is also seen as a noun according to the New Testament Greek Lexicon, meaning, “A state of national tranquility, peace between individuals, security, and salvation.”
Other verses where we see eiréné (peace) include:
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14).
“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).
“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9).
Peace is such a deep theological concept and we are only going to cover the tip of the iceberg today. However, as we ponder the variety of ways the fruit of peace plays out in our lives, we are going to specifically observe its meaning in tranquility, security, and reconciliation.
Tranquility
There is an actual sense of tranquility in the life of a believer. When a Christ follower is living by the Spirit and not the flesh, we witness words and decisions that are peaceful. This means that a Spirit-filled life leads one to be a peacemaker. I once heard it put that there is difference in a “peace keeper” and a “peacemaker.” Having tranquility does not mean that you are always at the spa, never endure hardship, or never encounter conflict. Tranquility is a state of confident rest which stems from identity in Christ. I am at peace in my soul because I have Jesus and because I have Jesus I can have His peace provided in every moment.
To be tranquil means, to be “free from agitation of mind or spirit, free from disturbance or turmoil. Steady or stable.”
2 Corinthians 3:17 says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
Jesus has set all believers free in Him. His Spirit leads to our freedom. His Spirit produces the fruit of peace. We can be freed from agitation and disturbance when the Spirit lives in our hearts. The life of a believer does not have to be quiet, but the presence of a believer will exhibit stability and rest in the Savior.
Security
This leads us into security. Have you ever been around someone insecure in their relationship? Have you ever been the person who was insecure in a relationship? It’s not a pretty sight. It is exhausting, unpredictable, and messy. There is a lack of confidence and trust. We were not secure the moment Adam and Eve sinned in the garden. Our confident relationship with God was compromised by our own disobedience. This led to wobbly territory.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 27:24).
Jesus calls Himself the Rock in Matthew 21:42-43. He says that the kingdom will be “given to a people who will produce its fruit.” How interesting that after sharing how He would be the Cornerstone, Jesus shares that He would give the kingdom to people who would produce fruit. The Holy Spirit has secured the lives of all believers in Jesus. Through Him we produce this fruit.
Romans 1:16 tells us, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”
We can have peace in the power of the cross and resurrection of Jesus. We can have peace in the confidence of our eternal home in Heaven. We can have peace in the sealing of the Holy Spirit as a downpayment for our future (Ephesians 1:14-16).
Many times, we do not display peace in our lives because we lack security. Think about nations who do not trust one another. They are unstable and cause rumors of war. Or companies that have questionable leadership leads to whispers about layoffs. Or a young child squeezing a parent’s hand to walk, holding on so tightly, afraid that he will fall?
In the armor of God, one weapon is referred to as the “shoes of peace” (Ephesians 6:15). Jesus has commissioned us to rest in our relationship with Him and to walk forward with the shoes of peace. Walking implies movement and having purpose or direction. Being secure in our identity as children of God empowers us to live by His Spirit and walk in peace.
Reconciliation
Unfortunately, our sin has kept us away from God. He is perfectly holy and we are unholy. Since we are sinners, we are in need of a Savior who can reconcile us back to God. Only God Himself could do this by taking on the form of a man and living and dying in our place (Philippians 2:7). Jesus is the Meditator between us and God (1 Timothy 2:5).
Consider how you have felt when a relationship was broken? Did you feel shattered? Unstable? Lost? Overwhelming hurt? Whatever it may have been, how did (or would have) reconciliation made a difference? To reconcile is to reconnect. Other popular words might be restoration or reuniting.
If you do not have peace in your life and you have never personally accepted Jesus’ gift of salvation, then you do not have reconciliation with the Lord. You lack peace in your life because the fruit of peace stems from reconciliation with God.
Take a moment right now. Stop reading and tell Jesus that you have sinned against Him. Ask Jesus to forgive you for your sins and tell Him that you accept Him as Savior for your life. Ask Him to come into your heart and thank Him for His free gift of salvation and eternal life in heaven. If you prayed that prayer, please tell someone in your life who is a believer in Jesus. They can celebrate and begin this journey of new life with you!
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If you have Jesus as your Savior, let this be a reminder of the covenant that He made with us. You and I did not do anything to reconcile the relationship. It was all Jesus. He gave us His righteousness.
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).
Having the Holy Spirit does not mean that people do not genuinely struggle with fear or anxiety. If you are someone who battles for peace, know that you are not alone. Many people in Biblical history who loved God wrestled with attacks from the enemy, biological tendencies, and just plain stressful situations. However, the Lord still loved them, used them, and ministered to them in their struggles. He also helped them be overcomers.
If you feel like the fruit of peace is not very present in your life. Consider this, the enemy has always been a fruit thief. Think back to the garden of Eden. He wanted to steal the relationship of peace and persuaded the woman to take the fruit and eat with her husband. Just like he was stealing fruit back then, Satan wants to steal your peace. He wants to tell you the lie that you are not tranquil, secure, or reconciled. However, Jesus tells you that you are all of these things.
Peace is a beautiful and complex fruit that is produced by the Holy Spirit. We have access to it every moment of every day. Our salvation is secure. Our souls can rest in our great God. May He fill you up with His peace today and always.
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