“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Matthew 5:9, LSB

The biblical concept of peace is an important and deeply rich topic. It has far more meaning than merely denoting a lack of hostility. Peace, as described in the Holy Scripture, is reflected in both a spiritual sense with regard to man’s relationship with God as well as in a societal sense with regard to man’s relationship with one another, the latter of which flows most purely from the former. Therefore, in order to do better justice to this topic, we will be considering the implications of this beatitude and its multiple facets over the next two articles.

Firstly, let us consider how the biblical concept of peace relates to the relationship between man and God. As we have seen already, man is separated from God because of his sin nature. Without Christ, all men are “by nature children of wrath” (Eph 2:3). And because sin is an affront to our Righteous and Holy God, justice rightly demands punishment, and we know and understand that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23).

Yet God is the God of Peace (Rom 15:33; 2 Th 3:16), and His Son, Jesus Christ, is the Prince of Peace, who is Himself our peace (Isa 9:7; Eph 2:13-14). Christ came to make peace between sinful man and Holy God by taking on the punishment we rightly deserved. Indeed, “while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son” (Rom 5:10). This glorious truth is the very anchor of peace for every disciple of Jesus Christ.

So this facet of biblical peace is at the very root of God’s command to be peacemakers. Of course, disciples of Christ are to strive to live harmoniously with others (a topic we will consider in the next article), but far and above that, believers are called to proclaim and champion the cause of reconciliation. After all, it is to those who are a “new creation” that “the ministry of reconciliation” has been given (2Co 5:17-19). In other words, only those who have received the peace of God can truly be peacemakers for God. As a result, believers are commanded to strive for peace wherever possible (Rom 12:18) even while understanding that true biblical peace must never come at the expense of full obedience and submission to God’s Word.

True biblical peace must never come at the cost of full obedience and submission to God’s Word.

Friends, may we pray for the Lord’s help to never compromise the truth in the name of false peace. Rather, let us pray that the Lord strengthen us to champion the ministry of reconciliation as we eagerly hope for others to know the peace that God has so graciously and mercifully bestowed upon us. Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria