Becoming a theologian: God's peace

Today, we will be examining God's peace. We can think of peace as being a lack of dissension or a lack of disorder. We will be looking at the following themes as we examine God's peace.

1. God is a God of order
2. God's peace upholds us
3. God wants us to live in peace with others.

God is a God of order

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

1 Corinthians 14:33a

• God is a God of peace or order.
• God's creation shows His peace and order. As we learn the laws of nature and science, we find they make sense and they couldn't if God was a god of disorder.
• We've read in Psalm 139 how all of the days of our life were written in God's book before one of them came to be. The fact that they all happen according to His plan is evidence of God's peace and order.

God's peace upholds us

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7

Then God's peace will watch over your hearts and your minds because you belong to Christ Jesus. God's peace can never be completely understood.

Philippians 4:7 (NIrV)

• We can never fully understand God's peace
• God's peace guards our hearts and minds
• God's peace keeps us connected to Christ
• If we're feeling separated from God or lost or disordered, it's because we have brought disorder into our lives by sin or by losing focus on what God wants for us.

God wants us to live at peace with others

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Romans 12:18

• God wants us to live a peace with everyone
• The verse implies that it may not always possible. What are some reasons it may not be possible?
• We are not at peace - we have sinned and brought disorder into our lives
• Someone may have sinned against us, thus bringing disorder and separating us from them
• Others may not be seeking God's peace and thus it would be hard to live at peace with them
• What are some things that we can do to live at peace with others?
• Make sure that we are at peace with God. If we have sinned, we need to confess our sin and accept God's forgiveness.
• If we have sinned against someone (or them against us) we should seek out or grant forgiveness.
• We can pray for them that God will bring about peace
• We can do good for or to them to promote peace
• We should not think bad things of them