Fruit of Holy Spirit, Peace

2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ. [asv]

Ephesians 5:25-29 NKJV

25 . . . just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. . . . 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, PEACE, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Gal. 5:22-25).

Our subject is “Peace – A ‘Fruit’ of the Spirit.” The Scriptures, both from the old Covenant and the new, is filled with lessons about peace. In our series on the Simplicity and Purity in Christ we could hardly ignore it.

Before Jesus went to the Cross, living in the Mosaic Age, teaching his Jewish brethren and reminding them of the way it ought to be with them, and preparing his disciples for the way it is going to be in the new kingdom, he says, as one of the Beatitudes in what men have named “The Sermon On The Mount”: “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children (or sons) of God” (Mat 5:9).

It is interesting (at least to me) that this is the only time in the entire 66 books of the Scriptures that the word “peacemakers” is used by the KJV translators. In only one other instance is the word used by any translator (as far as I know). This is Jas 3:18 where the KJV says: “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace,” and the NIV says, “Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.”

However, as we all know, peace is a common subject throughout the Scriptures, appearing 331 times between Genesis and the last of Jesus’ earthly life (John), and 69 times beginning with the preaching of Peter in the New Dispensation to the end of Revelation. In the four accounts of the Life of Christ the word appears in the KJV 35 times. Some of the more interesting statements might be:

Why Jesus came: Luk 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. . . . Luk 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Peace to be at a price: Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. . . . Lu 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

Disciples to be peacemakers: Mar 9:50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another. . . .

Jesus leaves a blessing to his special disciples: Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. . . . 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. . . .

A sad Saviour is about to leave his people: Luk 19:42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

Another interesting point is the 33 times that “hold peace” is used to mean silence, or “be quiet,” and “held peace” another 21 times.

If you could have any one mental or spiritual gift -- any one quality of attitude -- right now -- if you could just suddenly possess it, what would it be? And, why would you want it?

That sincere love of God and love of brethren is first and most important is the greatest commandment (Mar 12:30, 31; Mat 22:36-40), among the “fruit of the spirit” listed by Paul in Galatians 5:22 & Eph 5:9, probably peace would rank very high. Our world today is fraught with anxiety (anxiousness) and fear. What a joy it would be to be able to relax

What would you choose of this “fruit” if it given now as a gift?

Any one of these spiritual virtues would of course be highly desirable, and we realize that Paul is talking about a composite personality. Probably no one could possess one virtue without possessing a generous portion of all the others. But for the sake of emphasis, let's think of only one. Which one would you choose?

Many of us who might read this article would no doubt choose peace. Have you heard someone say in troubled tones, "I've got to have some peace," or, "Where can I go to find some peace; you can't have any peace around here." If we haven't said it, probably we have thought it.

Ours is a day of anxiety. At times it is difficult to find anyone that seems to have peace of mind. The moral state of our nation -- and the whole world -- seems in desperate condition. The present war and the potential of more war keeps us anxious. We keep hearing sounds about the uncertain economy. Many, many people are out of work, or unable to find a suitable employment. Many companies are in financial trouble. The number of bankrupted businesses is high. It was announced today on CNN that the number of mortgage foreclosures is growing rapidly.

And on a personal level there are many who have suffered mental and physical breakdowns, and this prevents peace of mind. Drug abuse and alcohol addiction is greater than previously known. Broken homes are numerous; and marital unhappiness is commonplace. Gambling has become a significant problem, even for Christians.

Major crimes continue to be high, and are increasing in most cities. A new disease -- AIDS - is threatening the health of the nation, even among a large segment of Americans who have not practiced promiscuous sex.

Perhaps there is no better example of the failure of the human race than the lack of peace among the people. “Man’s inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn” (Alfred Adler). If indeed it can be said that the human race has failed, do YOU know of any better example to show it -- than the lack of peace among the people. One simply cannot help but see all the effort being put forth to find happiness; to find contentment; to find security. Now, we search for things that we need and do not have!

Surely there is no better example that we, as the Lord's people, have yet a long way to go than this -- so many of us still lack peace of mind. So many of us lack this fruit of the Spirit of God. So many of us lack peace within our very selves, in our relationships among our own families. So many of us lack peace in our association as brethren. And, believe it or not, like it or not -- our failure to find peace is surely one of the most important reasons why we are not winning the world to Christ. If we are not at peace; if we are not happy; if we are not contented; if we are not secure; how can we show others how to obtain these fruits of the spirit we claim to possess. Why would anyone want to become one with us, if we do not possess the very blessings we are promising them by becoming what we claim to be. (Consider John 13:34,35; John 17.)

Shortly before going to the cross Jesus prayed for unity among his present disciples. And, He prayed for all future disciples. This includes you and me today.

"Neither pray I for these along, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us:" - now note - "that the world may believe that thou hast sent me" (John 17:20,21).

"That they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me" (v.23) (Consider also Eph. 4:16; 3:10,etc.)

Peace of mind -- what is it? Webster says, to be able to feel relaxed, contented, satisfied, secure, safe, confident. Free of stress and strain, tension, anxiety, vexation, fear, insecurity, etc. This is peace, and wouldn't this be good? Perhaps one might even say -- SUPER! WONDERFUL! All that anyone could ever expect out of life!

But surely the Lord’s People – the church – are at peace? No? It is repeated almost daily in pulpit and journal that the church is more disquieted now than most of us can remember. What a blessing we could be to the world, if all things were right with us!

Surely the world needs peace, and wants peace. Or so it says! On an international scale the United Nations organization is hard at work, night and day, helping nations work out their difficulties. Millions of dollars are being spent in arbitration, peace talks, summit meetings, all in an effort to find peace. The largest, best equipped and best paid armies the world has ever known are ready to fight if necessary -- to keep peace. An unbelievable number of social and human-interest groups have been formed in recent years, constantly soliciting financial and personal support from whomever will give it -- to help bring about peace. If it were not such a serious matter, one might well find it a bit humorous to see so many peace-seeking and peace-keeping institutions at variance with one another.

Unfortunately, many of the devices now being offered as a hope for peace are not working. And, whether deliberately or uncontrollably, many solutions offered the people to bring about peace are little more than compensations for the lack of peace. Many things are offered to make us feel good, even though we know we have no right to feel good about matters. This might be compared to those of Jeremiah's day who were constantly crying, "Peace, peace," when there was no peace. Many are offering "adjustments" rather than solutions to our human relations problems. This is reminiscent of the early Twentieth century Bertrand Russell philosophy; a philosophy that advocated accepting, not resisting the cravings of the flesh. He urged his disciples to quit feeling guilty about things that were but common to the nature of man. I understand this was, to some degree, the doctrine of Freud, a doctrine that many feel has done much harm to the human race.

Let’s consider some of the solutions being offered to the troubled souls today:

1. The Alcohol Solution: One of the most popular escapes to "Euphoria" is in drink. The drinking of alcoholic beverages has become a common part of the American culture. It is sad that today women and children now drink in about the same proportion as males. Why do they drink? We concede that many people use the drink, alcohol as well as many others, for conviviality, as a "social lubricant," to enhance social interaction. "Come in and have a drink," one hears repeatedly. But not all drink as social drinkers. One authority says that many drink "to get drunk." And why do they want to get drunk? They want to escape into a imaginary, make-believe world where they can feel good and escape the harshness of the real world. But a price must be paid for this escape. The problems remain, and when the escape is ended they must still be faced.

Furthermore, alcohol burns up the resistance to things that human beings must resist. Alcohol reduces inhibitions, clouds the visions, damages the judgments, and actually permanently damages the brain.

And, with the drinking of the drug alcohol, there is the problem of "alcoholism." Some call it a disease, but if it is, it is the only disease that is begun with the human will, and can only be ended by the human will. It is ironic that the alcohol industry is spending hundreds of millions of dollars every year pushing their products, and at the same time other industries and the Federal government are spending an equally high amount treating those who have contracted this "disease." America is becoming a nation of alcoholics, and paying a high price for it: deaths, disease, highway fatalities and injuries, broken homes, lost jobs, sacrifice of talent and skill, and much more. Too many people are trying to get away from it all. According to a recent report there are enough alcoholics in the state of Texas to populate the metropolitan area of Fort Worth, one of its major cities.

2. The Retreat (Escape) Solution: Another solution that is offered to bring peace of mind is the "get away from it all" solution. In many metropolitan areas the real estate business is booming. A second "home," out of town, perhaps "on the lake," is offered as the answer to all the frustrating elements connected with business, family, school, etc. But lovely "houses, with gardens, terraces, lakes, and all the trimmings do not necessarily give peace. Peace can not be bought from a realtor. And as a matter of fact, "homes" are never bought. "Houses" can be bought, but homes are made by loving families. As Edgar A. Guest once said, "It takes a lot of living in a house to make a home."

3. The Psychiatric Solution: Another solution that many have turned to to find peace of mind is psychiatry. To understand why we feel as we feel, and do as we do, is offered to help us find the answers to their problems. Paul Harvey said in a moment of facetiousness, "One out of twenty people in America have been to a psychiatrist; one out of ten ought to go." While it is true that a good physician of the mind can help many people understand why they act as they do, and help them to determine to do better, and this is good, records show that relatively few people are helped permanently. Some of the better known members of this profession are themselves among its greatest critics, among them the famed Karl Menninger and O. Hobart Mowyer, who once stated, "The greatest claim to success we can make is that hopefully we have not harmed too many people." (See Mowyer's book, The Crisis Between Psychiatry and Christianity.) Many books in recent years confess that wrong psychiatric approaches to problem solving has done many people harm, and need to be corrected. It is also interesting that among all branches of medicine, the psychiatric profession has the highest incident of failure and suicide.

4. The Economic Security Solution: Perhaps the most aggressive means now being tried to bring peace to the world is that of increased civil rights and improved economic social security. Politicians tend to make promises to help them get elected to office that can never be fulfilled economically or otherwise, and government's guarantee of a peaceful and secure life to all citizens is still far from perfect. A political settlement to the matters that separate peoples is as remote today as it ever was. It is not insignificant that in recent years most political office holders have had dramatic increases in their own benefits from the people, which makes one wonder if governmental leaders are not so much serving the people as being served by the people. Many governmental leaders will retire at lifetime annuities more than they ever earned while they were actually working as elected officials. (One report actually stated that there are more welfare recipients in the rich state of Texas today than ever before. This does little for the security that brings peace of mind.)

We must conclude that, (1) there is no better example of the failure of the human race than the lack of peace among peoples, and, (2) one can not fail to observe all the mad efforts to acquire happiness through the various means, and yet, relatively speaking, there is no peace.

Two questions seem naturally to come to mind. First, "Is peace of mind possible?" and, second, "Does God intend for his people to possess peace of mind?"

It is my conviction that the answer to these two questions is an unequivocal, definite, unmistakable "Yes." God does indeed intend for his people to know peace. If we do not possess peace we have not achieved what he intended us to achieve.

Paul clearly states that if anyone does not possess the Spirit of Christ he is "none of His" (Rom. 8:9), and one of the fruits of the Spirit is peace. Now if we understand this, peace is assured:

So, if we belong to Christ, we can have peace. Surely this is the obvious conclusion.

Now this "kinda' puts us in a bind." And it is a serious indictment against many of us who claim to be Christians; those of us who claim to know the Lord, to be the "church of Christ." And yet, in spite of our claims, little peace is demonstrated by many of us.

The greatest mistake that many of us who seek for peace and never seem to find it is this:

We do not understand where peace must come from. We are not willing to accept the Bible answer as to where peace is found. We are searching for peace in the wrong places.

Now think: if it were possible for one to go out and buy peace, would we not have it? As a nation, we are the richest people the world has ever known. If peace could be legislated, would we in America not have it? Surely we have many of the most competent lawmakers of all history; surely we have the finest system of law ever known. If it were possible by changing our physical world to bring peace to the hearts of men, would we not have it? It is virtually unbelievable how many great changes have occurred in the last fifty years; changes in the field of science; changes in medicine; changes in industry; changes in quality of life for vast numbers of our people. We have had a literal revolution in most every field -- especially in the social areas. And yet, do we have peace? Do we have -- as a people - contentment? But, can peace be bought? Can peace be legislated? Can peace be assured by material gain? Can peace be obtained through the changing of externals -- physical, material things, even changing the living standards of the masses of people?

Perhaps the arms race typifies the dilemma of the world today. Billions of dollars are being spent to build explosives. More explosives are needed to "keep peace." Arguments go on all the time to see how many each country may be permitted to have; ready to hurl out into space against the other - all to "keep peace." But will this work? will it actually help to "keep peace?" Several years ago the chaplain of the United States Senate offered a prayer,

"O God, help our blind humanity to see that the ultimate joy for man shall not come from anything he can hurl out into space, but, on the other hand, shall come only as we can bring down from thee through thy love the things that are good for us, the things that will bless us."

Therein -- in the thoughts of this prayer -- admittedly uninspired, is contained the secret of finding peace. Jesus did say to His disciples, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you." (John 14:27).

From where then does peace come? From where does real peace, the peace that passeth all human understanding, come? Where can it be found? What does the Bible - the Book that came from the Creator to furnish plans and specifications for the Creator's people - say? What does the repair and maintenance manual for God's people say? A creation as complicated as man, as magnificent as man, must have a maintenance manual. What does it say? We are "people of the Book." We "walk by faith," and "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." What does the Word say?

In Job 22 Eliphaz was trying to reason with Job about the cause of his problem. Although he was mistaken in his appraisal of Job, he spoke the essential truth when he said, "Acquaint now thyself with Him (God), thereby good shall come unto thee" (v.21). In the Living Bible it reads, "Quit quarreling with God! Agree with Him and you will have peace at last."

In Isaiah 45, in one of Isaiah's "Thus sayeth the Lord" passages, he quotes the Lord as saying: "I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: . . . I make peace" (vs.5,7).

And in the New Testament we learn that peace is "from God." Fifteen times in the New Testament it is so stated. As a matter of fact, Paul begins virtually every letter that he wrote with a prayer for their "peace," as did Peter. From where was this peace to come? "From God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ." (See Rom. 1:7;1 Cor. 1:3; 2 Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:3; Eph. 1:2; Col. 1:2; 3:15; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:2; 1 Tim. 1:2; Titus 1:4; Phm. 3; 2 John 3.)

We learn that peace is in "knowing God." Peter states that grace and peace is multiplied through the knowing of God and of Jesus our Lord. (2 Peter 1:2.)

We learn that God is the "God of Peace." Eight times this is stated. (Rom. 15:33; 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:11; Phil. 4:7,9; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Thess. 3:16; Heb. 13:20).

Paul furthermore states that "God is not the author of confusion but of peace" (1 Cor. 14:33).

Peace is a fruit of something; it is not the root, but the result, the effect, the response to something. What is this "something?" It is the Spirit of God. "The fruit of the Spirit is . . . peace." When can a human being today receive the Spirit of God? How does a human being today receive the Spirit? The answer is, of course, when one comes to God through the Lord Jesus Christ. At baptism he also receives the Spirit, the fruit of which is "peace."

Peace is therefore a gift from God. James tells us that, "Every good and perfect gift cometh down from God, the father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (1:17).

Not only is this truth taught in the Scriptures but is repeated over and over in many of our great Spiritual songs. For instance, in the song "Sweet peace, the gift of God's love" the chorus states the truth in these words: "Peace, peace, sweet peace! Wonderful, wonderful peace! Sweet peace, the gift of God's love." It is taught beautifully in the song, "Far Away In The Depths." (I have been told that this was N. B. Hardeman's favorite song.)

The conclusion: Real peace, the only real peace, comes from a knowledge of, and a relationship with, God, The Father of Peace.

2. We Learn That God's Peace Is Found In And Through Christ, who is "The Prince Of Peace".

Five times this is stated, as for example: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:1). See (Rom. 8:6; Acts 10:36; Gal. 6:16; 1 Pet. 5:14; etc.) Christ is actually called "our peace" (Eph. 2:14).

As for example, Paul says to the Romans, quoting from Isaiah 52:7, "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things" (Rom. 10:15). Here "peace" is equated with "glad tidings of good things."

In Eph. 2:17,18 Paul again equates "peace" with the gospel, and says: "(Christ) came and preached peace to you which were afar off (that is, the Gentiles), and to them that were nigh (that is, the Jews)" and concludes, "For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (and therefore receiving "peace").

Paul's "strong man" of Ephesians 6, in preparation to "stand against the wiles of the devil," is told: "(Having) your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace" (v.16).

The peace that is offered in the Gospel is received by the "believing of that Gospel: "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing . . ." (Rom. 15:13).

We learn that we have been "called" to peace (1 Cor. 7:15), that we are to "follow" peace (2 Tim. 2:22); that we are to "follow peace with all men" (Heb. 12:14), that we are to "seek" and "ensue" peace (1 Pet. 3:11); that the "peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:7).

Furthermore, we are to "be at peace among ourselves" (1 Thess. 5:13), and if we "live in peace" the "God of love and peace will be with you" (2 Cor. 13:11).

With all these beautiful truths about this most badly needed gift, the next question seems logically to be,

Our basic premise is that peace comes from a knowledge of God, and a relationship with God. And to the contrary, Paul shows plainly that alienation from God prevents peace. In writing to the Ephesians he states,

"Remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, . . . ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:" - could not this be equated with having no peace?" But Paul continues:

"But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace: And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh" (Eph. 2:11-17).

The Gentiles were without God, and without hope, but through Christ they received both. Furthermore, the hostility between Gentile and Jew was the equal of any hostility of our day, yet peace was found in Christ; He was their peace, and he is the peace for today.

add comment about fusing both Jew and Gentile into himself (Eph 2; 3:10; etc.)

Paul tells the Roman Christians: "Therefore" -- in view of the efficacy of faith for Abraham and Sarah in their day, and for all of us in the day of Christ -- "being justified" -- being made righteous -- "by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:1). Paul continues and says that "we rejoice in hope of the glory of God," we glory in tribulations," and we "joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (vs.2,3,11).

These passages show that first, we have peace because of the justification that is in Christ, are in the "grace" of God, "rejoice" because of the possibility of the glory of God, and we can "joy" in God because we are friends again. Peace comes only after reconciliation.

Webster defines peace as: "A pact or agreement to end hostilities, between those who have been at war or in a state of hostility. (2) A state of tranquillity or quiet; freedom from civil disturbance of war; public order or security, as provided by law. (3) Harmony in personal relations; mutual concord.

Religiously speaking, the word in the Scriptures from which we get peace in the English, is "eirene." It occurs in each of the books of the New Testament except one, 1 John. The word is always translated peace with but one exception, where it is translated "at one again" (Acts 7:26). This is the basis of the word "atonement," which is literally, at-one-ment, or, at one again. "It describes harmonious relationships between men and nations, friendliness, freedom from molestation, rest, order in the state and in the churches, the harmonized relationships between God and man accomplished through the Gospel and the rest and contentment which follows." (See Vines.)

It may be of further interest that the word from which we get peace in Hebrew is "shalom," which signifies wholeness, full, finish, or made perfect. This is the sense that the word "entire" is used in the popular song, Soldiers Of Christ Arise.:

"Shalom" is sometimes translated "salvation." Hence the "peace-offering" is called the "salvation offering." The idea is brought over into the New Testament as in the case of the woman, who was a sinner, who came into the house where Jesus was eating with Simon the Pharisee, bringing an alabaster box of ointment and washing the feet of Jesus with her tears and drying them with her hair, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. After teaching Simon a good lesson on love, Jesus told the woman, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace" (Luke 7:50). The same thing is said in a similar incident involving a woman bothered with a continuing issue of blood, who touched the garment of Jesus and was healed, "Thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace" (Luke 8:48).

Too many unsaved people today do not feel they are lost, and are not looking to be saved. Until these come to a saving knowledge of Christ, they will continue to grope through this world, seeking relief from their frustrations, but finding none. Peace comes from reconciliation with God. (Do you know of any home in _______ that needs peace?)

What about "guilt feelings?" Haven't we all had our peace of mind disturbed by guilt? There is within all normal human beings, instructed of God, the sense of right and wrong. When one violates this "conscience" he loses his peace within himself. Too many try to find peace without paying the price for it. Guilt feelings comes from guilt and peace will never come until man repents of his sins and turns from them. Peace comes from reconciliation with God. (Example of young man in Houston, in D.C. class, who had been unfaithful to his wife. Another example: Friend Chuck and his settlement with I.R.S.)

In the world we have too many compensations for the real solutions to our problems. We seek for something that will avoid the inevitable; that will deaden the feeling of guilt, resist it, or help us to adjust to it. All these lead to no where. Peace, the only real peace, will come from reconciliation to God.

Peace is inseparately joined to righteousness, and to the contrary, the lack of peace is inseparately joined to unrighteousness. Eight times this is plainly stated in the New Testament.

The relationship of righteousness and peace is stressed in the Old Testament. The word "peace" occurs about two hundred times, and the word "righteousness" appears just about as often. The striking thing is how often they are linked together. ". . . righteousness and peace," the Psalmist said, "have kissed each other" (Psalms 85:10). Consistently through the Bible they are linked together as though they could never be separated.

The same is true for the New Testament. In the book of Hebrews, Christ, after the order of Melchizedek, is proclaimed as being first "the King of righteousness," and after that, "the King of peace." Righteousness first, then peace.

In Gal. 5:19-21, Paul lists seventeen works of the flesh, and says that "they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Immediately following this he lists "the fruit of the spirit," and there we find peace. "The fruit of the spirit is . . . peace." The same Paul, led by the Spirit, says that "The righteousness of the law (is) fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Rom. 8:4). Righteousness requires being led by the Spirit, and the fruit of this is peace.

In Romans 2:6-11, P:aul begins and ends with an observation, first that God "will render to every man according to his deeds," and last, that "there is no respect of persons with God." In between these two statements we read:

"To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentiles."

Paul further confirms this in chapter three, describing the unrighteous (vs.10-16), and concluding that, "The way of peace they have not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes" (vs.16,17).

Paul furthermore gives the order in the search for peace. "The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit." First righteousness, then peace.

In the beautiful chapter on control of the tongue, James discusses the source of bitter thoughts and evil words.

"If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth."

"This wisdom descendeth not from above," that is, God, "but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work."

Now James compares this wisdom with another wisdom, the wisdom that produces good thoughts and good words.

"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, . . . and the fruit of righteousness (Note, fruit of righteousness, the result of righteousness) is sown in peace of them that make peace" (Jas. 3:14-18).

Note the order of things; first righteousness, then peace. It can not be otherwise.

In John 14:27, Jesus tells his disciples: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." This was a most beautiful promise, peace in troubled times. What more could the disciples expect.

And yet, moment later He tells them plainly that, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away." He says that an unproductive branch "is cast forth" (v.6) In verse 8, he says that the Father is "glorified" when His disciples bear much fruit. In fact, they cannot be disciples unless they bear fruit. Is the peace that the Lord gave them dependent upon their bearing fruit?

We need to be reminded of all the work, and abuse, and persecution that Jesus promised his original twelve, and the seventy, when he sent them forth to preach the Gospel under the limited commission. (Mat. 10.) Was it possible that these disciples, now, could escape from the same? Is it possible that we today, who claim to be his disciples, can escape from the same? Paul could not avoid confrontations with adversaries. In 2 Timothy he tells of his own trials:

"But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me . . ." (vs.10,11).

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12).

One of the most common notions about peace is that it is to be equated with tranquillity, total security, absence of tension, an unruffled, untroubled life. And Jesus did pray that his disciples' hearts would not be "troubled." How can we reconcile this with the idea of their obligation to work, to bear fruit, to suffer rejection and persecutions, to bear their cross? How indeed?

The law of nature proves that for every action, there is a corresponding reaction. There is a time for worship, but there must also be a time of service. There is a time for rest, but there must also be a time for work. One without the other will cause a misguided and warped life.

There is a time, and a need for peace, quiet, tranquility, etc. But peace could not possibly be appreciated except there be an opposing force, tension. To be sure, there are unnecessary tensions -- manmade, artificial, neurotic tensions -- which by prayer and mental discipline and relaxation we can and should reduce. Life is full of needless tensions that tear it to pieces. But, to pray for peace -- meaning refuge from the risks, release from responsibility, relaxation of the tension between what is and what ought to be -- is to look for a paradise that does not exist.

Many years ago Immanuel Kant wrote a book entitled Perpetual Peace." He took the title from a sign in a cemetery, and wrote the book to inquire whether the kind of peace millions in the world are looking for in the "escape" religions is found anywhere except in the cemetery. The answer given by the book was "no". There is no peace in escape, in withdrawal or retreat from the risks and responsibilities of life. Surely the peace of God is not designed to leave us as idle infants or stultify the challenge of spiritual maturity which comes from overcoming the world.

There are times and conditions when "peace of mind" -- the kind of peace that is little but "escapism" -- is positively sinful. No decent person would want it, and ought not to have it. To have an untroubled heart in this world in the midst of its wrongs and needs, to withdraw from the responsibility of bearing a share of its burden, is to fail the very purpose of being Christian.

Some of our finest and most popular hymns speak a questionable doctrine in this respect, and must be properly understood, or they will be permitted to teach the very opposite of the truth of the discipleship of Christ. Can you imagine Jesus standing in a pulpit somewhere singing,

Can you imagine him preaching contentment and tranquility in a world and a time like this? If it is the first aim of Christianity (as some think it should be) to provide the kind of peace of mind that escapes from duty and responsibility, then Karl Marx was right in saying that "religion is the opiate of the people."

Real peace will come when we face up to our responsibilities and fulfill them to the very best of our abilities. Then we, like our Lord, can say, "It is finished." Like Paul, we can say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness."

In the first chapter of Luke we read of the announcement and the birth of Jesus. "I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people," the angel said to the shepherds. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men," said the heavenly host praising God.

Men dedicated to translating the mind of the Holy Spirit have tried to get the most accurate meaning possible of this announcement. "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth his peace for men on whom His favor rests," says the New English Bible. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased," the RSV states. "In the highest heights glory to God and on earth peace to the men whose welfare He ever seeks," thinks William Barclay. "Glory in the heights above to God, and upon earth peace among men of good will," says the NWT. and last, "Glory in the highest places to God, and upon earth peace among men of good will," says Kenneth S. Wuest. All of these give us a fairly accurate picture of the true meaning.

Regardless of the exact wording, what a beautiful message the angels brought on that night long ago. A Saviour for all people everywhere. And not the least important part of this message is that of "Peace on earth." There is no doubt that God in heaven wants His people to be at peace.

And yet, peace has not come to the world. Should we be surprised? Was not Jesus the Prince of peace? Did He not come to establish a Kingdom of peace, whose citizens would live in peace? Yes, this is true. Peace was to come with Christ. But the world has not yet accepted Christ!

Jesus came to bring peace. "I am the way," Jesus said. "Come unto me," he said, "all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, . . . and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matt. 11:28,29). He did not come to force peace upon the world but to offer it to man. We can choose whichever alternative we desire. But we must make the choice; we must pay the price for the choice we make. But we cannot - for it is impossible - choose peace and yet expect it to be free, while we give our time and efforts and interests to things that are in conflict with peace. We have come to know the solicitations of those who constantly urge the principle of giving a "little" and getting a "lot." "Send your dollar and help save "millions of people." Give your dime so that thousands may walk." While these pleas may well raise sufficient funds for substantial research in medicine, because a little from a large number of persons is substantial, no peace can ever come to the world from the philosophy of giving a little to gain a lot. It cannot, and it will not.

If nations live at peace, if neighbors live at peace with one another, if husbands and wives and children enjoy peace as a family, each one must accept the principle of Christ and work out their lives to accomplish the purpose of Christ. No other solution will ever do.

The message of the angel constantly rings in the ears of this troubled world. Jesus Christ, and He alone, is God's provision for peace. We urge each one to accept this gracious offer.