Without peace, you can’t love God. That statement might sound foreign to some, but it’s true. If you don’t accept peace with God, there is no love. Jesus came here to make peace between man and God. Not accepting His offering, you are in turn rejecting the love that God has for you. This is why it is referred in many places as the gospel of peace. In fact, this is part of the armor we are to put on. The sandals of peace.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
Ephesians 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
When we look at peace, we see that Jesus is the King of peace. He was first the prince of peace. Jesus being King, He now rules in our hearts if we let Him. This is done in the spirit by the circumcision of your heart which Jesus does. Not only does this peace rule in your hearts, but it guards your mind as well. This peace is an amazing place to live.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.
Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
We are to walk in the spirit. This refers to us living from the spirit and not the flesh. I don’t hear too many preach on living from the spirit and not the flesh. To live from your flesh is death, and to live from the spirit is life and peace. From which place do you want to live from?
Romans 8:6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
In the parable of the good Samaritan, you see peace is the place from where we came from. Let me explain by looking at the beginning of the parable. Luke 10:30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. The certain man in this parable is Adam. He went from Jerusalem to Jericho. Adam went from a place of peace to a place of the curse. In Joshua 6, Joshua curses Jericho. Joshua 6:26 Then Joshua charged them at that time, saying, “Cursed be the man before the LORD who rises up and builds this city Jericho; he shall lay its foundation with his firstborn, and with his youngest he shall set up its gates.” Adam fell among thieves. Who is the thief that comes to steal, kill and destroy? The devil. The devil stripped Adam of the glory of God, wounded him and leaving him half dead. Adam was now spiritually dead, but physically alive. When you are walking in Christ, you are walking in peace. Peace is a fruit of the spirit.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
The Kingdom of God is peace. God is peace. If you haven’t noticed this, but almost every epistle begins and ends with peace.
Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.