Peace is Only Possible Through Faith In Jesus Christ

Proverbs 16:7

When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes his enemies live at peace with him.

Isn't it funny how so many people claim to want peace in their life, but they totally reject the only One who can give them peace?  The only way a man's ways can be pleasing to God is when he is a child of God.  Only through faith in Jesus can any of our actions please God.  This is called sanctification.  That means that we have been made holy by the Holy Spirit working faith in our hearts to believe in Jesus as our Savior.  It is only through sanctification that we can do anything that pleases God.  This is also why anyone who rejects God can never please Him:  they have chosen to remain dead in their sin (which is the only decision we can make before we receive the gift of faith).  Is it any wonder why so few people have peace in their lives?  When people have set themselves against the God of love, the God of peace; how can they experience either in their lives?  The answer is they can't.  

The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God.  It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.  Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.  (Romans 8:6-8)

It's sad that people think they can live in their rebellion against God and still be blessed by Him, as if He owes it to them somehow. In Galatians 5:19-21 St. Paul defines the rebellious life and then he reveals the reward for that rebellion:

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious:  sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.  I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Now, contrast that to the "Fruit of the Spirit":

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

So this is what peace boils down to:

The only way we can have peace in our lives is when our ways are pleasing to the Lord.  

By nature we are all hostile to God because of sin.

Sin is not pleasing to God, it separates us from God.

It is only through faith worked in us through the Holy Spirit that we can do anything that please God. (sanctification)- 1 Peter 1:2

The Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts through God's Word and Holy Baptism.

Our only true source of peace, for this life and all eternity, is faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

God bless

Jason Fredrick