Recently, Jeremiah Johnston had the privilege to kick off the release of his new Peace of God Study Bible at Prestonwood Baptist Church. Here are some reflections from that sermon.
The Peace of God: Living in Wholeness Through Christ
When we are surrounded by worry, division, and uncertainty, we often crave something more than the quick fixes the world offers. We try to find security in success, relationships, politics, and possessions, but we soon realize that the peace we truly need can't be created by our own efforts. This is precisely why Jesus made one of His most profound promises on the night before His crucifixion: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27).
The distinction Christ makes here is critical: His peace is fundamentally different from what the world offers. The world's peace is circumstantial and fragile, dependent on favorable conditions. But the peace of God—what the Bible calls shalom—represents something far more comprehensive: wholeness, completeness, and the restoration of what sin has fractured.
The Biblical Vision of Peace: From Genesis to Revelation
From the opening chapters of Genesis to the final vision of Revelation, Scripture tells the story of peace lost and peace restored. We were created for perfect harmony—with God, with one another, with creation, and within ourselves. But sin shattered that harmony, introducing conflict, fear, guilt, and death into human experience.
Yet God's redemptive plan has always been about restoration. The prophet Isaiah foresaw a coming Messiah who would be called the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). The apostle Paul explained that Christ "is our peace" and has "destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility" between humanity and God (Ephesians 2:14). Through Christ's death and resurrection, God has done what we could never do ourselves: He has made peace possible.
This raises a crucial question for every believer: Are we merely acknowledging this peace intellectually, or are we actually experiencing and living in the wholeness Christ purchased for us?
Understanding the Peace That Transcends Circumstances
The apostle Paul, writing from a Roman prison, penned these remarkable words: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).
Notice what Paul doesn't say. He doesn't promise that our circumstances will improve or that our problems will disappear. Instead, he describes a peace that operates on an entirely different plane—a peace "which transcends all understanding." This is the peace that sustained martyrs facing lions in the Colosseum, that strengthened missionaries in hostile territories, and that gives believers today the courage to face uncertain tomorrows.
This peace isn't the absence of trouble; it's the presence of God in the midst of trouble. It's not wishful thinking or positive psychology—it's a supernatural reality anchored in the character and promises of God Himself.
Practical Pathways to Experiencing God's Peace
Throughout Scripture, we find over 400 verses directly addressing peace, anxiety, fear, and trust. These aren't mere platitudes—they're divine promises that transform how we think and live.
Consider these practical applications for experiencing God's peace:
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Meditate on God's promises: When anxiety strikes, turn to specific Scriptures like Isaiah 26:3: "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." The word "steadfast" suggests an intentional, disciplined focus on God's character and promises.
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Practice thanksgiving: Paul instructs us to present our requests "with thanksgiving" (Philippians 4:6). Gratitude recalibrates our perspective, reminding us of God's faithfulness in the past and His trustworthiness for the future.
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Guard your thought life: Immediately following his teaching on peace, Paul writes: "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things" (Philippians 4:8). Peace isn't just about what we believe; it's about what we allow to occupy our minds.
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Remember your position in Christ: Jesus declared, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Our peace isn't based on defeating our circumstances; it's based on Christ's victory over sin, death, and every power that threatens us.
At Christian Thinkers Society, we believe that genuine faith engages both heart and mind. The peace of God isn't discovered through intellectual pursuit alone, nor through emotional experience in isolation. It comes through the integrated life of a thinking Christian who knows what they believe, why they believe it, and how to apply God's truth to the anxieties of everyday life.
This is why resources like the Peace of God Study Bible are so vital. With 365 devotionals, topical indexes, and study notes exploring the theme of peace throughout Scripture, this Bible helps believers move from merely owning God's promises to actually understanding and applying them. It's designed to help you discover:
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What the peace of God actually is—not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of divine wholeness
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How to find or recover peace when life's circumstances threaten to overwhelm you
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How to experience eternal salvation and the security that comes from knowing your standing with God is secure
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How God's peace should shape your relationships, work, suffering, and daily decisions
Living as Ambassadors of Peace
Paul describes believers as "ambassadors for Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:20), representatives of God's kingdom in a fractured world. If we have experienced the peace of God, we're called to become agents of peace in our spheres of influence.
This doesn't mean we pretend that problems don't exist or that we adopt a superficial positivity. Rather, it means we bring Christ's reconciling, peace-making presence into our marriages, families, workplaces, churches, and communities. We become people who can remain calm in chaos, speak truth without hostility, pursue justice without vengeance, and offer hope without naivety.
The world doesn't need more Christians who merely talk about peace—it needs Christians who actually live in and manifest the peace of God.
Conclusion: From Knowledge to Experience
The mission of Christian Thinkers Society is teaching Christians how to become thinkers and thinkers how to become Christians. This dual emphasis is essential because intellectual understanding without heart transformation leads to dead orthodoxy, while emotional experience without theological grounding leads to shallow subjectivity.
The peace of God bridges this divide. It's both a profound theological truth and a practical daily experience. It's something we must understand with our minds and receive with our hearts.
So here's my challenge to you: Don't just read about God's peace—pursue it. Don't just acknowledge it intellectually—experience it personally. Don't just treasure it privately—share it generously.
The story of Scripture is the story of peace lost and peace restored. Through Christ, you have access to the very peace of God. The question is: Will you live in the wholeness He has purchased for you?
To explore the biblical promises of peace more deeply, discover the Peace of God Study Bible, edited by Dr. Jeremiah J. Johnston, PhD. Learn more about evidence-based faith and thoughtful Christian living at ChristianThinkers.com.
