What Is the Difference Between Peace with God and Peace of God?
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- Updated Aug 15, 2022
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).
At one time or another, all of us have struggled with peace in our lives. When we think of peace, we view peace in correlation with the circumstances and situations in our lives.
We may believe peace to be when all things are going well without difficulty and hardship. Philippians 4:6,7 has been a passage of great encouragement in times of difficulty and hardship.
Paul tells the believers in Philippi, “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.”
The Apostle Paul did not promise the believers they would have all they asked for in prayer, but he did encourage them after petitioning God and offering thanksgiving that God’s peace would guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
They were to trust in the Lord and to rest in His peace in the midst of suffering and trial, no matter God’s response to their prayers.
One thing that has been important to understand is the difference between the peace of God and having peace with God. These are two distinct things in the life of a believer in Christ.
As someone who once focused on areas such as spiritual warfare and other facets one would identify as “hyper charismatic,” the peace of God was not evident.
Although the desire to demonstrate power and authority brought a false sense of peace, I did not realize how much I lacked God’s peace until I had His peace and understood it biblically. Scripture understood in the proper context has made all the difference.
Peace with God
It is important for us to understand what it means to be at peace with God. This type of peace centers around Christ and His atonement for our sins. Romans 5:1 tells us of our righting standing before God the Father through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
Before we come to Christ, we are enemies of God and children of wrath, according to Scripture. A rebellious nature sets us at odds with God.
Romans 5:10 says, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”
Ephesians 2:3 reminded the believers in Ephesus, as well as us today, that we were once children of wrath like the rest of mankind. Thank God for His rich mercy to redeem us and to make us alive in Christ!
According to this author, “Peace with God means our consciences are cleared” (Hebrews 10:22; Titus 3:5).
If we go back to the beginning of Romans 5, we find that Paul is helping believers see they are justified not by the law but by faith in Christ.
This peace is not of our own doing. We are made right with God, and this can only come through saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are reconciled, and the wrath of God no longer abides on us. What glorious news!
The Peace of God
Having the peace of God does not mean we will not face or endure trials and hardships. It is not an ethereal state or denying the reality of life. The peace of God is found in trusting God through trials and hardships.
Our tendency as human beings is to take matters into our own hands and to worry or to be anxious at times. As Christians, we are reminded and encouraged to cast our cares upon the Lord (1 Peter 5:7).
We cannot add an hour to our day in worrying, and we rest in the understanding that if God provides for creatures such as birds, how much more will He care for us? (Matthew 6:27).
The disciples were assured not to worry about what to say when they were to give witness their faith because the Holy Spirit would help them (Luke 12:11). This encourages us as well. Worry robs us of peace. Having the peace of God means trusting His ways are better.
This one author also noted, “Certain attitudes can destroy the peace of God. When we equate trust with the assumption that God will give us whatever we want, we set ourselves up for disappointment. When we insist on being in control, we sabotage God’s desire to let us live in peace. When we choose to worry rather than faith, we cannot live in peace.”
The Bible records numerous individuals who did not get what they sought God for in prayer. There was a greater purpose and plan God had for Paul when permitting his thorn in the flesh to persist.
Whether this was a physical ailment or an individual to oppose his ministry, we see the purpose was to keep Paul from becoming puffed up and arrogant due to revelations given to him, and it also strengthened his trust in the Lord in his times of weakness.
The Lord encouraged Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Paul goes on to say, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). There can be peace, even in our moments of weakness before the Lord.
What Does This Mean?
In a recent blog post, I shared this about understanding the peace of God after coming out of unbiblical teaching,
Having the peace of God is a sweet rest in understanding He does not owe me anything I ask for in prayer and that no matter the outcome, He is faithful, good, gracious, loving, and merciful.
It is a settled trust not in the desired outcome of a difficult situation or trial, but in the One I trust. That precious peace has become more evident over the past few years. It is resolved in knowing the truth of His Word and that no experience will satisfy like He does.
There is nothing to prove. I am not the Savior. He is. He doesn’t need my help. He is all sufficient. That understanding is sufficient as His child.
As believers in Christ, we can be encouraged and joyful in knowing we are at peace with God because of Christ’s finished work on the cross.
We can also be comforted in every season of life and in the difficulties that we face, knowing the peace of God is available to us. Our finite minds may not fully comprehend His peace, but His Word tells us of His peace, and we rest assured in it.
For further reading:
How Is Peace a Fruit of the Spirit?
Does God Always Promise Us Peace?
What Is the Peace That Surpasses All Understanding?
What Did Jesus Mean by ‘Peace Be Still’?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Elle Mundus
