The Fruit of the Spirit – Peace
Last week: one fruit, many characteristics. No peace without other 8
Defining peace
Greeks: deified goddess Pax or Eirene – a youthful female holding in her left
arm a horn of plenty, a cornucopia, and in her right hand an olive branch or the
wealthy infant Plutus. She was one of the Horae, a goddess with power to
make things grow, personifying the seasons.
Peace in Gk thought = primarily political peace
Peace = enforced/guarded by military power
Cf. Wall around occupied territories today
V’s Bible: peace is a key characteristic of God. Hebrew shalom =
wholeness/wellness/completeness/soundness
Peace = always just and moral. E.g. Deborah brought such peace to Israel for
40 years (Judg 4.1-31), See too Isa 9.6-7 Prince of Peace will establish his
kingdom with justice and righteousness.
Raymond Fung: A state of normality consistent with God’s will
Cf. False peace = when rich/powerful at ease but not right with God. Greed,
injustice and suffering contradict claims of peace (Jer 6.14; 8.11)
Biblical peacemaker => is physician as well as prophet.
Peace as a Christian goal
Only real peace = in Eden. Eternal peace comes when Christ returns and with
New Jerusalem.
Peace destroyed with sin: shame before God, and rivalry/blame between
Adam and Eve, leading to fratricide…
After flood, dove and olive branch as symbol that flood over, and something
like peace returns. Cf. baptism
Transcends even the marriage relationship – 1 Cor 7.15
BUT NOT something we can bestow on ourselves
Peace and Jesus
John the Baptist’s ministry will “guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke
1.79) via repentance and turning back to God
Messianic hope/age = age of peace
 Isa 2.2-4 messianic reign in Zion, swords into plowshares, spears into
pruning hooks
 11.1-9 wolf shall dwell with lamb… they shall not hurt or destroy in all
my holy mountain
 Hg 2.7-9 the coming glory of the temple)
Peace = based upon Christ’s finished work of reconciliation on the cross
Jesus = Prince of Peace because he makes Jew and Gentile one, and reconciles
all to God (Isa 9.6; Eph 2.14-17; 2 Cor 5.18f.).
Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem. Luke 19.42 Jesus weeps over Jerusalem “Would
that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But
now they are hidden from your eyes.”
 Repentance
 Messiah
Jesus warning Matt 10.34ff. “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to
the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword….” i.e true peace results
from a separation of wheat from chaff.
Peace has to be received and embraced – as with Jewish leaders in Jesus’ day,
so too Matt 10.5ff.
Peacemakers/peaceaking
1st and foremost at peace with God. Jesus’ peace = perfect unity with Father
Phil 4.7 “And the peace of God (which comes after prayer when anxious),
which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ
Jesus.” Cf. Col 3.15 “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…”
Prayer: Clive asking for topics for prayer; Matthew’s hand goes up and he asks
for prayer to stop his brother crying; Clive says ‘let’s pray for the peace of the
world.’
Needs to be cultivated: Rom 12.18 “Repay no one evil for evil… If possible, so
far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all… never avenge yourselves… “
Peace is something that can be ‘given’
 Jesus (Jn 14.27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the
world gives do I give it to. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let
them be afraid. PEACE WITH FATHER – ASSURANCE in his will
 Matt 10 – greeting of peace (as ambassadors in the name of Christ); an
announcement that come to offer something good.
 Spiritual armour: the shoes of the gospel of peace
Understand others: Michael Cassidy, African Enterprise and telling stories.
Peace and Reconciliation Commission
1st priority = preaching the Gospel. Leading others to the Prince of Peace.
Work of missionaries incl. in NZ. Wiremu Tamihana
Suggested Discussion Questions
1. Look at the Jeremiah passage (8.4-13). What does it mean to say peace,
peace, when there is no peace? Can you think of a modern day parallel?
2. What do you think of Raymond Fung’s definition of peace? How would
you define peace – as an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit?
3. Jesus’ offer of peace was met with opposition and, finally, murder. Why
do people reject God’s peace? How does this affect us as Christians, and
the Church?
4. Who do you think of as significant peacemakers? What makes them so?
5. Think of areas in your life where Christ’s peace does not fully reside.
How might you know/gain God’s peace in these areas? (cf. Paul’s list in
Romans 12. Are these relevant, or are there other things you need to
do/not do?) Pray for one another.