eirene Peace, harmony “A state of national tranquility, exemption from rage and havoc of war…. Peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord According to a conception distinctly peculiar to Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort it is…” (Thayer)

eirene The word is used 88 times in the New Testament. It is found in every book except 1 John. Peace is a “felt absence of disturbance, felt presence of harmony, in heart and in state toward God and man.” (James MacGregor)

Peace Common in greetings: – Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; Galatians 1:3, et. al. – At least 17 letters begin this way Grace – charis – “joy be with you” – Typical Gentile greeting

shalom Ordinary Jewish greeting – Shalom really means everything that makes for a man’s highest good, all that makes life life indeed. “It is as if the Christian letter writers took and joined together the pagan and the Jewish greetings, as if to say, ‘In Jesus Christ all that Jew and Gentile ever dreamed of, and ever wished for themselves and for others, has come true. In Jesus Christ …there is everything for man’s highest good.’ All blessings are gathered up in the perfect welfare offered in Jesus Christ.” (William Barclay)

Sources of Peace Believing—Romans 15:13 – The gospel is the gospel of peace Romans 10:15; Ephesians 6:4 Action coming from belief – Romans 2:10 God – Philippians 4:7 Gift of Christ to the Apostles – John 20:19, 21, 26; 14:27

Peace Is The Right Relationship In the home – 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 Between Jew & Gentile – Ephesians 2:14-17 In the church – Ephesians 4:3; Colossians 3:15 Between man and man – Hebrews 12:14; 2 Peter 3:14 Between man and God through Christ – Romans 5:2

Our Search For Peace Seek peace and pursue it – 1 Peter 3:11 – Seek implies that peace is the object of our endeavors – Pursue means to hunt down, as a hunter after his prey We are to be zealous to be found in Him in peace – 2 Peter 3:14 – Zealous—diligent, to seek with a burning enthusiasm

Not “Peace at any Price” “We are not to come to terms with sin or error in our lives. We are not to refuse to oppose error because we are afraid that peace will be disturbed.” (James Bales) James 3:17-18 True peace cannot coexist with error and sin

Blessed Are The Peacemakers Peace-makers are really peace-preachers Those who preach the gospel of peace, which is able to bring man into harmony with God – Matthew 5:9 – Romans 10:15 – Ephesians 6:15 – Ephesians 2:17