Rest and Peace through Jesus Christ, Part 2: Walking in Love

In Part 1, we saw that God’s rest and peace comes through believing what He has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ. The work of God is to believe on the one He sent. That is how we cease from our own works to receive salvation and the righteousness of God. But how do we live restfully and peacefully? That takes a different kind of effort.

Choosing Life or Death

Let’s go back to where we left off in Part 1. Often New Testament scriptures find their foundation in Old Testament promises.

Romans 10:4-11:
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 
For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 
But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 
Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

God’s righteousness is of faith, and it speaks “on this wise.” It is described in a quote from Deuteronomy. Here Moses is giving final instructions before his death. These are important truths.

Deuteronomy 30:11-15:
For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. 
It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 
Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 
But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. 
See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil. 

This Word of God is near us, even in our mouth and heart. And it is a choice between life and good, and death and evil. God is the source of life, the Devil has the power of death (Hebrews 2:14).  The New Testament clarifies what these truths mean today.

Do we need to ascend to heaven and bring Christ down to us? Do we need to descend into the depths of the earth to once again raise Christ from the dead? No. God has already done that for us. We saw in Part 1 that Jesus Christ “passed into the heavens” (Hebrews 4:14). When he was seated in heavenly places at God’s right hand, so were those who believe on him.

Ephesians 2:4-6:
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened [made alive] us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

We are seated in heavenly places with Christ spiritually. So we can cease from our own works on earth to be righteous. Yet once we have God’s righteousness, we must decide to live that way.

Romans 1:17 says that the “just shall live by faith.”  That is why Deuteronomy 30 also says that we are to “love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days.” When we accept God’s salvation in Christ, we can walk in love and enjoy our days.

Rest and Peace in Hope

What do we get with the faith of Jesus Christ? Are rest and peace a part of our salvation in him? The book of Romans has much more to say.

Romans 5:1,2,5:
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 

The faith of Jesus Christ justifies us and we finally have peace with God. He is our Father and we have immediate access into His grace. We can now stand in that grace and rejoice with great hope. That hope will never disappoint us. Christ will come back for us someday. And now, God’s love is shed abroad in our hearts by His gift of holy spirit!

Romans 15:5,6:
Now the God of patience and consolation [comfort] grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Once we have peace with God, we can also have peace with each other. Our heavenly Father is the God of patience and comfort. He helps us be longsuffering with each other and encourage one another. We are likeminded with each other “according to Christ.”

That doesn’t mean we have to agree on our favorite sports team or enjoy the exact same foods. But what God’s Word says we have in Christ—that is what we absolutely agree on. Then we can glorify our Father, in our daily walk, with one mind and one mouth.

Romans 15:13,14:
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost [holy spirit].
And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish [warn and guide] one another.

Our Father is also the God of hope. We have His joy and peace when we believe. Then we can abound, overflow, in hope by the power of the holy spirit. Every time that we manifest God’s gift of holy spirit, it is proof that Jesus Christ will come back for us someday. And we have the present-day hope that our Father will keep His promises to us now. That brings great joy and peace. We are full of His goodness and knowledge. We are able to help each other.

The God of Love and Peace

We can have rest and peace because our Father is the God of love and peace.

II Corinthians 13:11:
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect [mature], be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 

Look at Paul’s farewell note to the Corinthian believers. Like them, we can be loving and peaceful with each other because God’s love is shed abroad in our hearts by the gift of holy spirit within us. That’s what allows us to mature in Christ to the end that we are comforting each other and staying of “one mind.” The believers in Philippi saw the same thing.

Phillipians 4:6,7,9:
Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep [guard] your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. 

How can we be “anxious for nothing”? By thanking our Father, the God of peace, for His help. That peace of God comes through Christ Jesus, and it will guard our hearts and minds. Look at how the Thessalonians received God’s rest and peace.

I Thessalonians 5:15-24:
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 
Rejoice evermore. 
Pray without ceasing. 
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 
Quench not the Spirit. 
Despise not prophesyings. 
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 
Abstain from all appearance of evil. 
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. 

As we live in God’s love—following good, rejoicing always, praying consistently, giving thanks, staying spiritually hot, proving what is good, abstaining from even an appearance of evil—then the God of peace can help us. He will set us apart from evil so that all that we are (body, soul, and spirit) will be preserved blameless as we await the return of our lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

That is true rest and peace. And it all comes because our heavenly Father, who has called us, is faithful to do what He promises!