In Colossians 3:15, Paul wrote, Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one Body; and be ye thankful. What kind of peace was Paul referring to? What does it mean to let the peace of God rule in your hearts?
Jesus is our peace
In Colossians 3:15, Paul spoke about the peace of God, which Jesus promised and left behind to those, who believe in Him and are born again in Him and live in obedience to God after the Word and the Spirit.
Jesus is our peace and brought the peace of God on earth by preaching and bringing the Kingdom of God and by His perfect redemptive work, wherewith Jesus destroyed the enmity between God and man in His flesh and reconciled man back to God and restored the peace between God and man (a.o. Genesis 3:15, Romans 5, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Ephesians 2:12-18).
The peace between God and man is restored in Christ
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 (Romans 5:1-2)
For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father (Ephesians 2:14-18)
The peace of Christ reconciles man with God and restores the position of fallen man on earth and makes man whole (complete, healthy), and joins them together in one Body: His Church.
Everyone, who gives heed to the call of God and the call of repentance and by faith in Jesus Christ and regeneration in Him becomes a new creation and belongs to Jesus Christ and God the Father, has been made righteous by His blood and His redemptive work and has peace with God and belongs to the Body of Christ, which is made alive by the Holy Spirit (Read also: What peace did Jesus bring on earth? And The peace Jesus restored between fallen man and God).
The peace of God that Jesus gives
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you (John 14:27)
These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33)
Jesus promised to give His peace. However, this peace is not the peace the world gives.
The peace of God that Jesus gives, passes all understanding and is a peace that remains forever.
It is not a temporary peace, which comes and goes and depends upon external factors; situations, and circumstances, but the peace of God is always present in the heart, no matter what happens.
It is a permanent peace, which you can’t deserve nor obtain by applying formulas and following methods and techniques (Read also: A technical faith, What is the danger of yoga?, and What is the danger of meditation?)
But this peace, which derives from God and Jesus walked in, has been given through and in Jesus Christ and is always present in the hearts of born-again Christians by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
It is a fruit of the Spirit, which is present in the lives of those, who belong to Jesus Christ and walk after the Spirit and abide in Him, the Word.
As long as you abide in Christ, you shall experience His peace, no matter what situation you are in and no matter the circumstances, and persecutions.
This peace of Christ brings peace between God and man, but brings division between the world and (new) man and deals with the enmity against God and shall reign in the lives of Christians.
The peace of Christ rules in the heart of the new man
The word ‘rules’ is translated from the Greek word ‘brabeuō’ (G1018) and means to arbitrate, that is, (generally) to govern (figuratively prevail), rule.
The peace of Christ, which is present in the heart of the new man, ought to rule and act as an umpire; an arbitrator. This means that the peace of Christ decides all matters in the hearts of believers, with the aim that the peace between God and the new man remains, the peace in man remains, and that the peace between those, who are born of God and belong to the Body of Christ, remains.
This peace keeps the peace between God and man and causes man to walk in submission and obedience to God in holiness and righteousness and destroys evil (the (works of ) the darkness).
If the peace of God rules in the hearts of believers, who are called and united in one Body by the peace of God, the Body shall be healthy and the members of the Body shall be spiritual and of one of mind, instead of being carnal and divided, and shall obey the words and commandments of Jesus Christ and promote and do the righteous works and remove sin and iniquity (a.o. Romans 12:4-5, 1 Corinthians 12:12-18, Ephesians 2:16; 4:3-4).
Let the peace of God rule in your hearts and be thankful
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one Body; and be ye thankful (Colossians 3:15)
For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17)
If the peace of Christ rules in the hearts of believers, then the believers shall live in peace with God and with each other and walk on the path of peace, and do the righteous works of faith, whereby they shall represent and bring the peace of God, which Jesus has left behind, on earth.
They shall preach the truth of God and be peacemakers between man and God and expose the works of darkness and destroy them, instead of preaching lies and being promoters of sin and accomplices in perpetuating the (works of) darkness (Read also: The peacemakers of God).
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Let this peace of God, which you have received through -and in Christ rule in your heart and therefore guide you and always be thankful in every situation.
Because the sons of God (this applies to both males and females) live in gratitude towards God and shall always in every situation be thankful and sacrifice to God with the voice of thanksgiving (Read also: The thankfulness of the sons of God).
‘Be the salt of the earth’
*Strong’s Concordance, Vine’s expository dictionary
