“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.” 1Thes5:23
This verse refers to God as the ‘very God of peace’. This is a very unique description of God and is used only here throughout scripture.
The word ‘very’ used here is the Greek word autos and it means true, real or actual. Imagine that I met you and commented about you having a very nice phone. If later I met you and asked you if that phone is the very phone I saw last time. It would mean that I am asking if it is the true, original, actual phone you had the last time I saw it.
Paul is explaining that peace is the true, real and actual nature of God. It is who He is. God doesn’t just have peace, He doesn’t just give us some peace. Peace is His very nature. Peace is who He is and how He operates. It is His character. God is a God of peace.
Peace (eirēnē)
This Greek word means to be one, peace, quietness, rest, harmony, concord, security, safety, prosperity, felicity, the happiness of heaven, tranquility, to be at peace, to be reconciled; to live in harmony.
This is descriptive of the nature of God and who He is. God is peaceful, gentle, calm, merciful, kind, tenderhearted, harmonious, happy, prosperous and blessed.
The image that we have of an angry, mean, harsh God who is always in a bad mood just isn’t biblical or consistent with peace. God is a God of peace.
He is not always looking for ways to harm people or to afflict us and destroy us. He is always looking for mercy and harmony and peace. He is always pursuing peace and love.
Isaiah52
5 Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.
People blaspheme God every day because He is totally misrepresented by preachers, pastors and leaders.
People curse God every day because the prophets of doom are saying that God is responsible for the hardships and tragedies happening in people’s lives. The truth is that most Christians hate God. They pretend to love Him and worship Him but in their heart they resent Him and detest Him because they believe that He is responsible for all their misfortunes and pain.
If you believe what main stream Christianity teaches about God today there is no way you could like Him.
6 Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I God promises that there is a day coming when the people will see Him as He truly is.
When they see His true nature and His true character. He says that in those days they will no longer blaspheme. This is because when we know God’s true nature we will know that He is not responsible for the bad things happening in our lives and in the world today.
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
God says that day will come when the preachers of peace emerge. They will preach the good news of His salvation and of His kingdom. These preachers will declare the gospel of peace.
Acts10
36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
This is very descriptive summary of the life and ministry of Jesus as given to Him from The Father. Jesus was anointed with power and with the Holy Ghost. He used this power to do good, not evil. Jesus showed us the perfect will of the Father by healing all.
This verse also says they ‘were oppressed of the devil’ not of God. God is not the one who brings sickness. It's the devil, and he does it only to steal, kill, and destroy. God offers us life. That is what is consistent with His nature of peace.
Luke2
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
Why were the shepherds sore afraid when the presence of God showed up? Why were they absolutely terrified? Shepherds were known to be kind, nice country folk. Why on earth would they be scared of God?
It is because of what they believed about God. They knew that God was tough, harsh, mean etc. they knew about His judgments in the Old Testament. This is the same image that most of us have of God today. If He was to show up in our bedroom we would be absolutely terrified. We would be scared spitless.
We believe that God is harsh and mean and dangerous. We would fear that He is going to kill us or harm us in a significant way. And yet God is not like this at all. God is a God of peace.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people
The first thing that the angel says to them is what God says to us always. Fear not. Do not be afraid. Do not be scared. I bring you good news of great joy. We see this repeated all throughout scripture. Every time an angel or God Himself appeared to people He always told them to fear not or to be at peace. He still says the same to us today.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Jesus did not bring peace and good will among men. Of course we can all see that there is no peace and good will among men today. There are wars going on all over the world. This scripture doesn’t talk about peace among people. It talks about peace towards men. This peace and good will is from God.
Jesus brought peace and good will towards men. He brought peace between man and God. When Jesus came on the earth, God was making peace between Himself and man for the first time in over 4000 years. The word good will means satisfaction, delight, good pleasure etc. God is satisfied with us through Jesus. Through Jesus and what He has accomplished at the Cross there is peace between God and man. Jesus brought about peace, harmony and goodwill through His death, His burial, His resurrection, His blood.
God is at peace with us. God loves us. God likes us.
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