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The Peace of Christ

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. - John 14:27

The difference between the peace of Christ and the peace of the world is that the peace of the world is compromise and compliance. As long as one conforms to the world, one is considered acceptable (John 15:19). The peace of Christ is to transcend the fear of worldly rejection. The word “let” is key here because there is action we need to take for this peace to function.

We are to not allow our heart to be troubled. There are natural reactions in anticipating worldly rejection. Being troubled or fearful might be expected. The admonition to not let this happen implies we have the ability to either avoid this reaction or to manage it. One way to manage fear is to remove that to which it can cling.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. - 1 John 4:18

John tells us the perfect (complete) love drives out fear. This is because biblical love is essentially selflessness (1Cor 13:4-7). With no interest in self, there is nothing that can be lost. Paul says the to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2Cor 5:8). This is what Jesus told his disciples (Matt 28:20).

In addition to not clinging to that which can be lost, we also have that in which we have hope;

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: - Colossians 1:27

The transcendent peace of Christ is available to us to the degree we can master our fears and anticipation of trouble. This mastery is achieved through the certainty we have in the promises of Christ. In a way, this peace becomes proportional to our faith. In a war soldiers can become resigned to the fact they are going to die. There can be a peace that comes from knowing it is just a matter of time. What makes the peace of Christ better than simple resignation that suffering will end is that we can have an expectation of things better.

This detachment form the things of this world is also helpful. Many in the world are fearful that they may be vulnerable to a loss of property or position. When they are considered of no consequence, there is no fear if they should be lost. Our “not letting our heart be troubled” is possible because we have the assurance of Christ, his indwelling Spirit, and the change in our heart’s desire from the world to Christ.

That faith is a door through which one can obtain transcendent peace can be seen with the faith of the Psalmist;

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? - Psalm 118:6

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