There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened through the flesh. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit. 6 For the outlook of the flesh is death, but the outlook of the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the outlook of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to the law of God, nor is it able to do so. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is your life because of righteousness. 11 Moreover if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his Spirit who lives in you. Romans 8:1-11
A search for peace on the internet results in a definition of peace, “a state of tranquillity or quiet: as a : freedom from civil disturbance”, organizations that promote world peace and news stories regarding international peace treaties. Our quest for world peace is fleeting and will not be permanent until Jesus Christ returns a second time to put His enemies under His feet and rule, for “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).
We can however have peace with God in this world that is at war with Him. For there is no condemnation, therefore we are at peace, for those who are in Christ.
According to our passage in Romans, we are at war with the flesh and we have lost that war. Apart from Christ, we are dead in our trespasses and sin and are condemned already. The flesh is hostile to God. It cannot please God. But this war is not ours to fight, but rather God’s. “By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
War and hostility against God is the result of the fall, yet God promised in Genesis 3:15 that His Son would crush Satan’s head, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel”. Victory over sin and death was promised in Genesis and fulfilled at the cross of Christ.
Peace is only found in Jesus, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” Isaiah 9:6. Our minds, when governed by the Spirit of God, will experience life and peace.
“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace” Romans 8:6.
“For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He extinguished their hostility” Ephesians 2:14-16.
We have been given the gift of peace and He was born and laid in the manger at Bethlehem. The Angel declared to the shepherds, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:10-14.
This gift however must be accepted so that the “life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus who (sic) has set you free from the law of sin and death” can live in you. This peace is for all of mankind, but it really does, begin with you. It begins with the confession of sin to the One Who is faithful and just to forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The lyrics to Let There Be Peace on Earth say, “Let peace begin with me. Let this be the moment now, with every step I take, let this be my solemn vow, to take each moment and live each moment with peace eternally. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me”. This is only achieved through a life lived through Jesus Christ. The only way to “live each moment with peace eternally” is to have accepted God’s gift of salvation and “have our mortal bodies alive through his Spirit who lives in you”. Peace begins by you accepting Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior and it spreads as you share the good news with others.