Love: A study on the fruit of the spirit
PEACE ΕἸΡΉΝΗ (91)
To all those (in Rome) who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [Romans 1:7 (ESV)]
These words are found at the beginning of the Apostle Paul's letter to those in Rome and they include a key word, that key word is peace. Our next seven devotions are based on the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Our key Bible verse is:
Galatians 5:22–25 (NIV84)
[T]he fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
The word peace occurs 91 times in the New Testament. Jesus is recorded as saying 'peace' twenty of those times. Jesus had just told his disciples that He had come from the Father and that He would be going back to the Father. And the disciples finally, by the work of the Holy Spirit, understood this. Jesus then told them,
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Jesus the Prince of Peace offers you peace, peace with your Creator. Now how does one come by this peace? It is offered to sinners, that means to you and to me and peace is received as a gift from God.
Paul wrote: [S]ince we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. [Romans 5:1] One's justification or becoming reconciled or made right with God comes totally and completely through the work of Jesus. It is through the life, suffering, death, rest and resurrection of Jesus that the sin of the world has been paid. Faith in Jesus receives this gift and only faith in Jesus, none other can do.
This has been Pastor Ricky Jacob of Jesus Our Savior Lutheran Church and preschool, of Winnebago. I close with the words of Good News from the book of Hebrews: Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. [Hebrews 13:20–21]]
