Friday, November 15, 2019

The Fruits of the Spirit: Peace


Pastor’s Pulpit for November 2019
The Fruits of the Spirit: Peace

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23; ESV).

Peace (εἰρήνη; [eirenei] in Greek) continues and fulfills the Old Testament idea of Shalom (שָׁלוֹם in Hebrew).  Shalom is the Hebrew word often translated as peace, but it means wholeness physically, emotionally and spiritually.  It includes ideas of wellness, prosperity, harmony, tranquility, and overall welfare.  This was the prayer with which the Hebrews greeted one another: Shalom!  Peace!  Be well in this complete sort of way.  And it is no accident that it sounds an awful lot like our life in Christ as it will be manifest in the resurrection!  Then we will be perfectly whole.  Perfectly well.  Prosperous.  At peace.  Peace, in the Holy Scriptures, is a resurrection word. 

It is also a forgiveness of sins word.  On the evening of that first Easter, remember the disciples were locked away for fear.  Of the Jews, yes.  They were afraid the Jews, or the Romans for that matter, would come for them next.  But their fear was more than that.  They had all forsaken Jesus in His time of need.  They had all deserted Him.  Peter had even thrice denied Him.  And now there were the rumors and the risen Jesus sightings.  Could it be true?  What if it is true?  What if Jesus appeared, suddenly, in the room?  Wouldn’t He justly strike us down in His wrath?  Shouldn’t He cast us all immediately into the pit of hell?  That’s real fear, caused by real sin, perpetrated by real sinners.  So when Jesus does suddenly appear in the room, it is not by accident that this is the first thing He says: “Peace!”  “Peace be with you” (John 20:19, 21, 26; ESV).  “Peace to you” (Luke 24:36).  And then He backs it up by showing His wounds (John 20:20, 27; Luke 24:40).  “See, I have died for your sins.  All of them.  For deserting me.  For denying me.  For locking yourself away in fear and unbelief.  And I am risen from the dead, victorious over your sin and over death itself.”  As He says to Thomas, so He says to the Twelve, and to us all: “Do not disbelieve, but believe” (John 20:27).  Your sins are forgiven in Jesus, the Crucified and Risen One.  Peace.  The word is nothing short of a Holy Absolution.      

In other words, peace is not first of all a feeling in your heart, or a lack of conflict in the world.  It is first of all a description of your objective (outside of you) reality in Christ, who died for your sins and is risen from the dead.  You have peace.  Your sins are forgiven.  Death is defeated.  You have eternal life.  You will live forever with God.  He will raise you from the dead.  Because that is the case objectively, peace then becomes your subjective (inside of you) reality.  You can begin to feel at peace in your heart and mind and life.  You can bring peace to conflicts with others in the world.  Not perfectly in this life.  There will always be struggle, because in this fallen world and in your fallen flesh, there is still sin.  But you know that Christ has ultimately defeated sin, and you already live in the new reality of Jesus’ sins-forgiven, resurrection peace.

Jesus gives us this peace in His means of grace, the Word and the Sacraments.  It is a pivotal moment in the liturgy when, after the bread and wine have been consecrated and are the very body and blood of Jesus crucified and raised, the sign of cross is made over you and the pastor proclaims, “The peace of the Lord be with you always.”  In the sacrifice of this very body and blood you are about to eat and drink, Jesus won your peace, and in giving it to you, He gives you His peace, which is to say, His forgiveness and resurrection life.

And having received Jesus’ peace, you can become a peacemaker, which is the particular business of baptized children of God (Matt. 5:9).  That is to say, in your relationships with others, let the mind of Christ rule.  Apply His forgiveness and His new resurrection life to others.  Forgive them.  Regard them as those from whom Christ also died and lives.  “Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another” (Mark 9:50).  “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace” (Rom. 8:6).  “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Rom. 12:18).  “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding” (Rom. 14:19).  “For God is not a God of confusion, but of peace” (1 Cor. 14:33).  “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:23).  Notice how that last verse is a summary of the idea of Shalom as it comes to fulfillment in the forgiveness of sins and the resurrection of the dead!

Let us pray: “O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, give to us, Your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen” (LSB 233).

Peace in Jesus,
Pastor Krenz

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