Charity is the peak of Christianity (2 Peter 1:5-7). The Bible says that after salvation, charity is to be desired above all other things (1 Peter 4:8) and is the bond of perfectness (Colossians 3:14). Yet far too many people, Christians included, know so little about charity. God has not left man without answers, both simple and profound. First Corinthians chapter 13 offers the most vivid description of charity: charity suffereth long and is kind (1 Corinthians 13:4). It rejoiceth not in iniquity but in the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6). It beareth, believeth, hopeth, and endureth all things (1 Corinthians 13:7). Out of all the wonderful things associated to charity, the Bible makes it clear that charity will have no part with envy.
Salvation brings God's peace to His enemies by transforming them into His allies. However, “the peace of God” mentioned in today's passage involves a daily work in the believer's life. “Peace with God” remains an indissolvable bond, yet experiencing the daily “peace of God” entails an ongoing blessing that may be gained and lost. The “peace of God” comes through prayer and the Bible says this peace is beyond mortal comprehension. It truly comforts a believer’s heart and mind through Christ Jesus. This is why the Lord admonishes believers to “let the peace of God rule in” their hearts (Colossians 3:15). The saved will always be at peace with God, but each Christian must “let” the peace of God work effectually in him on a daily basis.
The New Testament sheds light on two types of peace: peace with God and the peace of God. Peace with God is “through” the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1; Colossians 1:20). According to today's passage, this “peace with God” is experienced only upon one’s justification at the moment of salvation. Trusting Christ's payment through His death, burial, and resurrection remains the only basis for grasping this peace. Before a man trusts in Christ, he is God's enemy (Romans 5:10), but after salvation, he has been gloriously reconciled to God through the work of God's Son. No man earns this peace and no man can lose this peace to again become God's enemy because this peace is an everlasting peace.
