A sure sign of rebellion involves the rejection of God’s word. Throughout scripture, the Lord associates rebellion with a willful decision on the part of an individual or people group to refuse to hear. In Psalm 107:11 the Bible says, “Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High.” In Nehemiah 9:26 the scripture declares, “Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs.” Those who make their necks stiff in rebellion will not incline their ears in order to receive instruction (Jeremiah 17:23). They may accept the counsel of others but refuse the Lord’s counsel (Isaiah 30:1).
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.
