Peace is a Person | Digging Deeper

Summary

True peace is not merely the absence of conflict but a person - Jesus Christ. Peace with God is purchased through Christ’s finished work on the cross, peace with one another is accomplished by tearing down the dividing wall of hostility, and peace within is produced by the indwelling Holy Spirit as we abide in Christ.

Key Points from the Sermon

Grace always precedes peace in the gospel order—Paul opens his letters with ‘grace and peace’ because peace is only possible when God extends grace (Romans 5:1).
Peace with God is an objective fact established by justification through faith, not a feeling we manufacture—it is a completed work of Christ on the cross.
Christ himself is our peace, having broken down the dividing wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile, creating one new humanity (Ephesians 2:14-15).
The fruit of the Spirit is singular—peace grows alongside love, joy, patience, and all the other characteristics together as one organic whole (Galatians 5:22-23).
The works of the flesh produce relational conflict (enmity, strife, rivalries, dissensions), while the Spirit produces peace that restores what sin fractures.
Internal peace flows from vertical peace with God and horizontal peace with other believers—you cannot have the peace of God without first having peace with God.

Scripture Readings

Ephesians 2:11-22 - Paul’s central teaching on how Christ has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, making peace between God and humanity, and between believers from every background.

Romans 5:1 - The foundation of peace with God established through justification by faith in Christ’s finished work.

Galatians 5:19-23 - The contrast between the works of the flesh (often relationally antagonistic) and the singular fruit of the Spirit, which includes peace.

Discussion Questions

Read Ephesians 2:11-22

What words and phrases does Paul use to describe the Gentiles’ condition before Christ? What changes ‘in Christ Jesus’ according to verses 13-16?

Read Romans 5:1

What does it mean that we ‘have been’ justified (a completed action) rather than ‘are being’ justified? Why does this matter for our experience of peace with God?

Compare Ephesians 2:14 with Isaiah 9:6 and Micah 5:5.

How do these passages support the claim that ‘peace is a person’? What does it mean that Christ himself IS our peace, rather than just bringing peace?
Pastor Orrin said our flesh is drawn to conflict. We say we hate drama but we feed on it. Where do you see this in your own life (social media, news, gossip, relationships)? How does this work against the fruit of the Spirit?

Read Colossians 3:15.

What does it mean to ‘let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts’ (the word pictures an umpire whose call settles the game)? In what specific situations this week do you need the peace of Christ to make the call instead of anxiety or anger?
Paul says we shouldn’t rebuild the dividing wall Christ tore down. Are there any ‘walls’ you’ve been tempted to rebuild between yourself and other believers (based on background, politics, lifestyle, history)? What would horizontal peace look like in those relationships?

Application

This Week’s Challenge: This week, focus on the completed work of Christ and the peace that brings between us and God as well as between us and fellow believers. Reach out to one believer with whom there is unresolved tension as a demonstration of the Peace that Christ is growing in our lives.

Prayer Focus: Ask God to help you rest in the objective reality of peace with Him through Christ’s finished work. Praise Him for the fruit of peace He brings about in our lives as believers.

Memory Verse

“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.” — Ephesians 2:14

Resources

Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin
In Christ Alone (hymn) by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend