Peace From God
Sermon Series: Philippians
Message By Eddie DSouza on January 25, 2026
Passage: Philippians 1:1–2
Topics: Prayer, Redemptive History, Sanctification & Growth, The Fall
At this very moment, the world is in conflict. Russia-Ukraine; Ethiopian Civil conflict; Gaza war; Myanmar civil war; US aggression, Indian border skirmishes, and the list goes on. The world assumed that after two big world wars, humanity would band together to live in peace. The leaders of the world, or whoever else was responsible, established the United Nations, whose core mission is to maintain international peace and security. It may be that they are working very hard, but as we can all see, they are achieving very little.
Forget global or political conflict, let us ask ourselves this question: “Is there conflict in my relationships right now?” Not all of us gathered here this morning reached here without conflict. Either a spouse, a child, or someone else caused us to get hurt or even enraged.
Even worse, even if there is no external reason for any issues, some are troubled on the inside. Either the mind is gone with all sorts of anxiety and worry. Or the heart is troubled by the cares of everyday life. The body is not keeping up with the demands on it; it’s failing.
Neither international watchdogs, nor family therapists, nor life coaches can provide a lasting solution to these problems. Let’s be clear! Neither can I. Then what are we doing here? Why do we worship God when everything is a mess? Do we worship God because we fear that not worshipping him might lead to more chaos? Do we worship him because we wonder if increasing our worship will lead to reduced chaos?
Our text for today is Phil 1:2. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. This week, we focus on peace from God.
We will study peace in three parts. First, I will answer the question, “What is peace?” Second, I will go through the Bible to study the theme of peace in 6 movements. Third, I will answer the question, “How can I experience peace?” So, this sermon has three parts: what, what’s more, so what.
What Is Peace?
I begin with the question: “What is peace?” By that I mean, what is peace according to the Bible? If you have been a Christian for any length of time, then you will have some vague way to answer that question. Some concepts are like that. We have a vague idea. There is a reality. The Bible describes that reality with human words. And then we do our best to understand those words, not based on our ideas, but based on the context in which we find those words in the Bible.
So, if we want to understand what the Bible means by peace, we need to go to the Bible to find out. That is the first step.
Let us look at 1 Thess 5:3. “While people are saying, ‘there is peace and security,’ then suddenly destruction will come upon them.” Peace here is the opposite of the threat of destruction. In Luke 12:51, Jesus says that he has not come to bring peace but division. Peace is therefore the absence of division. In Matt 10:34, Jesus says I have not come to bring peace but a sword. Peace is the absence of danger. In Luke 14:31–32, Jesus says, “Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.” Peace here is the cessation of hostility and averting of war. Based on these examples so far, we can define peace as the cessation of hostility and division, resulting in security and tranquility.
Let us press on further and search the Bible. In Mark 5:34, Jesus says to the woman who touched his garment for healing to “go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” Peace here is resulting from healing. In this case, peace is the absence of discomfort, disease, and anxiety. In 1 Cor 14:33, Paul says, “God is not a god of confusion, but of peace.” Here, peace is the opposite of confusion or disorder. So, we can also say that peace is the cessation of disorder and discomfort and the presence of harmony.
Additionally, in the OT, peace is the absence of war or the fear of death (Lev 26:6; Judg 6:23). Let us put all of these together to get a sense of what peace means. Peace is the cessation of hostility and division, the removal of disorder and discomfort, the absence of anxiety and fear. Peace is synonymous with tranquility, harmony, security, and order. Oh, how we love peace. Augustine says, “For peace is a good so great that even in this earthly and mortal life there is no word we hear with such pleasure, nothing we desire with such zest, or find to be more thoroughly gratifying.”[1]
We know that everyone wants peace. In today’s turbulent times, many wonder about the causes unrest—internal, interpersonal, and global. This leads us to two important questions: How did the world lose its peace? And how can the world regain peace? To answer those questions, we should turn to the Bible story.
A Biblical Theology of Peace
When God had finished creating man and placed him in the garden along with his wife, God looked at all his work and said, “It is good.” Nothing was wrong with God’s creation. Man, Adam and Eve enjoyed perfect peace with God. In the cool of the evening, God walked with them and talked with them. What a glorious privilege. God’s face toward them was gracious. Not only did they enjoy perfect peace with God, but they also enjoyed perfect peace with each other. Also, they had no reason to be unhappy; they enjoyed perfect peace of mind.
But one day, they fell away from this place of peace and joy because they disobeyed God’s command and ate the forbidden fruit. What was the result? First, they lost their inner peace. They were ashamed of themselves. Gen 3:7 says, “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.” But you may say, “Eddie, that is not a bad thing. Their eyes were closed before, and now they are open. The forbidden fruit, the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, has opened their eyes.” No! Here’s why. Gen 2:25 says, “The man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” They knew they were naked; they could see themselves and each other. After the fall, they are ashamed of themselves and each other. Side note: This does not mean that the ideal condition for man is to be naked and unashamed. In Revelation, the one who conquers is given white garments (3:5). The twenty-four elders are clothed in white garments (4:4). The angels are clothed in pure, bright linen with golden sashes (15:6). Jesus is clothed in a long robe and with a golden sash (1:13). End side note. So, first, the man and his wife lose their inner peace. Second, they blame each other for their sin. They lose interpersonal peace. This is further intensified by the curse, which says that the woman’s desire shall be contrary to her husband (Gen 3:16). She will challenge male headship. Men will drop loving headship for abusive treatment. This interpersonal loss of peace is the cause of all trouble at home, at work, and even in the international political sphere. Third, and most importantly, man lost peace with God. Man could no longer walk with God. He is sent out of the garden. An angel with a flaming sword is appointed to guard the entrance to the garden (Gen 3:24). What misery we suffer because we lost peace with God, each other, and within.
O, what a gracious God we serve! In the middle of delivering man’s punishment, he also promises hope and deliverance. God tells the serpent that deceived man, that an offspring of the woman will one day crush his head (Gen 3:15). God always keeps his promise. He calls a family and invites them to be the nation through which he will bring about his promise of peace to the world. He chooses Abraham and his descendants. We know them in the Bible as the Israelites. He promises to give them peace. He asks them to obey him and enjoy peace under him. Yet, they turned out to be just like Adam. They persistently sin. God sends trouble their way so that they return to him. When they are afflicted, they repent and return to God. He gives them peace. As soon as they enjoy his peace, they turn to their old ways. This cycle continues for centuries.
God allowed it so we could learn that we cannot perfectly obey him. And in the fullness of time, he sent Jesus into the world. Jesus, unlike Adam, perfectly obeyed God and is himself the Prince of Peace. He came to this world to establish peace. Isaiah prophesied this centuries before Jesus came. “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (Isa 53:4–5). The suffering servant of the LORD is also the Prince of Peace. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this” (Isa 9:6–7).
This peace is now granted to his people, his followers, the church. Jesus said to his disciples, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace” (John 16:33). Remember how the angels sang about him when he was born. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14). Eph 6:15 calls the gospel the gospel of peace. The good news is that Jesus came into the world to bring peace, lasting peace.
Finally, there will come a day when the world will not be divided into two cities—the heavenly city and the earthly city. For all the citizens of the earthly city will be condemned to hell. The citizens of the heavenly city will enjoy perfect peace.
Currently, we are citizens of the heavenly city in the pilgrim state. And as citizens, we serve one another by faith seeking that final peace. Augustine says, “When we shall have reached that peace, this mortal life shall give place to one that is eternal, and our body shall be no more this animal body which by its corruption weighs down the soul, but a spiritual body feeling no want, and in all its members subjected to the will. In its pilgrim state, the heavenly city possesses this peace by faith, and by this faith it lives righteously when it does every good action towards God and man to the attainment of that peace; for the life of the city is a social life. (19.17.1)”[2]
How Can I Experience Peace?
Now that we have considered what peace is, understood the cause of the loss of peace, and God’s solution, we must ask the question, “How can I experience peace?” The answer to that question depends to your answer to whether or not you have repented and believed in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins. The most important area where you need peace is with God. We are all sinners who wrong God. God is holy and cannot tolerate evil. Unless we receive the forgiveness from Jesus, we cannot be at peace with God. When we are not at peace with God, we cannot have peace with others or within ourselves. So, I encourage you to put your faith in Jesus as the Prince of Peace.
If your answer to the previous question is yes, I have put my faith in Jesus and have peace with God, then you are commanded in the Scripture to strive for peace with everyone (Heb 12:14), to pursue peace (1 Tim 2:22), and to seek peace (1 Pet 3:11). Peace is pursued through forgiving or forbearing when others have wronged you. Peace is sought by seeking forgiveness when you have wronged others.
On the other hand, some of you may be struggling with inner peace. There is nothing outside you that is causing inner turmoil. To you, the Bible says, “The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Pray. Just imagine that! The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The peace that surpasses all understanding. Some people are not easily unraveled like most people. They have understanding. They calculate all the data. They are always aware of the news, studies, and outcomes. They are prepared in their minds for worst-case scenarios. Yet all this calculation goes for a toss when the world goes nuts with a pandemic. All this calculation goes into a tailspin when a doctor hands you a devastating diagnosis. Those who seem more put together than most just have more understanding. Yet all of us have a limited understanding. And even when situations demand more of us than we can understand, the peace of God is fully able to guard your heart and mind from despair and unbelief. So, pray!
Our God is the God of peace. He is never confused about how to help us. In him is perfect peace.
Schaff, Philip, ed. St. Augustin’s City of God and Christian Doctrine. Vol. 2 of A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church First Series. Buffalo: Christian Literature Company, 1887.
[1] Augustine, De civitate Dei 19.11.1 (NPNF 1/2:407).
[2] Augustine, De civitate Dei 19.17.1 (NPNF 1/2:413).