First. Peace. He is our peace, he is the Prince of peace, he giveth peace in his high places. This word 'peace' hath in it a double respect.
1. It respected God—He hath 'made peace by the blood of his cross'; that is, he had been made peace for us with God, having appeased the rigor of his law and satisfied justice for us. Hence, it is said, 'The peace of God, which passed all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus' (Col 1:20; Phil 4:7). 'The peace of God'—that is, the doctrine of reconciliation by Christ's being made to be sin for us, THAT shall keep the heart—that is, from despair or fainting, under apprehensions of weakness and justice. But yet this peace of God cannot be apprehended, nor be of any comfort to the heart, but as the man looks for it through Christ Jesus; therefore that clause is added, 'through Christ Jesus'; for he is peace-maker, it is he that reconciled us to God 'in the body of his flesh through death'; for by his doing and suffering, he presented God with everlasting righteousness, with everlasting righteousness for sinners. Upon this, we have peace with God. Hence, Christ is called King of righteousness first, 'first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace' (Heb 7:1,2). For he could not make peace with God betwixt us and him but by being first the Lord of righteousness, the Lord our righteousness; but having first completed righteousness, he then came and preached peace, and commanded his ambassadors to make proclamation of it to the world, for it was want of righteousness that caused want of peace (2 Cor 5:19-21). Now, then, righteousness being brought in, it followed that he hath made peace. 'For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. Through him, we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father' (Eph 2:14-18).
2. This word 'peace' respects our inward quietness of heart, which we obtain by beholding this reconciliation made by Christ with God for us—' Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ' (Rom 5:1). 'The God of peace fill you with all joy and peace in believing' (Rom 15:13).
This peace is expressed diversely—(1.) Sometimes it is called 'quietness,' for it calms the soul from those troublous fears of damning because of sin—' And the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness, and assurance forever' (Isa 32:17). (2.) Sometimes it is called 'boldness'; for by the blood of Christ, a man hath encouragement to approach unto God—' Having, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh' (Heb 10:19,20). (3.) It is sometimes called 'confidence' because by Jesus Christ we have not only encouragement to come to God but confidence that if we ask anything according to his will, he not only heareth but granted the request which we put up but to him (1 John 5:14,15). 'In whom we have boldness and access with confidence, by the faith of Jesus' (Eph 3:12). (4.) Sometimes this peace is expressed by 'rest'; because a man having found sufficient fulness to answer all his wants, he settled down and looks no further for satisfaction—' Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest' (Matt 11:28). (5.) It is also expressed by 'singing' because the peace of God, when it is received into the soul by faith, puts the conscience into a heavenly and melodious frame. 'And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away' (Isa 35:10). (6.) Sometimes it is expressed or discovered by a heavenly glorying and boasting in Jesus Christ; because this peace caused the soul to set its face upon its enemies with the faith of a victory over them forever by its Lord Jesus—'Let him that gloried, glory in the Lord' (Jer 9:23,24). And, 'My soul shall make her boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad' (Psa 34:2). (7.) Sometimes it is expressed or discovered by joy, 'joy unspeakable': because the soul, having seen itself reconciled to God, hath not only quietness, but such apprehensions do now possess it of the unspeakable benefits it received by Christ with respect to the world to come, that it is swallowed up with them—'Who having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory' (1 Peter 1:8). (8.) Lastly, it is expressed or discovered by the triumph that sometimes arises in the hearts of the believers, for they, at times, can see death, sin, the devil, and hell, and all adversity conquered by and tied as captives at the chariot-wheels of Jesus Christ; taken captive, I say, and overthrown forever. 'Thanks be unto God which always caused us to triumph in Christ' (2 Cor 2:14). 'O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph' (Psa 47:1).
[The Authors of this peace.]—Now that all this should be a cheat is impossible—that is, it is impossible that believers should thus have peace with God through the blood of his cross, he had not paid full price to God for them; especially if you consider that the authors of this peace are all the three in the Godhead and that upon a double account.
