The Way to Peace

When the death of Christ is working in us, the life of Christ will also be revealed in us. He shall be the most excellent One in our life. We shall say “Yes” to His will. Jesus said “Yes” to God’s will, and all of God’s fullness came to dwell in Christ. We know that God is infinite; He is over all things. God’s goodness is without limits; He is great and mighty. Oh, that we could put our arms around God and thus press His fullness into us! Christ is God manifested in flesh (1 Tim. 3:16) among people. He has all power in heaven and on earth.

In Colossians 2:2-3, Paul fights for the churches in Colosse and Laodicea that their hearts may be knit together in love, attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Now it is vital for us to partake of this glory which Paul had come to reveal, the wonderful glory of “Christ in you.” Col. 1:27; Eph. 3:1, 6-7; Col. 2:9-10.

We have been taken out from sin and the world and have partaken of the glory of Christ by being grafted into the body. Paul suffered so that this glory could be revealed; namely, that the Gentiles were joint heirs.

God’s will and goal with us is that we shall be conformed to the image of His Son. Rom. 8:29. We are to enter into that measure of fullness that God has determined for us. Our own goals are so small—we dream ourselves into things. We should give up our own goals and join with God—be like clay in the potter’s hand, letting Him do what He wants to do with us. Rom. 8:17.

“Joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him.” It was God’s will by Him to reconcile all things with Himself through the blood of His cross. Jesus came, despised and rejected (Isa. 53), in order to reconcile all things. We who were formerly strangers and enemies in our minds have now been reconciled by the blood of His cross. Have we noticed that He has made peace in our life? Have we received salvation? Everything that was in disharmony with God was condemned on the cross. We are partakers of it. The blood is for sin; the cross is for the sinner. One practical example: Our peace is gone if we have been impetuous or have spoken a bad word. However, then we have to do two things: Come to the cross and to the blood. God points out this wrong. You have said something bad to someone. I say, “Yes.” God has revealed it to me with His light. The sin is then cleansed away by the blood. Backbiting is cleansed away. But now I am like a criminal. What happens to me next? I am to go on the cross—I am to die to this wrong—to backbiting, to impetuosity. Then peace will come. Ps. 85:10. Note: Righteousness and peace. The blood and the cross have done their work when He cleanses me from all unrighteousness, and peace will flow in by faith in the finished work. It is glorious when God points out a wrong in our life; then righteousness and peace meet each other. It is vital to bring everything in order so that peace can kiss you, and you can apprehend His righteousness by faith. Christ is our peace. Eph. 2:14. Peace with God and God’s peace. Two kinds of peace. A soul may have peace with God, but when we possess the peace of God itself, we will possess peace like a river.