What does it mean to let the peace of Christ dwell in your heart (Colossians 3:15)?

Peace can refer to different situations. There is world peace, that is, there is no conflict between nations. There is peace between individuals, which refers to the absence of conflict between individuals. There is inner peace, which refers to the absence of conflict within a person, between his desires and different elements of his personality, and between his aspirations and the reality he has to face. face. But the most important requirement for any person is peace with God. We are all sinners at war with God until we take up arms and surrender to His sovereignty.

Once we are no longer at war with God, we can begin to incorporate other types of peace into our lives and character.

Philippians 4:6-7 speaks of the inner peace that comes from completely trusting in God to meet all our needs: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in all In any case, through prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your petitions to God. . And the peace of God, above all understanding, will keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. “

Colossians 3:15, out of context, seems to encourage the same thing: “Let the peace of Christ dwell in your hearts, for you have been called to peace with as a member of a body. And be grateful. Let the peace of God rule in your heart.

Colossians 3 has a list of things people do together that do not promote interpersonal peace

Christians are told not to do such things: “Therefore, put to death all that is part of your earthly nature: immorality, uncleanness, lusts, evil desires. and covetousness, that is idolatry. You have walked this path, the life you have lived. But now you must free yourself from all that: anger, rage, hatred, slander, and dirty language from your lips. Do not lie to one another, for you have taken your old soul out of its habit” (verses 5-9). If a man saves his life from these sins, he will certainly feel it. more at peace with others.

Colossians 3:11 speaks of the social and racial boundaries with which in Paul’s day people were often pitted against each other. 

Instead of doing things that promote strife and discord, Christians should heed this command: “Be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and long-suffering. Be patient with each other and forgive each other if you have a complaint with any of you. Forgive as God has forgiven you. And love clings to all these virtues, which bind them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:12-14).

All of this can be summed up in one command: “Let the peace of God rule in your heart, for you have been called to peace as members of one body” (Col. -loss 3:15). In this context, letting the peace of Christ dwell in your heart means allowing the truth of what Christ did to guide our actions for us. We are not each other’s enemies.

We should not consider each other as competitors because of the same resources. We should regard other Christians as members of the same group, of the same body, and what is good for them is ultimately good for us. Christ saved us that we might live in peace with one another. When we choose to work in love and in peace with other believers, we allow the peace of Christ to dwell in our hearts.

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