READ:
Romans 15:33
33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
EXHORTATION:
Our God is the “God of peace”. Earlier in this epistle, He has already been revealed to us as the God of patience (Romans 15:5), and the God of hope (Romans 15:13). Here and once again in Romans 16:20, He is described as the “God of peace”. Through such names in His Word, God has revealed unto us who He is. The names of God in the Bible are the personal disclosures of His person and perfections. They also reveal various aspects of His relationship with His people. By the designation, “God of peace”, He reveals Himself to us as the author, giver and lover of peace.
In Romans 3:17, the apostle Paul said concerning fallen, sin-plagued mankind, that “the way of peace have they not known”. Man has been utterly ignorant of true peace and the way to obtain it. So, how wonderful it is then that the LORD has revealed Himself to us as the “God of peace” and welcomed us to His perfect peace!
He has declared unto us “the gospel of peace” (Romans 10:15; cf. Ephesians 6:15; Acts 10:36), that “being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). In Romans 5:10, we read: “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (cf. Colossians 1:21-22). By faith in Christ who died for us, we are no more at war with God, but heirs of His kingdom of peace. Oh, what a blessing it is that God has called us, through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, out of our wicked ways to walk according to His godly ways! “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6).
Moreover, the “God of peace”, who has called us into His kingdom, wants us to enjoy and promote peace, particularly in the church. No schism is to be brought into the church, whether it be caused by racial or cultural or dietary or any such differences. “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17). In his epistle to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul said, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33). As God’s people rejoice in the peace that they have inherited in Christ and promote peace in the church, the apostle fervently prayed that the “God of peace” will be with them. God’s presence will sanctify us and show us the way of peace.