The concept of peace in the biblical narrative is deeply intertwined with the call of God to humanity. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, God's desire for peace is evident, and His call to man often involves a journey towards this divine peace. This peace is not merely the absence of conflict but a profound sense of wholeness and harmony with God, oneself, and others.

Old Testament Foundations

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for peace, "shalom," encompasses completeness, welfare, and tranquility. God's covenant with Israel was a call to live in peace with Him and among themselves. In Leviticus 26:6 , God promises, "I will give peace to the land, and you will lie down with no one to make you afraid." This peace is contingent upon obedience to God's commandments, reflecting a holistic peace that includes spiritual, social, and physical dimensions.

The prophetic literature also emphasizes God's call to peace. Isaiah 9:6 prophesies the coming of the "Prince of Peace," indicating that the Messiah's reign would be characterized by peace. This peace is not only national but also personal and spiritual, pointing towards a future hope where God's peace will reign supreme.

New Testament Fulfillment

In the New Testament, the call to peace is fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus embodies peace and extends it to His followers. In John 14:27 , Jesus assures His disciples, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid." This peace is a gift from Christ, distinct from worldly peace, and is rooted in a restored relationship with God.

The Apostle Paul frequently addresses the theme of peace in his epistles. In Romans 5:1 , he writes, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Here, peace is a result of justification, a legal declaration of righteousness before God, which reconciles humanity to Him. This reconciliation is central to the Christian experience of peace.

Paul further exhorts believers to live in peace with one another. In Ephesians 4:3 , he urges, "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." The call to peace is not only vertical, between God and man, but also horizontal, among individuals within the body of Christ. This communal peace is a testimony to the transformative power of the Gospel.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the believer's experience of peace. Galatians 5:22 lists peace as a fruit of the Spirit, indicating that it is a natural outgrowth of a life led by the Spirit. The Spirit empowers believers to live in peace, guiding them in their relationships and interactions.

Eschatological Peace

The call to peace also has an eschatological dimension. The Bible anticipates a future where God's peace will be fully realized. Revelation 21:4 describes a new heaven and a new earth where "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away." This ultimate peace is the culmination of God's redemptive plan, where all creation is restored to its intended harmony.

In summary, the call of God to man is fundamentally a call to peace. This peace is multifaceted, encompassing spiritual reconciliation with God, harmonious relationships with others, and an inner tranquility that surpasses understanding. Through Christ, believers are invited to experience and extend this divine peace, living as witnesses to the transformative power of the Gospel in a world longing for true peace.1 Corinthians 7:15
But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God has called us to peace.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body; and be you thankful.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... count it done,’ but is the deep consciousness divinely imparted to the heart of
man that it ... what a mistake to take our belief in God and call of faith ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k

Man's Own Character no Ground of Peace
... word at once, and rests on it, they call presumption or ... or be any ground for expecting
the friendship of God. ... No man can quench his thirst with sand, or with ...
/.../bonar/gods way of peace/chapter ii mans own character.htm

The Testament of Dan Concerning Anger and Lying.
... between God and man for the peace of Israel. He shall stand up against the kingdom
of the enemy; therefore is the enemy eager to destroy all that call upon the ...
/.../the testaments of the twelve patriarchs/vii the testament of dan concerning.htm

Demonstration xvii. --Of Christ the Son of God.
... And inasmuch as man knew his Maker, God was formed and conceived within his ... the Son
of God, David taught us (this); and that we call Him God, this we ...
/.../aphrahat select demonstrations/demonstration xvii of christ the son.htm

God's Family.
... Are we to call the traitor to account? ... To what purpose is the spirit of God promised
to them that ask it ... We must not fear what man can do to us, but commit our ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/hope of the gospel/gods family.htm

God's Controversy with Man. Rev. Charles Prest.
... I am not here to-day to call your attention simply, as people sometimes do, to the
lowest classes of ... When a man is admitted to the favour of God it is that ...
/.../king/the wesleyan methodist pulpit in malvern/gods controversy with man rev.htm

"Thou Shall Keep Him in Perfect Peace, Whose Mind is Stayed on ...
... who considereth the great breach that is between God and all men, occasioned by
the first man's transgression and ... to know the disease, and I may call it a ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xii thou shall keep.htm

Psalm CXVIII.
... is this but to say, If thou wishest to call Me good ... to "make in Himself of twain
one new man, so making peace; and that He might reconcile both unto God in one ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxviii.htm

The Beloved Pastor's Plea for Unity
... Here is a man who says he is a child of God, and yet he is guilty of lewdness.
Call him a saint, when even common morality is absent? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 39 1893/the beloved pastors plea for.htm

God's Love for Man
... Jesus is "not ashamed to call them brethren" (Hebrews 2:11 ... And all this that man
might be uplifted from the ruin ... that he might reflect the love of God and share ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/steps to christ/chapter 1 gods love for.htm

Prayer Essential to God
... Prayer is the sense of God's need and the call for God's help to supply that need ...
the decree of the king not to ask any petition of any god or man for thirty ...
/.../bounds/the weapon of prayer/i prayer essential to god.htm

What is the Macedonian Call? | GotQuestions.org

If His name was Yeshua, why do we call Him Jesus? | GotQuestions.org

What is meant by “call those things which are not as though they were” (Romans 4:17)? | GotQuestions.org

Call: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus