The command to let the peace of Christ rule your heart in Colossians 3:15 has been a challenge for me to understand in the past. I have recently thought through the idea and studied it out.  I have learned much and now want to offer some help in understanding and applying this command from God.

The peace of Christ is the peace which Christ gives.  Jesus said…

John 14:27
27“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

Peace is a gift from God.  True peace cannot be found outside of Christ.  God told His people that He would send His Messiah, the Prince of Peace.  The Messiah, Jesus Christ, would establish His kingdom and bring true peace to the subjects of that kingdom.

This peace would apply to relationships between people, but more fundamentally to a person’s relationship with God.  The peace would be objective in the sense that warring between God and men would be no more and that warring between men would end.  This is objective peace.

At various times in history men have tried to bring about peace.  The pax Romana – Roman peace around the 2nd century – “was won and maintained by a brutal sword.”  Many thought the Messiah would come with a bigger and mightier sword to bring such peace.  They missed the point. The Messiah came to die – He came to be murdered by men.  In His death and resurrection He crushed the head of the serpent of old – Satan (Genesis 3:15).  Christ, the Messiah sent from God, made a way for true peace.  The peace that Christ gives is true peace. 

The world seeks peace – a certain kind of peace.

• Negotiators plead with two warring parties to compromise – each gives a little so they can both win a little.
• Counselors urge a husband and wife to set boundaries, and agreements are made to stay within those limitations.  When the two people honor the agreements they have “peace.”  “Truces” allow for a semblance of “peace” for the sake of the children.
• Courts mandate peace between conflicting groups.
• Threats are made in an effort to bring “peace.”

Blackmail can “keep peace” as people are forced to “keep quiet.”

These methods of attaining peace won’t do.  They cannot bring about “the peace of Christ.”  Christ does not come to be a “Master Negotiator” to bring that kind of peace. 

The peace of Christ involves the changing of hearts – the confessing of pride and self-seeking as sin.  True forgiveness is found.  Enemies become friends.  Hatred is replaced with love.  This is true peace.

With the peace of Christ, “the fundamental character of the relationship has changed – not just the terms of interaction.” (Berg, 154)

Colossians 1:20 says that Christ has “made peace through the blood of His cross.”  His violent death on the cross is sufficient to overcome those that are, according to verse 21, “alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds.”

The peace of Christ begins with a transformation of the heart.  Rebels lay down their arms.  Enemies of Christ become friends.  A person’s peace with God through Christ is the basis for the peace he has with others. 

When a person has peace with God, he is no longer hateful and selfish and bitter and anxious.  He no longer has his own agenda for life.  He has only the agenda of Christ.  His kingdom does not conflict with the Kingdom of light.  He is in the kingdom of light. 

In the world “there is sufficient hatred, selfishness, bitterness, malice, anxiety and fear that every attempt at peace is rapidly swamped” (D.A. Carson in his commentary on John).  Only through Christ is peace possible. So, Paul says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” 

Rule has the idea of umpiring or refereeing.  The word was used to speak of an official who would preside over athletic competitions.  Christ’s peace should umpire in your hearts.

In your hearts is where the rule takes place.  Peace is to rule in every area of your heart.  Your heart is the place where decisions are made, things are cherished. 

Paul personifies peace.  This peace is your true love for God and others, true friendship, the absence of self-seeking.  Let this genuine peace “make the call” when you have to make a decision. 

“Hearts” is plural which indicates that this command goes to every individual.  Although the command is given to individuals, it has everything to do with other people.  Consider the next phrase.

It is this peace which dominates your heart to which indeed you were called into one body.  In other words, God gives you this peace to control your heart so that it would be seen in your relationships with others.  You were not only called into a personal relationship with Christ where peace is the norm.  You were called into a corporate relationship with Christ’s people where peace is the norm. 

• When you were called to “peace” with God, you were called to peace with others.
• Don’t try to have peace with God, but continue to war with others.  Instead, let Christ’s genuine peace rule your heart when you are in the body.
• Don’t seek for “truces” with other members of the body.  Lay down your arms.  Humble yourself.  Let peace rule your heart.  This is what you were called to.

James speaks of the same idea in his epistle.

James 4:1-2
1What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.

Do you have the fullness of Christ?  Do you live a Christ-filled life?  Then genuine, biblical, life-transforming peace must rule your heart.  It must rule your heart in the body.

• Do you constantly butt heads with members of the body?
• Do you insist on your own way?
• When trying to get along with others, do you lay down your arms?  Do you humble yourself? 

Don’t seek peace with others in unbiblical ways. “Within a biblical framework, attempts to achieve personal…[peace]…whether by ritual, mysticism or propaganda, without dealing with the fundamental reasons for strife, are intrinsically loathsome.” (D.A. Carson, John, 506)

Paul follows up with an exhortation, “and, be thankful.”  Literally, it is, “be becoming thankful.”  Be continually thankful.  Why is this linked with exhortations to be peaceful?

• Being thankful is the path to peace.  When we are anxious, we don’t have the peace we should have.  We need to recognize God’s hand in everything, recognize everything He is giving us is good, and give thanks for it.
• Being thankful is the path to peace in relationships.  When your friend misunderstands, you recognize that all things are in God’s hands.  You give thanks because He is always giving you what you need.

Conclusion

Let the peace of Christ rule your heart.  Don’t “make truces” with others so that you can “get along” but still “have it your way.”  Forget your way.  Do things God’s way.  Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.  You can’t demand your way and God’s way at the same time.  Lay down your arms.  Forget your kingdom.  Seek God’s kingdom.  Have peace with Christ, and then let that peace rule your heart.