- 52. Peace and Assurance
Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
God can promise peace, quietness and assurance forever because of righteousness. Righteousness works peace; righteousness effects quietness and assurance forever. The righteousness of God is a gift of grace given to all believers in Christ, for it is earned by Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Righteousness is free, final, total, and eternal, received by faith. This righteousness is the righteousness of God, granted to us on account of the merits of Christ. Righteousness is absolutely required for entrance into the kingdom of God. Heaven is barred to anyone or anything that is not righteous and pure.
The righteousness we have is an alien righteousness; it is alien because it is not inherently ours; it is outside of us. Therefore, it is certain; there can be no doubt since it does not in any way depend on us or on anything in us. It is alien, but it is ours by grace; it belongs to us. We can claim the righteousness of God as our own. Therefore, we have absolutely met the requirements for entrance into the Kingdom where God reigns, and we can live there forever.
Righteousness is all we need for life now and life forever. And it is also a force that is actively working for our good. First, the work of righteousness shall be peace. We enjoy peace with God, peace among people, and peace in our soul. We yearn for peace, and the good news is: we have it. “We have peace with God through Jesus Christ.” Second, the effect of righteousness is quietness and assurance forever. The Holy Spirit uses the gift of righteousness to quiet and still our troubled hearts. He grants the assurance of everything we need and seek. And it is forever. Within every human heart is a knowledge and an aching for eternity. We innately know there is more than just this life and death. The freely gifted righteousness of God assures that we are in that eternity. Eternal life is ours; that is quietness and assurance. The work and effect of righteousness gives us a promise we can live with.