As I approached my senior year in high school, the Vietnam War was raging with American soldiers dying there every day. I knew within a year, I could be on the battlefield myself. This brought to the forefront of my thinking the question: “Where I would spend eternity?” I had no peace about the answer. As I began to search for someone who could give me assurance of eternal life, I found a fundamental church. They explained that Christ died for my sins, and I could have eternal life as a free gift by trusting in Christ alone, apart from all works. The day I trusted in this simple message, I had the flood of peace and joy that I had been searching for.

Hebrews Chapter 7 refers to Melchisedec, King of Salem, to whom Abraham “gave a tenth part of all” as an offering in worship (vs. 1-2). Although Melchisedec was a human king, he was a type of Christ because the Scriptures offer no record of his father or mother, his “beginning of days” (when he was born), nor a record of his “end of days” (vs. 3). Therefore, in these ways, he was “made like unto the Son of God” (vs. 3b). It is in this context that Hebrews 7:2 refers to Melchisedec as “King of peace” (vs. 3). Abraham found peace when he worshipped Jehovah by giving Melchisedec a tithe in worship. Peace with God has always been the pressing need of man. We learn from Psalm 7:11 that “God is angry with the wicked every day.” Sinners, who have not yet received justification from their sins by faith, are in constant danger of being ushered into eternity where they will experience the wrath of God through eternal punishment. The only way to escape eternal punishment is through faith in Christ, who bore our sins on Calvary. Isaiah promised peace to Israel through their Messiah when he foretold the following: “He was wounded for our transgressions…the chastisement of our peace was upon Him.” Peter went to Israel “preaching peace by Jesus Christ” to any Jew who would trust in their Redeemer (Acts 10:37). Now in our new Dispensation of Grace, Paul assures all who trust in Christ alone are “justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

The Lord Jesus “made peace [with God on our behalf] through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20). Trust in Christ alone and you too can have peace with God.