There is no call for “peace on earth, goodwill toward men” that can be made, no legislation that can be enacted, and no control that can be maintained that will sufficiently reign in the desperately wicked designs of the human heart. The only answer to finding peace is the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Only the Gospel can reverse that which is so profoundly wrong in man that it leads to trouble and discord. Only the Gospel can take a man doomed for destruction and give him peace with God and others.
Paul encourages those following Jesus to have the same type of joy and peace that he enjoys. He explains how to find peace – true unity – with others among whom we live.