βTherefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christβ (Rom. 5:1).
The Apostle Paul introduces us to our second phrase when he declares that believers have βpeace with God.β While we may live in light of the fact that world peace continues to elude us, we can have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. If we have this peace, everything can collapse around us, but we have the assurance that nothing will ever separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
I am sure most of us have heard it said at one time or another: βItβs high time they made their peace with God.β Those who try to make their peace with God are to be pitied. There are literally millions at this very hour who are striving for this peace, but they will not find it because they are searching in all the wrong places.
They are seeking it in their own strength and wisdom, and the end result will be disillusionment. How is this peace obtained? Allow me to begin by showing how it is not obtained.
βNow to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousnessβ (Rom. 4:4,5).
First we learn that you cannot receive peace with God on your own merit. It is not possible to obtain this peace through good works, repetitious prayers, fasting, or confirmation. As a matter of fact, you can go to church services every day of your life and not experience this peace.
Secondly, you cannot acquire this peace by keeping ordinances such as circumcision or water baptism. You can have all the oceans of the water poured over you, but it will never grant you the forgiveness of your sins or peace with God. Lastly, you can try your very best to keep all 613 commandments and ordinances contained in the Law of Moses, and for all your efforts you will still not enjoy this peace.
How do we receive peace with God? By faithβif we simply believe that Christ died for our sins and rose again, not only are we justified freely by His grace, we also receive assurance that we are right with God. This means that God has nothing against us, having judged our sins at Calvary. The believer can never again be brought into danger of the hellfire judgment to come. God is atΒ restΒ with us forever! source
