We have peace with God through Jesus


Rom 5:1 (NIV)
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

Our reference scripture clearly establishes that peace with God is attained after justification by faith; and that we obtain peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Friends, this is a powerful truth because it clearly reveals the prerequisite for being at peace with God and the person through whom we obtain such peace.

Now, if indeed we have peace with God after we have been justified by faith, it means that at some point (that is before our justification), we did not have peace with God. And this is consistent with scriptures. The bible clearly reveals that with the sin of Adam all were made sinners and therefore enemies of God (Rom 8:7). As a result, we lost our peace with God. While we enjoyed fellowship, peace and harmony with God from the beginning, the disobedience of Adam brought discord, dispute, separation between God and men, and the consequence of this was death (Rom 6:23). In this period of dispute, the devil had a field day with man, maximizing every opportunity to afflict man with sicknesses, diseases, failure, lack, sorrow, pain, etc.

However, Apostle Paul plainly tells us in our reference scripture that, the key to attaining peace with God is justification by faith. At this point, you may ask what is Justification? Justification means to be declared "righteous" or "not guilty". It is a verdict or judgment that God (The Righteous Judge) gives to a person whereby He declares that person "not guilty".
In addition, Apostle Paul tells us how justification is attained. It is solely by faith. We are justified by faith alone, not works. When we believe in Jesus (the mediator), and put our faith on what He did on the cross for us, then our faith is accounted to us for righteousness. This was exactly how Abraham our father was justified (Rom 4:3) and still remains the formula for justification today. Friends, it is important to note that we are not justified by what we do. God doesn't declare us "not guilty" because we are not guilty (as a consequence of what we do or don't do). We are actually "guilty as charged" but He declares us "not guilty" after we put our faith in Jesus, by means of which He makes us the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:21) and we are "not guilty" indeed (extremely brilliant). 
Further, as we know, when people have a dispute, a third party is needed to act as mediator or peacemaker. He/She resolves the dispute and restores peace between the warring parties. Our reference scripture clearly reveals that Jesus is the mediator through whom we have attained peace with God. He is our peace (Eph 2:14), the Prince of Peace. He is the mediator between God and men (1 Tim 2:5), and when we put our faith on Him, we are justified and then peace with God is restored. Through Jesus, God made an everlasting covenant of peace and the ultimate price to purchase peace was paid with the precious blood of Jesus (Col 1:20). His sacrifice was a perfect sacrifice that once and for all settled our dispute with God. The veil which acted as separation between God and man (because of sin and the dispute) was torn apart because of Jesus' sacrifice and now, we have peace with God! No more dispute! no more separation! Glory to God! 

Furthermore, Isa 54:9 captures the implication of the peace we now have with God. God himself swore that He will no longer be angry with us. This is because He poured out ALL His anger and fury on Jesus on the cross. He totally emptied Himself of anger. Now, He is FULL of mercy, compassion, kindness, grace (Neh 9:17, Psa 145:8) towards us. As against being angry, He is now merciful to our unrighteousness (Heb 8:12). We are now the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, so He loves us; He is pleased with us; we are His beloved children. When He looks at us, He sees Jesus and He blesses us because of Jesus. 
In addition, God also swore that He will never rebuke us. To rebuke means to punish. God will never punish us for our sins. This is because He punished Jesus once and for all, for all our sins (past, present and future). It would be unfair to Jesus, if He punishes us again for what He has punished Jesus for. So, God will never be angry at us or punish us. And this is not because of what we do or did not do, but entirely because of what Jesus - our mediator - did on the cross. 
Moreover, Eze 34:25-31 highlights more dividends of God's everlasting covenant of peace which we enjoy after justification by faith. 

Finally, brethren, are you in need of peace? Or are you disturbed about your pasts sins or mistakes? You need to know that God is not angry at you. He is not punishing you for your sins and will never seek out opportunities to do so. So, stop punishing yourself for your sins. Stop beating yourself up for your mistakes. Peace with God has been purchased by the blood of Jesus. You are forgiven already. We were once "guilty as charged", but once we put our faith on Jesus, we become "the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus", old things are passed away, everything is new. And IF you sin, come boldly to His throne of grace to obtain mercy (which disqualifies you from punishment) and find grace (which strengthens you to overcome) in time of need (Heb 4:16). Right now, God is sitting on the throne of grace so He is releasing mercy and grace to those in need of it. The mercy and grace you receive will empower you to overcome sin when next it shows up. A time will come though (after the rapture), where God will sit on the throne of judgment and release His wrath and fury on those that rejected Jesus and you don't want to experience that.
However, friends, IF you make mistakes, never run away from God because when you do, you make yourself a prey to the devil who will punish you and make you think it is God punishing you for your sins. God is no longer punishing people for their sins. He has punished Jesus once and for all. God absolutely wants us to enjoy peace with Him and freedom from the guilt of our sins and mistakes past, present and future. Let the blood of Jesus cleanse your guilty conscience (Heb 9:14) and make you totally free. Put your faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross, and then you will be justified. Consequently, you will have peace with God. May the peace of God overwhelm you today and always in Jesus' name, Amen.

Comments

Popular Posts

See what happens when your enemies gather

Crossing over to take over (1)

Crossover to take over (2)

Rejoice, it's your season of abundance for overflow

Give your bread and fish to Jesus!

God is the reason.

Jesus loves you

The world is failing but God will never fail

JESUS came to reveal God's likeness

Rejoice in the Lord always (2)