Peace with God

Beauty pageant contestants have received a reputation of claiming they want world peace during their interview portion of the contest. There have been talks these days from our President that He wants peace in the world. End war, keep troops at home.

With a world in turmoil we can see people searching for peace through many different avenues. They try to find peace in success, relationships, and day to day distractions.

However, true peace cannot be found apart from God.

In our text today, Paul tells us that true peace comes only through justification by faith in Christ.

Look at Romans chapter 5, beginning at verse 1.

Romans 5:1–5 NIV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

The last couple of weeks we learned that we are justified by faith. Paul used an example of Abraham of someone that was brought closer to God through his faith. Paul begins chapter 5 with the word therefore. This word indicates a conclusion to the previous argument. Paul explains the benefits of being justified through faith.

Benefit 1 - We have Peace with God

This means that there is no more hostility between us and God. There is no more sin blocking our relationship with Him. And even better, there is a new relationship that has been established with God. Meaning we no longer dread the outcome of judgment but live under the protection established by God.

We can be assured that Jesus will stand before the father and be a witness for you. Jesus says, “I got your back.”

That is Peace with God knowing we have someone that has our back.

Are you living with the confidence of peace with God, or are you still striving for it?

Benefit 2 - Personal Access to God

The greatest thing that could ever have happened for us was when Jesus died and the veil ripped in an instant revealing the Holy of Holies. Now with our justification through faith we can go into the throne room of grace and commune with our father.

This gives us some more understanding of the Lord’s prayer. When we say our Father, we are talking about Abba Father.

Romans 8:15 NIV

15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

The term Abba is Aramaic. When you combine the Aramaic term Abba with the Greek term for father, it expresses the depth of intimacy, warmth and confidence by which the Holy Spirit helps us relate to and cry out to God.

When you need to cry out to God, the Holy Spirit gives you the help you need to petition the throne room.

Benefit 3 - We Have Hope in God

Hope and faith go hand in hand.

Hebrews 11:1 NIV

1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

What are you hoping for?

As believers, we can anticipate our future with God. This should bring us joy. God’s grace made it so we can live forever with God. This is our ultimate hope that if we pass before Jesus returns we will go to be with the Lord or we go in the blessed hope, when Jesus returns.

Benefit 4 - We Glory in Our Sufferings

We don’t think about putting glory and suffering in the same sentence. In our natural eyes they are opposites. But in God’s eyes they complement each other. Look at what Paul says.

Romans 5:3–4 NIV

3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.

The ultimate goal here is not to suffer, but while we are suffering, we learn to persevere and that produces character, which gives us hope.

I like how Eugene Peterson paraphrases this in the Message.

Romans 5:3–4 MSG

3 There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, 4 and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next.

We should remain in anticipation of what God is going to do next in our life.

None of us want to suffer, but if it can bring us closer to the things that God has for us then let me suffer.

Benefit 5 - God’s Love is Poured Out to Us

The greatest Bible verse that we see printed everywhere is what?

John 3:16 NIV

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

How do we know that God’s love is poured out for us? Because He sent Jesus to die for us.

It is because of Jesus that we are set free from the bondage of sin.

What Jesus did at calvary is an example of the love that God has for us?

Romans 5:8 NIV

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 4:7–8 NIV

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

You must grab ahold of this benefit and know that God loves you in spite of you. It doesn’t matter what you have done.

Romans 8:38–39 NIV

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You can have peace with God because He loves you more than you can imagine.

These benefits can help us in our personal walk with God each and every day. We must take the time each week and put these benefits into practice.

Here are some steps you can take.

First, practice silent moments of prayer When engaging others. I believe God will give you something to say to someone that is struggling. You could be the key answer that they need.

When you face tough times at work or home, remember that you can glory in your sufferings. Instead of viewing difficult situations negatively, embrace them as opportunities to grow in character and rely more on God.

In your interactions throughout your day, remind yourself that God’s love is poured out to you and you can let that overflow into your relationships. Make it a habit to perform random acts of kindness.

This week as you go about your day know that you have peace with God. And with that peace comes the benefits of knowing that God is walking beside you with each step that you take.