Peace with God

I'm going to take a break from the book of Acts today and visit the next book of the Bible, Romans.  I'm looking at the awesome verses in Romans 5:1-11 and I'll primarily look at one piece of that in particular.

Romans 5:1 "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ..."

This amazing verse has more to it but it's so amazing that I can't write about the whole verse in one blog.  So what does this verse mean?  I'll be honest, I have read this verse incorrectly for years.

Justification brings us "peace with God", not the "peace of God".  Is there a difference?  Yes!

The peace of God is the peace that passes all understanding.  This is the supernatural peace that we can feel in the midst of the storm.  The peace that will make others wonder what's different in your life.  We are promised this kind of peace, but this is not what Paul writes about in Romans 5:1.

Peace with God is different.  Before we are justified we are at war with God.

Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 5:10 "...when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son..."

Before God reconciled us we were His enemy.  When were were sinning we were working against God.

Romans 8:31 "...If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Well, if we are against God, what can we accomplish?  Nothing!  It is hopeless because He will beat us.

But here is the good news: He initiated the treaty with you and I.  He dictated the terms of peace and payed the price necessary for peace.  All we have to do is surrender to Him.  Christ died for us, so surrender to His terms of peace and be reconciled into peace with Him.

God's peace treaty goes beyond just peace.

Romans 5:1-2 "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.  And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."

We get peace.  We also get access to God in the grace we now stand.  We also have the certainty of God's completed glory in His new heaven and new earth.  Now that is a one sided treaty!

So surrender to His terms of peace.  Remember that before reconciliation we were at war with God.  As Thanksgiving approaches be thankful that He gives us peace with Him today.