Without A Doubt

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

Many people go through life without any peace. They feel as if they are helpless victims of adverse circumstances, hateful people, or simply bad luck. And that lack of control makes people feel resentful of their past, discontent with their present, and fearful of their future. The fact is, you will never find lasting peace in your life until you are first at peace with God. In Romans 5, the Apostle Paul shared tangible benefits that come from the assurance that you are in a right relationship with God.

First of all, Paul said a right relationship with God gives us peace with a holy God. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (5:1).

There is a difference between the peace of God and peace with God. The Bible often speaks of the peace of God. For example, in Colossians 3:15, Paul wrote, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” We need to allow the peace of Jesus to have the final say over circumstances in our lives. Instead of panicking, we say, “God is in control of my life, so He has a purpose for that.”

How do you experience the peace of Christ? Paul said in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The greatest antidote to worry is prayer. When you pray, you can have the same peace that characterized the life of Jesus Christ. That is the peace of God.

But in Romans 5, Paul was not talking about the peace of God. He was talking about peace with God. Why do we need to have peace with God? You may not think you are at war with God, but did you know apart from Jesus Christ, God is at war with you? Romans 1:18 says, “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” When we are born into this world, we are born as children of Satan. All mankind is by nature against God, but the good news of the cross is that when you trust in Christ to remove your sins, your status changes from enemy of God to friend of God. You change from being a child of Satan to being a child of the Creator.

It is that change in status that Paul wrote about in Colossians 1:21-22: “Although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.” When you are in a right relationship with God through faith, you are at peace with a holy God. Your status is changed from enemy to friend.

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Today’s devotion is excerpted from “Without a Doubt” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2014.

Scripture quotations are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.