[Romans 5, Proverbs 7]

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

E – PEACE!

The world is searching for peace. The human quest for peace is never-ending. Ever since Cain lifted his hand against his brother Abel (Gen. 4), peaceful coexistence has been little more than a fleeting ideal. There is a reason for that, of course, and it is not that people do not want peace. It is just that they want it on their own terms—terms which, of course, conflict with other peoples’ terms. And here lies the problem. Peace can not be earned, won, purchased, proclaimed, policed, or policied. This, of course, is why the world will always be searching for peace. 

There can only be abundant and eternal peace from One and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. When a person surrenders their all to all of Jesus they are saved (justified). The word justified is a moving from the state of sin to a state of grace. It’s a redemptive action from One that leads another to a place of lasting freedom. It has been simply stated as leading one as if they’ve never sinned and pronounced and treated as righteousness.

The moment one puts genuine faith in God they experience the complete and lasting work of God (justified). This justification in one moment creates something inside of the person that they have been longing for the whole time; PEACE. I know the moment I trusted in Christ it was as if a 1,000 pounds of weight or 1,000’s of burdens were lifted in a moment. The current pressures on my life fleeted in an instant. It’s as if I finally felt like I belonged to something/someone. I tell people all the time, I can’t explain it, you just have to experience it. 

And yet, this peace leads us to go deeper in relationship with the One who has offered us this peace (sanctification). Why would I want to get over it? There are 4 responsive truths that follow Romans 5:1 because I have peace with God. 1) We stand in Grace (v.2). It is because of His grace that I’m at peace. I have obtained access to His grace and it is unending. I have the opportunity to experience it anew each moment of each day. 2) We rejoice in Hope (v.3). It is His glory that has changed my life and it is His glory I long to see. The hope that I have now is not in and of myself to pursue peace. The hope I have now is that by His glory He’s already given me peace, now and forevermore. 3) We Endure Suffering (v.3). This may cause confusion. Why would enduring suffering produce rejoicing? The simple answer, Peace. The reality is that our life experiences will not all be enjoyable. There will be moments of suffering. Yet, because of Jesus these life experiences do not define me. Peace arises out of a willingness to experience Jesus the more through perseverance (v.4), allowing His to change my character (v.4), and the hope of my future in Him being revealed all the more (v.4). 4) Lastly, We Continue to Change Through His Love (v.5). God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. As I allow the Holy Spirit to continue a good work in me and guide me in the way I should go I remain at peace. When I experience His presence (His Spirit), I experience His love and it leads me in peace. 

So, How can one have peace? It is to be declared justified by faith in Jesus Christ. The world need to hear that. 

A – Walk in peace, stand in grace, rejoice in hope, enduring suffering, be changed through His love. 

R – Lord God, thank you for loving me. Thank you for peace. I can’t praise you enough for your mercy and grace. You took what I deserved and gave me what I didn’t. Lord, I pray I would not take this peace for granted, but I would obediently pursue you all the more and remain in peace with you. Lord, use me today for your Glory and may others see your peace in me. 

In Jesus Name!