Having Peace With God

The unsaved person is at enmity with God (Romans 5:10) because he cannot obey God’s law or fulfil God’s will. Although he may want to, he just can’t. There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked (Isaiah 48:22); and the work of righteousness shall be peace (Isaiah 32:17). Condemnation means God declares you a sinner, which is a declaration of war. Justification means that God declares you righteous, which is a declaration of peace, made possible by Christ’s death on the cross.

Access to God is the first step to having peace with God. When Jesus died, He tore the veil and broke down the wall of partition that separated the Jews and gentiles from the presence of God. Now in Christ, believing Jews and Gentiles have access to God. The word “access” here means “entrance to the king through the favour of another”. The child of a king can enter his father’s presence no matter how the child looks.

Access to God takes care of the present. We can therefore come to Him at any time for the help we need. Hope of the glory of God takes care of the future. When we were sinners, there was nothing to boast about, because we fell short of the glory of God but in Christ we boast in His righteousness and glory. People don’t know what they are missing by not being at peace with God.

Justification is no escape from the trials of life. In fact trials work for the believer and not against him. Trials bring us closer to the Lord and make us more like the Lord. If God saved us when we were enemies, surely He will keep on saving us now that we are His children. There is a wrath to come, but no true believer will experience it. Christ’s death has reconciled us with God; bringing us back into fellowship with God (peace). Man declared war on God and deserved to be condemned eternally but God did not declare war on man. Instead, He sent His Son as the peacemaker that men might be reconciled to God bringing peace.