Read Romans 5:1-11
Justification by faith is the starting point in the Christian life. There can be no tree without a root, no stream without a fountain. The careless, unsaved ones may read about the blessings of redemption, as we have them here in our lesson, and may say, “Yes, they are very beautiful and good.” But they never can possess these gifts and blessings until they have been “justified.” And they never can be justified until they receive the Lord Jesus Christ by faith. Nothing but his blood can put away sin. Nothing but His Spirit can change and renew the life. When we have been “justified” our sins are put forever away. There is, therefore, now no condemnation. We stand before God as if we had never sinned. We must stop at these first words and study them carefully. They are the gate at which we must enter the Father’s house, whose blessedness is described in the verses following. After justification comes peace. Peace is a favourite word with St. Paul. He does not mean peace in an earthly sense, for he did not have such peace.
His life was full of suffering, care toil, persecution and trial. Yet his epistles are starred all over with the bright word peace. There are several different kinds of peace mentioned by St. Paul. Here he speaks of “peace with God.” This means the consciousness of reconciliation with God. We have an illustration of it in the prodigal son after his return to his father, when he had been forgiven and restored to his place. Sin separates us from God. While the feeling of guilt is in the heart there is no peace. We cannot look into God’s face. But when we have repented of our sins and have confessed them and received God’s forgiveness there is peace with God. Saint Paul speaks also elsewhere of the “peace of God.” Writing from a prison, he exhorted his friends to be anxious for nothing, but to make all their cares known to God; and then he said the peace of God would keep their hearts and minds in Jesus Christ. This is a step further than peace with God. It is a peace which holds the heart quiet and still in the midst of whatsoever things are hard and trying in this world. It comes from nestling in God’s love, and leaving all tangled things in His hands. Christ promised the same peace when He said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you.” Evidently peace is a Christian duty as well as a privilege. It is named as one of the fruits of the Spirit, in the same cluster with love, joy, gentleness, goodness and meekness. The peace mentioned here in our lesson is the beginning of all true peace. The peace of God cannot be ours until we have peace with God.
Page 1