Finding True Peace Through Faith in Jesus

 

Summary

As we step into a new year, many of us are seeking control and peace through resolutions, hoping to make lasting changes. However, true peace doesn't come from our own efforts or accomplishments. It comes from a deep, believing loyalty to Jesus. The Apostle Paul, in Romans, speaks of a peace that surpasses our understanding, a peace that is rooted in our justification by faith and our reconciliation with God. This peace is not just a feeling but a profound reality that transforms our lives from the inside out.

Many of us experience anxiety and a sense of dis-ease in our lives, whether in our homes, relationships, or even in our relationship with God. We often find ourselves at war with our Creator, denying His existence or trying to live independently of Him. Yet, God, in His love, offers us peace through Jesus Christ. This peace ends the hostility between us and God, granting us access to His grace and the hope of sharing in His glory.

Being justified by faith means being aligned with God, experiencing His pleasure, and living in a state of grace. It is not about our moral perfection but about our allegiance to Jesus. Through this allegiance, we have peace with God, access to His grace, and the confidence to stand before Him. This peace is transformative, allowing us to rejoice in the hope of God's glory and to live as true reflections of His image.

As we embrace this peace, we are called to let go of our illusions of control and to trust in God's love and grace. This trust leads to a life of gratitude, joy, and stability, enabling us to love others as Jesus loves us. It is a journey of becoming more like Jesus, reflecting His glory in our lives and in the world around us.

Key Takeaways:

- True peace comes from a believing loyalty to Jesus, not from our own efforts or resolutions. This peace is rooted in our justification by faith and reconciliation with God, transforming our lives from the inside out. [00:49]

- Our relationship with God is often marked by hostility and denial, but through Jesus, we are offered peace and reconciliation. This peace ends the war between us and God, granting us access to His grace and the hope of sharing in His glory. [04:39]

- Justification by faith aligns us with God, allowing us to experience His pleasure and live in a state of grace. It is not about moral perfection but about our allegiance to Jesus, which grants us peace, access to grace, and confidence before God. [11:03]

- Embracing God's peace requires letting go of our illusions of control and trusting in His love and grace. This trust leads to a life of gratitude, joy, and stability, enabling us to love others as Jesus loves us. [19:48]

- As we reflect God's image, we are called to live as true reflections of His glory, becoming more like Jesus. This journey involves breathing in God's love and grace, allowing His Spirit to transform us and shine through us in the world. [35:23]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:49] - Seeking True Peace
- [02:19] - Understanding Peace with God
- [03:09] - The War Against Our Creator
- [04:39] - Hostility and Reconciliation
- [06:21] - Experiencing God's Pleasure
- [07:31] - Justification by Faith
- [09:15] - The Love of God
- [11:03] - Alignment with God
- [12:38] - Access to Grace
- [14:15] - Living in Peace
- [19:48] - Letting Go of Control
- [22:14] - Confidence Before God
- [26:30] - Breathing in God's Peace
- [35:23] - Reflecting God's Glory
- [37:10] - Relationship with God
- [39:34] - Trusting in God's Pleasure

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 5:1-2

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Romans 5:1-2, what are the benefits of being justified by faith? How does this relate to the concept of peace with God? [07:31]

2. In the sermon, the pastor mentions the idea of "believing loyalty to Jesus" as a source of true peace. How is this concept explained in the context of Romans 5:1-2? [00:49]

3. The sermon discusses the hostility between humanity and God. How does Romans 5:1-2 address this issue of reconciliation? [04:39]

4. What does the pastor mean by "access to grace" in the sermon, and how is this reflected in Romans 5:1-2? [12:38]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of justification by faith challenge the idea of achieving peace through personal efforts or resolutions? [00:49]

2. The sermon describes a "war of humanity against its creator." How does Romans 5:1-2 provide a solution to this conflict? [03:09]

3. What does it mean to have "confidence before God," and how does this confidence impact a believer's life according to the sermon? [22:14]

4. How does the pastor describe the transformation that occurs when one embraces peace with God? What role does this transformation play in a believer's journey? [35:23]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you tried to find peace through your own efforts. How did that compare to the peace described in Romans 5:1-2? What changes can you make to seek peace through faith in Jesus? [00:49]

2. The sermon mentions letting go of the illusion of control. Identify an area in your life where you struggle with control. How can you practice trusting in God's love and grace in that area this week? [19:48]

3. Consider your current relationship with God. Are there any areas of hostility or denial that you need to address? How can you take steps toward reconciliation and peace with God? [04:39]

4. The pastor talks about living as true reflections of God's glory. What specific actions can you take to reflect God's image in your daily life? [35:23]

5. How can you cultivate a life of gratitude, joy, and stability as described in the sermon? What practical steps can you take to love others as Jesus loves you? [19:48]

6. Think about a person in your life who may not know the peace of God. How can you share the message of reconciliation and peace with them this week? [13:09]

7. The sermon emphasizes the importance of experiencing God's pleasure. What is one area in your life where you can practice trusting in the Father's pleasure because of your loyalty to Jesus? [39:34]

Devotional

Day 1: True Peace Through Loyalty to Jesus
True peace is not achieved through personal efforts or resolutions but through a deep, believing loyalty to Jesus. This peace is rooted in our justification by faith and reconciliation with God, transforming our lives from the inside out. It is a profound reality that surpasses our understanding, as described by the Apostle Paul in Romans. This peace is not merely a feeling but a transformative force that aligns us with God and allows us to experience His grace and glory. [00:49]

Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."

Reflection: What specific area of your life are you trying to control through your own efforts? How can you shift your focus to trusting Jesus for true peace today?


Day 2: Reconciliation with God Through Jesus
Our relationship with God is often marked by hostility and denial, as we attempt to live independently of Him. However, through Jesus, we are offered peace and reconciliation, ending the war between us and God. This peace grants us access to His grace and the hope of sharing in His glory. It is a divine invitation to lay down our defenses and embrace the love and grace that God offers through Jesus Christ. [04:39]

Colossians 1:19-20 (ESV): "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you feel distant from God? How can you invite Jesus into that space to experience His reconciling peace?


Day 3: Justification by Faith and Alignment with God
Being justified by faith means being aligned with God, experiencing His pleasure, and living in a state of grace. It is not about achieving moral perfection but about pledging our allegiance to Jesus. Through this allegiance, we gain peace with God, access to His grace, and the confidence to stand before Him. This alignment with God transforms our lives, allowing us to rejoice in the hope of His glory and live as true reflections of His image. [11:03]

Galatians 2:20 (ESV): "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate your allegiance to Jesus in your daily life? How does this change your perspective on moral perfection?


Day 4: Letting Go of Control and Trusting in God's Love
Embracing God's peace requires letting go of our illusions of control and trusting in His love and grace. This trust leads to a life of gratitude, joy, and stability, enabling us to love others as Jesus loves us. It is a journey of becoming more like Jesus, reflecting His glory in our lives and in the world around us. By surrendering control, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's love and grace. [19:48]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to let go of control? How can you practice trusting God in that area today?


Day 5: Reflecting God's Glory in Our Lives
As we reflect God's image, we are called to live as true reflections of His glory, becoming more like Jesus. This journey involves breathing in God's love and grace, allowing His Spirit to transform us and shine through us in the world. By embracing this calling, we become conduits of God's love and grace, impacting the world around us with His transformative power. [35:23]

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

Reflection: How can you intentionally reflect God's glory in your interactions with others today? What practical steps can you take to allow His Spirit to shine through you?

Quotes


As we step into a new year, you know, we're looking for somewhat of control. Like, okay, maybe this year I can settle things in. I can get some peace through making a resolution, and then I'm totally going to stick with it. I totally am. Great. Good. Good. [00:00:22] (19 seconds)


He's going to tell us something today in Romans, so we'll look in the Scripture, about a lasting and true peace that comes through believing loyalty to Jesus. Like, that's the thing. That's where it comes from. It doesn't come from anything you've been able to accomplish or pull off yourself. [00:01:12] (22 seconds)


But if we don't have His peace in our hearts, if we don't experience this peace, at the deepest levels, then it's not going to flow out into the rest of our life. Many of you have experienced the anxiety. [00:01:51] (18 seconds)


But so what happens when we sever that and we go into hostility with God? Well, that's the nature of our birth. The nature of our sin. We cringe at the idea of the wrath of God, but who's the one that started the war? It was humanity. [00:04:33] (20 seconds)


Because there is peace from the Middle East, from the Middle East 2,000 years ago. And in Romans 5, verses 1 through 2, Paul just unveils this transformative power of how we've been made right with God and we get to experience His pleasure. [00:07:09] (22 seconds)


Therefore, since we have been justified by faith... I'll explain that, but just let those words sit. Since we've been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus the Christ. Remember, not a name, but a claim. He is Lord and Christ. He is King Jesus our Lord. [00:08:13] (24 seconds)


And some of you have had people in your life like that, that you're like, I'm going to bring you to life. I'm going to bring you to life. I'm going to bring you to life. You're like, no, no, no, I don't want you in my life. And they just pursue you. They hound you. They love you. [00:13:29] (10 seconds)


I mean, that's my experience right now, but that's also my hope because I was saved. I was justified. I'm being justified and I will be justified. This is a thing that God is doing in me and in us, made right, made pleasing to God. [00:11:42] (18 seconds)


And we know what that would mean is approach the throne of grace with confidence. We would know that, that he understands our weaknesses, that he's our high priest and he intercedes for us. Right now, you know what Jesus is praying for you? I don't know. [00:24:31] (12 seconds)


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Transcript
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