Peace with God Through Justification by Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Transformation Through Justification by Faith

Justification by faith is a transformative act that changes our relationship with God from one of enmity to one of peace. This peace is not a fleeting emotion but a profound change in our standing before God, rooted in the work of Christ. Through faith, we are justified, meaning that the hostility and wrath that once separated us from God are removed. This new relationship is characterized by reconciliation and the end of hostility, allowing us to stand confidently before God. The peace we experience is a present reality, not a future hope, and it is grounded in the sacrifice of Christ, who was delivered for our offenses and raised for our justification. [02:23]

Romans 3:23-24 (ESV): "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: Consider a time when you felt distant from God. How does understanding justification by faith change your perception of your relationship with Him today?

Day 2: Understanding True Peace with God

True peace with God involves a deep understanding of the doctrine of justification. It is not enough to have an emotional experience; our minds must grasp the truth of God's provision in Christ, leading to genuine rest and assurance. This peace is rooted in the knowledge that God's wrath against sin has been satisfied through Christ's sacrifice. As we comprehend this truth, we find rest for our minds and assurance of God's love. This understanding allows us to stand firm against accusations from our conscience and the devil, knowing that our justification is based on Christ's work, not our own. [16:11]

Colossians 1:21-22 (ESV): "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him."

Reflection: How can you deepen your understanding of justification by faith to experience true peace with God today?

Day 3: Standing Firm Against Accusations

The peace we have with God enables us to face accusations from our conscience and the devil. By standing firm in the knowledge of Christ's atoning work, we can silence these voices and maintain our peace. This peace assures us of God's love and removes the fear of death and judgment. It provides stability even when we fall into sin, reminding us that our justification is based on Christ's work, not our own. As we hold onto this truth, we can confidently answer any accusations and rest in the assurance of our standing before God. [21:23]

1 John 3:19-20 (ESV): "By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything."

Reflection: What accusations or doubts do you need to silence today by standing firm in the knowledge of Christ's atoning work?

Day 4: Assurance in the Face of Death and Judgment

A genuine experience of peace with God removes the fear of death and judgment. This assurance comes from knowing that our standing before God is secure in Christ, not dependent on our own efforts. As we embrace this truth, we find freedom from the fear of death and the confidence to face judgment, knowing that we are justified by faith. This assurance is a present reality, allowing us to live with peace and confidence in our relationship with God. [23:20]

Hebrews 2:14-15 (ESV): "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery."

Reflection: How does the assurance of your standing before God in Christ change your perspective on death and judgment today?

Day 5: Living Out True Peace

True peace is characterized by humility, gratitude, and a desire for holiness. It is not a superficial or glib assurance but a deep-seated confidence in God's grace, leading to a life of praise and careful living. This peace transforms our daily lives, prompting us to live with humility and gratitude for the grace we have received. As we pursue holiness, we reflect the peace we have with God in our relationships and actions, living out the reality of our justification by faith. [42:14]

Titus 2:11-12 (ESV): "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age."

Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate humility, gratitude, and a desire for holiness in your daily life as a reflection of the peace you have with God?

Sermon Summary

In Romans 5:1-2, we find a profound declaration of the peace we have with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, a peace that is the result of being justified by faith. This peace is not merely a subjective feeling but a fundamental change in our relationship with God. Justification by faith means that the enmity and wrath that once existed between us and God have been removed, and we now stand in a new relationship with Him. This peace is not the peace of God, which helps us in times of trouble, but peace with God, signifying reconciliation and the end of hostility.

The Apostle Paul emphasizes that this peace is a present reality for those justified by faith. It is not something we hope to achieve but something we possess. This peace is rooted in the work of Christ, who was delivered for our offenses and raised for our justification. Through His sacrifice, God's wrath against sin was satisfied, allowing Him to be both just and the justifier of those who have faith in Jesus.

This peace manifests in several ways. Firstly, it brings rest to our minds as we understand the doctrine of justification by faith. Secondly, it assures us of God's love, demonstrated through Christ's sacrifice. Thirdly, it enables us to answer the accusations of our conscience and the devil, standing firm in the knowledge of Christ's atoning work. Fourthly, it removes the fear of death and judgment, as we are secure in our standing before God. Lastly, it provides stability even when we fall into sin, reminding us that our justification is based on Christ's work, not our own.

Key Takeaways

1. Justification by faith transforms our relationship with God, removing enmity and establishing peace. This peace is not a mere feeling but a profound change in our standing before God, rooted in the work of Christ. [02:23]
2. True peace with God involves a deep understanding of the doctrine of justification. It is not enough to have an emotional experience; our minds must grasp the truth of God's provision in Christ, leading to genuine rest and assurance. [16:11]
3. The peace we have with God enables us to face accusations from our conscience and the devil. By standing firm in the knowledge of Christ's atoning work, we can silence these voices and maintain our peace. [21:23]
4. A genuine experience of peace with God removes the fear of death and judgment. This assurance comes from knowing that our standing before God is secure in Christ, not dependent on our own efforts. [23:20]
5. True peace is characterized by humility, gratitude, and a desire for holiness. It is not a superficial or glib assurance but a deep-seated confidence in God's grace, leading to a life of praise and careful living. [42:14]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:17] - Introduction to Romans 5:1-2
[00:39] - Justification by Faith
[01:16] - Peace with God Explained
[02:23] - The Nature of Peace with God
[03:17] - God's Wrath and Reconciliation
[04:52] - The Role of Christ's Sacrifice
[06:26] - God's Justice and Justification
[08:13] - Reconciliation from Both Sides
[09:42] - Misconceptions about God
[11:15] - The Test of True Christianity
[14:02] - Resting in Justification
[17:38] - Assurance and Faith
[22:39] - Overcoming Fear of Death
[27:43] - Characteristics of True Peace
[32:47] - False Peace vs. True Peace
[40:18] - Maintaining True Peace
[46:11] - Conclusion and Prayer

Sermon Clips

Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in Hope of the glory of God now we began last week you remember to consider this chapter and in particular what we are told here in these first two verses the Apostle here is beginning to draw out what is true of us as the result of this great doctrine of justification by faith. [00:00:17]

The Apostle says that we have this we rejected the translation as you have it in the revised version which is an exhortation let us have it is undoubtedly we have that's the whole purpose which the Apostle has in mind here and that is the thing that he's emphasizing and we also Drew attention to the fact that this is peace with God and not the peace of God peace with regard to God and not that peace which God gives his people which enables them to avoid anxious care when they are surrounded by trials and troubles and tribulations. [00:01:32]

What does mean by that it's a great and a grand and a glorious statement well it means in its Essence that what hitherto prevailed as condition between God and ourselves has been removed that is what justification does it changes men's relationship to God what used to be the case is no longer the case and and instead of it there is this new relationship which he here outlines now it's very important obviously therefore that we should look at both sides of this. [00:02:50]

Apart from justification apart from this which has been done for us in and through the Lord Jesus Christ there is no peace between God and Men there is no peace on God's side as well as men's side for the wrath of God is upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men now we must never forget that of course mankind is always very ready to forget that that is why you see they think they can bypass the Lord Jesus Christ and all his work. [00:05:01]

The Apostle has already been telling us we didn't need to go over this again I just remind you the complete answer is rarely given in chapter 3 in verses 25 and 26 he said you see being justified freely by his grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ Christ Jesus whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance of God. [00:06:20]

The test of any profession of Christianity is as to whether this is true of us has our natural state of fearfulness with respect to God and enmity with respect to God being removed the Apostle lays it down here that it is an inevitable consequence of justification now you notice that he doesn't say here that the Christian is a man who's hoping that this may be the case be being justified having been justified by faith we have peace we are not looking for it we are not hoping to get it we have it we've got it it is we are rejoicing in it. [00:11:56]

A man who has peace with God is a man whose mind is at rest about his relationship with God what does this mean well it means this he's a man who must be able to understand with his mind this doctrine of justification by faith only he is a man who thinks thus this is how he used to think think let me put it like that first he used to think when he was awakened ah there is God in his utter absolute Holiness Y in sin there is God's law it has made its pronouncements I have sinned I cannot erase my past I cannot undo what I have done how can I stand in the presence of God. [00:14:00]

This man is also a man because of all that who knows now that God loves him in spite of the fact that he's a sinner and in spite of his sin he was troubled before by the wrath of God his question was how can God possibly love me and bless me but as he looks at Christ dying on the cross buried and Rising again he says yes I know he does I can't understand it but I know he does there it is he's done that so that he's a man who knows in this way because of this that God loves him. [00:17:43]

The man who's been justified by faith and who has peace with God can answer the accusations of his own conscience and he has to do that because there are viices within a men which suggest to him oh this is impossible how can you look at yourself look at your heart look at the thing things that are in it look at the plague of your own heart how can it possibly be the case that God has forgiven you and that God loves you these accusations arise within and they Hur themselves at us if you can't answer them you are not justified by faith. [00:19:08]

Where there is a true grasping of the doctrine of justification by faith there is no longer fear of death there is no longer fear of the Judgment this follows of necessity the author of The epistle to the Hebrews argues this out in the second chapter he says that Christ has delivered all those who were subject to bondage all their lives what was the bondage the fear of death which was controlled by the Devil he's defeated the devil and therefore delivered them from from this bondage and fear of death. [00:22:39]

The man who has been justified by faith has peace with God and that's a very good way of showing it and then therefore lastly I put this and this I find more and more is a very valuable test especially as I talk to others about spiritual problems can you do all that I've been describing and saying even when you fall in into sin you see what I mean it's all right for a man to be able to argue like this when his life has been fairly good and normal then imagine a man falling into some Grievous sin sudden Temptation took him and before he knew what had happened he Fallen he'd gone down to it here is his sin now here's a question can you still employ the arguments I've been describing even when you fall into sin. [00:23:20]

The man who's got a true peace is a man who's amazed that he's got it amazed at the fact that he's ever been Justified at all that God has ever looked upon him and called him by his grace which leads to the next characteristic which is that he's humble you remember one of the characteristics of Abram's faith we were told was this he staggered not in unbelief at the promise of God but was strong in faith giving glory to God go through your New Testament and you will find always the most outstanding characteristic of the Christian is that he's humble poor in spirit Meek lowly realizing the truth about himself and about God and realizing that he owes it all to Christ he's a humble man he's a lonly man. [00:42:14]

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