Peace

 

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith,

we have peace with God through Jesus Christ our LORD.”

Romans 5:1 (NIV)

            To understand fully Paul’s message here we need to look at a few verses of chapter 4.

Abraham was credited as righteous because of his faith. This happened because Abraham ‘in hope believed.’ (:18) His faith did not weaken when he regarded God’s promise to him. Paul writes that “the words, ‘it was credited to him’” also apply to the believers in Rome. By extension, these words also apply to modern day believers.

            Paul continues into the next section. ‘Therefore,’ simply means because of God looking as us just-as-if-I’d not sinned. We have no quarrel with God because we have peace with the LORD Jesus Christ.

            Peace will not come to our world until Jesus Christ returns to our earth and takes His people home with Him. The world has had nations waging war against nations or people groups against one another for quite a number of centuries. In some recent research, I discovered the Spanish Inquisition “was said to date from 1200. . . and continued until 1808.”(Matthew 24:7)⁽¹⁾

Yes, our world will have peace but we also will “hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.” ⁽²⁾

            During these times, we need to live close to the LORD. He IS our peace.

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1. Foxes Book of Martyrs, Updated and Abridged    Barbour Publishing, Inc. © 2001 page 30

2. The Holy Bible, New International Bible, Zondervan Bible Publishers, Grand Rapids, Michigan,  Matthew 24:6 Page 908