“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2).
Being justified with God—having right standing with God—is peace. We can only stand in the true Grace of God—in His peace—when we believe in our hearts that Jesus gave us right standing with God. We can only live His righteousness when we believe we have received His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). When we truly know we are at peace with God, then we have peace.
We choose to stand strong in our peace with God. We choose to deny fear because we know that perfect peace with God casts out fear (1 John 4:18). Jesus has given us right standing with God we can never earn. We take hold of the shield of faith that is ours in Christ. We walk in the peace His righteousness has given us. We exercise the authority Christ has given us (Luke 10:19). And having done all, we stand in the truth and the power that is ours in Christ (Ephesians 6:10-13).
Right-standing with God—peace with God—only comes through faith in what Christ did for us. It only comes by putting our faith in Christ’s finished work of Grace. When we put our faith in Christ, our lives are not perfect. We deal with the issues of life every day, but we choose to put our faith in what we can’t see. We choose to live by faith and not by sight.
True Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and to live soberly and righteously (Titus 2:12). True Grace also teaches us that it is only by His righteousness we live and have our being (Acts 17:28). When we know our righteous standing with God through the Grace of Christ and live out of that truth, we live in God’s peace.
Faith in God comes out of who we believe we are in Christ. It comes out of believing that nothing can separate us from God —and that we have peace with God because of our relationship with Jesus. Having peace with God is the only way we can walk in faith. Otherwise, we are going to try to do something—to prove something to God to get Him to do something for us.
God does not do something for us because we do something for Him. There is nothing left to be done. Christ’s work is complete and finished. When we believe Christ’s work has fully accomplished our right standing with God—that He has already accomplished our complete atonement (1 Peter 2:24), we can receive by faith God’s forgiveness and healing. We can rest in His peace when we believe there is nothing we have to earn. Christ has earned what it is impossible for us to earn. When we live out of the righteousness He has given us, our faith produces good works that are filled with God instead of ourselves.
When you exercise faith, you trust God. When you trust God, you experience peace. Where you experience peace in your life is where you have faith. Know who you are in the finished work of Christ—believe what Christ has given you—and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:2).
You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21). Trust your right standing with God. Exercise your faith to experience His peace. Stand in faith and believe in your heart that God who loves you is faithful to keep you safe and secure all the days of your life (1 Corinthians 1:8-9, Philippians 1:6, Ephesians 1:13).
Your peace is not an outward truth. It is an inward truth. What is seen is not faith. You believe when you haven’t seen (Hebrews 11:1. You received Jesus and were made right with God by faith. You received His righteousness by faith. You receive your life in Him by faith. You live the truth of your life in Him by faith. You walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
You are justified with God by faith in Jesus—not by anything you do.
“But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5).
© 2023 Lynn Lacher
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