Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. – Romans 5:1
Charles Dawes, Frank Kellogg, Jane Adams, Nicholas Butler, Cordell Hull, Emily Balch, John Mott, Ralph Bunche, George Marshall, Jr., Linus Pauling, Martin Luther King, Jr., Norman Borlaug, Henry Kissinger, Elie Wiesel, Jody Williams, and Al Gore. Only a few of these names may be recognizable to you. These American citizens, along with Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama, have all been winners of the Nobel Peace Prize since it was first awarded in 1901. The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognized each of them for “outstanding contributions to peace, arms reduction, and international cooperation.” One may wonder what long-lasting impact their efforts have made on today’s world.
Peace in the world, when it exists, is transitory. The unpeaceful world can easily upset the mind and soul. Yet, for the Christian, one who has been justified by faith, as the Apostle Paul says in today’s verse, there is a peace that passes all worldly understanding, and it begins by having peace with God. The 19th-century theologian Friedrich Philippi said, “Peace with God is not a state of mind, but a relationship to God.” It is a fact, not a feeling. The prophet Isaiah confirmed this when he said, “The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever” (Isaiah 32:17).
This kind of personal, soul peace comes only as a result of being reconciled to God through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). An old bumper sticker said, “No God, no peace. Know God, know peace.” Remember that in today’s verse, Paul says that peace with God comes through Jesus Christ. He is the sole means of attaining this peace and, along with it, joy and friendship with God. Is your soul at peace today? If you have never done so, prayerfully open up your heart to Jesus. Reach out to the Prince of Peace in faith, inviting Him to come into your life and take control of it.
Today’s Verse: Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Romans 5:1-11
5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
