“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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.” (Romans 5:1-2)
The whole world is looking for peace amidst the trauma of the COVID pandemic and the resulting political and social chaos. But human governments cannot legislate or engender peace. Neither can the media talking heads and academics. In fact, they seem to promote division and hate, not peace. Not even the scientific/ medical community can bring peace even with effective vaccines and treatment for COVID.
True and lasting peace comes only from being united with Christ Jesus by faith, an option rejected by those in our world clamoring and claiming they have the solution, they have the truth. Paul tells us that those who have faith in Jesus have that peace and unity all people seek for God saves His enemies and makes them His friends. Paul tells us the great news that through the work of Christ we now have peace with God. This is the essence of God’s grace: Christ died to justify us, to make us righteous before the Father so that we may be saved from God’s justice and so escape His wrath against sin. We do not deserve His grace because we were His enemies, alienated from and hostile to Him. Even so, God sent His Son Jesus to die for us. There was nothing worthy or desirable in us, yet He loved us so much that He showered His grace on us and reconciled us to Himself.
And yet, though we know we are justified by God’s action in and through Christ, we have difficulty appropriating, understanding or believing it. Therefore we must always bear in mind that salvation comes all by God’s grace and His work, lest we become conceited and think we have earned or merited it. Neither should we fall into despair because of our sinfulness. And in addition, we have an obligation to share God’s grace with others as the Lord has poured it out on us. This is so that others may know the truth, repent and rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ who has bought us reconciliation with His own blood. For if the Lord did this great thing for us while we hated Him, so ought we to give our lives in love to those who hate us as well as Him so they too may know of His grace.