“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 warfare, violence, and political upheaval. Experience should have taught us that peace cannot be legislated or established by human governments. And yet, a lot of people these days voice their opinions about how to bring about peace and harmony among the peoples of the earth. They don’t know what they are taking about for the most part for they seek peace through education, dialogue, and even violence but what results is more division and acrimony. This is because those who seem to talk the loudest and wield the most influence or have the most followers on do not consult the word of God.
The word of God presents us the way to lasting peace: peace with God as the Apostle Paul teaches here in these words from his letter to the Romans that true and lasting peace comes only from being united with Christ Jesus by faith. Such an option is rejected by those in our world clamoring and claiming they have the solution, they have the truth. Yet they seem to ignore the words and thoughts of God. As Paul tells us those who have faith in Jesus have that peace and unity all people seek for God saves His enemies and makes them His friends. The peace we have with God is through the cross of Christ. 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 if we have been reconciled and united with Him, then too we are united with all men and women who share that faith by which we all stand together because we stand together in Him.
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 both Him and us so they too may know of His grace and enter into the peace which only He can grant.