Peace Came At A Cost
1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2. By whom also we have access by faith into this Grace wherein we stand and rejoice in Hope of the Glory of God.
3. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulations works patience;
4. And patience, experience, and experience, hope:
5. And hope does not make us ashamed; because the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who is given to us.
Romans 5:1-5
Peace is Not Gained through Earthly Treasures
One of the huge problems and causes of loss of peace is not understanding or knowing the value of spiritual resources. The materialistic Christian will attempt to use spiritual resources in order to get earthly riches. This is the wrong approach to honoring God and following Scripture. Such spiritual resources as love, faith, joy, wisdom, and power are far more valuable to the Christian’s life than earthly treasures such as silver, gold, rubies, and diamonds. Even that is an understatement. For starters, there is no market for using silver and gold in the spiritual realm. You cannot trade them. There is no store in the Heavenly realm that will accept such cheap stuff. You cannot hire an Angel to do work with such trash. It is an insult to God if you approach His Holy Throne with the thought that God will accept you on the basis of wealth.
It should also be noted that seeking such treasures with the anticipation of happiness is nothing more than a trap. Even the mythological story of Midas warned against the trap of greed and dependence on wealth. While everything he touched turned to gold, it did him no good, for no one could come near lest they be turned into a lifeless piece of metal. The moral was clear – riches mean nothing if you are out of touch with people. For that reason, Christians must focus on God’s Kingdom as the highest priority, and all other things, God will add as they are needed.
Yet, when the true Christian comes to God on the basis of faith and hope, they are accepted before God and their prayers are honored in Heaven. As a matter of fact, God releases the resources of Heaven to provide supernatural blessing for the true Christian. These resources may even include the release of earthly treasures if they are needed to accomplish God’s Will. The sincere Christian, however, will never use such earthly things as the foundation for trusting God. They know better.
It is critical that we start with a better understanding of spiritual resources versus earthly treasure to establish the fact that nothing in this world can bring peace. That is a fact. Peace can only come from a shalom experience with Almighty God. Peace came at a price that God paid. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
God’s Peace Ends All Wars
Allow me to set up this scenario so that we can fully appreciate what it means to possess peace with God. While lasting peace means more than the absence of war, that same peace does have implications that a war is raging. There is first and foremost the war that is raging in the hearts of people. The Apostle Paul describes this conflict as the “wretched man” or one who is in perpetual conflict. It is the state of one who understands that there is nothing good inside their heart. That conflict is so intense that some have attempted, and others have succeeded in relieving the pain by taking their own life. While we would agree that suicide is wrong, we must also agree that the battle of sin in the heart causes pain to everyone. If you have not fought this battle then you have surrendered and made terms of temporary peace through habits, addictions, and other destructive things. Those efforts are temporary peace arrangements; they are not the lasting provisions that come through a shalom experience with God. Thus far in the inner war against sin, there are no peace agreements that have lasted. Every manmade agreement has ultimately failed. Thus, with Paul we cry out “O’ wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:24.
The other battle front is the war against God. While this war points back to the internal conflict in the heart, it also takes on a strife of its own. The human mind is not subject to God’s Law, it is disobedient to God’s Spirit, and no matter how desperate – it has no power to gain peace with God. For that reason and more, people fight against God in order to be “free.” But God will not be silent in this matter. And although God is angry with the sinner, His Mercy proclaims, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked will turn from their evil way.” Ezekiel 33:11. While many of us may assume that the only people at war against God are those who murder, steal, commit fornication, and speak evil against God, we need to think again. The Bible declares that we have all sinned and come short of God’s Glory. Romans 3:23. That puts everyone at war with God until a Peace Agreement can be arranged.
That arrangement for Peace with God did come, but not through human negotiations. God Almighty made a unilateral agreement to make Peace with mankind on His terms and through His Peace Mediator. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace … Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:6-7. That Peace with God did not come as a result of a political movement. Peace did not come about through an economic strategy. Peace was not bought with money. Nor was it a transaction through a stock exchange. God’s Peace Plan came through His Son that was given. God’s Peace Plan came through the Child that was born. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1.
We conclude that God alone came up with the Peace Plan, but it is up to all of us to sign the Arrangement. Paul gives us the signature requirement when he says, Therefore being justified by faith. It is faith alone in Christ alone that ratifies the Agreement and thereby obtain Peace with God. Peace Came at A Cost. Jesus paid it All! Jesus paid the upfront cost, but there is something you must pay in maintaining that Peace with God. It is called continuing in Faith.
Kept by God’s Peace
Jesus gave us this Peace we have and there is nothing that can take that away from us, not even the Devil. That does not mean that you will not be threatened to the point that you cannot enjoy God’s Peace. The most wonderful definition of God’s Peace was given by Dr. Billy Graham. “Until you actually possess true Peace with God, no one can describe its wonders to you.” In other words, you must know the Peace of God for yourself and then you will understand it. There is no need taking up time to attempt to illustrate what it is to people who don’t know it. For those who know God’s Peace, you already know how wonderful it is. Praise God in the Highest!
While there is no threat whatsoever of losing that Peace, there is always the threat of not enjoying it. This threat comes from the world, the flesh, and the Devil who will harass, disturb, and torment you all the way to Heaven. Yet, the Apostle Paul does not simply say, “put up with it.” He offers encouragement by showing that the tribulation you will face as a result of possessing the Peace of God is a process of God’s perfection.
This is how the Peace Plan works. Through Jesus we have access by faith into the Grace of God that allows us to stand and rejoice in Hope of God’s Glory. Romans 5:2, By whom also we have access by faith into this Grace wherein we stand and rejoice in Hope of the Glory of God. Rejoicing is like a blossom that demonstrates possessing God’s Peace. The rejoicing is not limited to good times but also the tough times. Paul calls these the tribulations or troubles we face. But even that works out for our good. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulations works patience … And patience, experience, and experience, hope.
If I’m listening to this correctly, God’s Peace in my heart works to the point of causing my heart to rejoice even when I am in trouble. In other words, the presence of a storm does not keep us from God’s Peace. Much like the Disciples discovery on the troubled sea, you and I can also hear Jesus commanding the waves and wind with His Word, “Peace, be still.” The end result is that I have even greater confidence that God is with me no matter what happens in life.
Your cost, should you accept God’s Peace, is to put up with the mess that the world may throw your way. Pay the cost and then you will know that God’s Peace is abiding in you and will continue to move you to perfection. Even in trouble, we will never be ashamed, disappointed, nor afraid because we possess God’s Peace. And hope does not make us ashamed; because the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who is given to us. Got Peace?