Peace with God

Read Leviticus 5

Read Romans 5

The part of the reading today that I wanted to pick up on (though we could talk about a variety of things) is what Paul says about what our justification means in practical application. It means new life in Christ (victory over the death we inherited from Adam). It also means peace with God.

If we understand that our sinful nature makes us enemies of God, hostile to his will and his ways, then we rejoice that through Jesus Christ we have peace and reconciliation. Peace with God means no fear of punishment, no fear of hell. Peace with God means ultimate and eternal joy in heaven. Peace with God means (as Paul would soon say) that if God is for us, who can be against us?

And this comforts us in our present sufferings. Yes, we must suffer for a little while. We must pick up our cross and follow Jesus. But at the same time we have a true hope, a living hope. We have peace even in this world of turmoil. We know that if we should face pains, problems, strife and struggles, disease and death, we can still have peace with God. For the Christian this suffering produces endurance, and character, and hope. We are more than conquers. Though we can and do suffer greatly, we will overcome.

We meditate on a hymn of Paul Gerhardt:

Why should cross and trial grieve me?
Christ is near
With his cheer;
Never will He leave me.
Who can rob me of the heaven
That God's Son
For me won
When His life was given?

When life's troubles rise to meet me,
Though their weight
May be great,
They will not defeat me.
God, my loving Savior, sends them;
He who knows
All my woes
Knows how best to end them.

God gives me my days of gladness,
And I will
Trust Him still
When He sends me sadness.
God is good;
His love attends me
Day by day,
Come what may,
Guides me and defends me.

Pray:

Gracious God, grant me faith like Paul Gerhardt to confidently cling to your power and love in the midst of suffering and adversity. Guard and defend me always. Amen.

Study with me tomorrow,

Pastor Jon

Soli Deo Gloria!