“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Romans 5:1

jUSTIFIED BY FAITH.

Justification declares sinners righteous on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ alone. When God looks at us as believers in Christ, it’s just as if we’d never sinned, and we receive every benefit of justification. These include having peace with God, obtaining access to Him, learning to rejoice in hope and affliction, cultivating God-honoring character, and possessing His love.

In the Bible, justification is a legal term where God declares us righteous in His sight through our faith in Jesus Christ. It’s not about our good works or what we can accomplish on our own. It’s about God’s grace and love covering our sins and making us right with Him. And as we walk through life, we load our trays with the many blessings that come with being justified—peace, access to God, endurance, perseverance, and the love of Christ.

When we reach the end of the line, ready to pay for all these blessings, we find that Jesus has already taken care of the bill. Jesus paid the bill for us when He died on the cross, shedding His blood for our sins. We can never repay the debt we owe, but we can gratefully accept His gift and live in the light of His love.

God does not want His children to live in fear, doubt, or insecurity. God wants His sons and daughters to be free from fear and doubt.

PEACE

Paul says, “Therefore, having been justified, we have peace with God.” God is interested in speaking directly to your fear, doubt, and insecurity. You’ve been justified by your faith in Jesus Christ and that gives you peace with God. 

As we read on in Romans chapter 5, it gets even better. Paul says that not only do you have peace with God, but because of your faith in Jesus, you now get to stand in grace. Grace isn’t something to take lightly as believers—simply thanking God for forgiving and saving us by His grace. That’s not the only use of grace. Grace is a house where you live. It’s a suit that you wear. It’s an ocean that you sink in. God’s grace is ever present and ever living—ever ready to pour out and give upon giving. 

Paul continues, “But that’s not all! We gladly suffer because we know that suffering helps us to endure.” Even in your sufferings His grace is alive and well. Suffering, when met with grace, produces endurance. Endurance means to stay with it, to stay on track and persevere. And endurance produces proven character, and proven character, hope.

As we explore this concept further in these devotionals, take some time to meditate on how God has blessed you. It may be hard if you are going through a difficult time right now but start with your salvation. Think about how gracious He has been in saving you, and then everything else will follow.

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” 

C.S. Lewis