August 2, 2026, Morning Service
Peace
Pastor Greg Isom
We are on a journey together through Paul’s letter to the Romans. Today Chapter 5 begins with the word “therefore.” Anytime you see that you should go back and establish the point or points that he is preparing to build on. In the first four chapters so far, Paul has built a strong foundation showing us that we are all sinners hopelessly lost on our own. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (3:23) “None is righteous, no not one.” (3:10). He revealed to us that through simply obeying the Law it is impossible for us to “earn” our own righteousness and forgiveness. There is nothing we could “do” to save ourselves from our own sins leaving our relationship with God broken.
It was then that he introduced us to the faith of Abraham. “Abraham believed and it was accounted to him as righteousness.” (4:3) He concludes for us; “A man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the Law.” Abraham was justified by simply believing that God was able to do all that He said. He displayed his faith, which is “the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen” even when he did not understand how things would work out. His faith was so strong that he did not have to see it to believe it, but just fully trusted God at His Word. Paul closed chapter 4 speaking of Abraham like this for us leading right into his “therefore.”
Romans 4:20-25 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, (21) and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. (22) And therefore “IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (23) Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, (24) but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, (25) who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
Paul is telling us that the same justification is not for Abraham alone, “but also for us!” Through believing in God and our Lord Jesus Christ, who was delivered up for our offences, the same justification will be imputed to us. When we truly believe in God (have faith) it is accounted to us as righteousness. Our faith that God is who He says He is the foundation for our relationship with Him to be healed. The Hebrew writer says this about faith:
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
If we do not have faith and “believe that He is,” it is impossible for us to please Him and have a relationship with Him. You must believe and then “diligently seek Him” in order to be rewarded or blessed by Him in any way. Faith is absolutely vital in our walk with the Lord. Paul uses that to springboard now into the advantages (rewards/blessings) of our faith as we now venture into Chapter 5.
Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Because we believe (have faith), we are justified in God’s eyes and our broken relationship with God is reconciled. The first advantage we are given is “Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Now we may think of peace as experiencing calmness or tranquility and that is really a biproduct of the peace he is talking about here. Having peace with God means we have a confident assurance that our relationship with Him has been fully and completely reconciled. There are no walls of sin or hostility between us any longer, Jesus has removed everything that separated us from our Creator. His work of Calvary fully reconciled us to God. Isaiah prophesied of this being God’s plan hundreds of years before Jesus was even born.
Isa 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
The price for our peace was paid in full by Jesus, just as God designed it. Our peace is an advantage of our faith giving us a confident assurance that this is all true and God is for us. Jesus spoke of this peace to the disciples and shows us the source of it.
John 14:26-27 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (27) Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
The disciples peace at that time came from Jesus being physically present with them. Here Jesus promises to them, and us, that our peace will come from the presence of the Holy Spirit in our life. With God, through the Holy Spirit, being present with us we can now have the same calm assurance (peace) as they did. Since God is with us, we have no need to fear either what we are facing in the present or the future. Sin, fear, uncertainty, doubt and despair are all at war within us in this earthly body. But the peace Jesus is offering us here restrains those forces and grants us comfort in times of conflict. Jesus promised this as well.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Again see the source of our peace; “that in Me you may have peace.” Jesus is our peace but He is also very transparent about what we can expect in our walk with Him. “In the world you will have tribulation.” In walking with Jesus and His peace, that does not mean we will have and easy life without conflict or trouble. He is not promising a life of tranquility and calm, but He tells us to expect tribulation. BUT He tells us to “be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Believing Him here at His word is where our peace comes from. He is calling us to a life of courage knowing that He is with us and will never leave us or forsake us. Nothing happens to us that He is not in control of and He will spin it somehow for our good (Rom 8:28). His presence in our life and that He is in total control over us grants us to be able to face even the most difficult circumstances with peace in our heart. Paul described that peace for us in his letter to the Philippians and how to keep it:
Php. 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (7) and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Paul commands us in order to attain and keep this peace of God, we must pray about everything and worry about nothing. We must have the faith that when we bring any situation before God, He will here us and do what is best for us (not always what we want). This peace is described in that it is indescribable. “Peace of God that surpasses all understanding.” God’s peace is so great that we don’t have the ability to even understand it. His peace “will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” True peace is not found in positive thinking, in the absence of conflict, or in good tranquil thoughts. God’s perfect peace comes to me through faith fully trusting God to work everything out in a way that is best for me and will bring glory to God in my life.
Are you there yet? Do you experience God’s perfect peace in your times of tribulation? If not, pray more and draw closer to the One who offers you this peace that passes all understanding. Remember where we started; “therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace in God through Christ Jesus.” It is in our relationship with Jesus and our faith in His Word that we will be able to “live above” all the trials of this world and experience His true peace. It begins and ends with faith.
Where are you this morning? Where is your faith? Do you believe God and allow that to be accounted to you for righteousness giving you this wonderful, blessed peace? Or do you feel like you are on the outside looking in? Jesus’ work is complete and our salvation hinges only on us believing God that this is true and committing to following Him.