Before peace there is no peace

Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. The access to this peace comes by faith and provides justification by God because of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Christ is the source and focus of the faith that justifies. Faith is the instrument used to take hold of the gift of eternal life that Jesus Christ purchased by his atonement for the sins of the redeemed on the cross of Calvary. Jesus Christ saves sinners and Scripture reveals in many places how Jesus does this by changing sinners from the inside out. It reveals how the Holy Spirit changes hearts of stone into hearts of flesh and enables sinners to respond to the gospel with new attitudes and desires. Scripture explains how this new attitude results in sanctification that produces fruit and good works. However, the interesting point in this particular verse is the declaration that a person at the moment of justification secures peace with God.

Therefore, this implies that we were not at peace with God before our justification. In Romans 1:18, Paul explains that God’s wrath is in play before one has peace with God. God is extremely angry at the ungodliness and unrighteousness of sinners and their destiny is spiritual death unless they have this peace as Paul explains in Romans 6:23. It is popular in evangelism today to proclaim that God loves you unconditionally. Is this the right thing to tell a sinner who is under wrath and in need of “peace with God”? It is also popular today to “invite” sinners to accept the gospel call and some even say you should not cloud the issue by bringing up subjects like sin and repentance. However, Paul told the men of Athens in Acts 17:30-31, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Did Paul have it wrong and all the seeker sensitive methods of today have it right?

Brothers and sisters we rejoice in God’s love and mercy, but sinners that do not have peace with God and are under his wrath should hear the bad news of why they need peace with God. God is angry with them and they have a problem that can be solved by the good news of grace through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. God uses Scripture and men to give the external call to lost sinners. We should endeavor to do it as accurately and completely as we can without sugar coating or ignoring God’s wrath at sin.