Friday, November 26, 2021
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1 KJV).
Having our most severe danger removed, all other problems are but minor….
Recently, I watched a video from several years ago in which a news anchor broke the serious news to his viewers. His brain cancer had returned. As I listened to him calmly relay that devastating update—it was terminal and he had less than six months to live—his next words really grabbed my attention. He turned to his co-host and then looked at the camera. “I am at peace,” were his words. He stated he was a Bible-believing Christian and he knew God would take care of him in the days ahead. She and all their other coworkers were surprised to see him handle the news so well and deliver it with such great composure. Eight months later, he was in Heaven. Millions have heard of his story ever since.
I do not know exactly all he understood from the Bible, but it was clear from his statements he did recognize he was in the Lord’s hands, and he was a powerful testimony to all who saw him coping with such strength and tranquility. That is the power of the Holy Spirit working mightily in the believer in Christ. Our greatest problem—sin, separation from God—has been corrected through Jesus’ shed blood on Calvary. God is no longer angry with us: we, by faith, have appropriated the merits of Christ to our account. We no longer fear experiencing God’s wrath. If our most ominous predicament has been remedied, any other problems we face simply fade into the background. Our eternal fate is certain in Christ, we are bound for Heaven, so our worst outcome here on Earth simply does not compare.
Our King James Bible says, in today’s Scripture, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Reaching back to the previous four chapters, Paul summarizes our peace with God. This is not, as corrupt modern versions read, “Let us have peace.” No, it is a completed action, “We have [right now, already settled!] peace with God.” We take what we have in Christ, and apply it to life by faith….
333 Words of Grace 