Peace with God

 November 23, 2021

Peace with God…that’s something most of us long for, even if we don’t believe in God or know what that means. We may give it different names—contentment, satisfaction, safety or security, absence of fear. From the humblest peasant to the richest and most powerful, we desire peace, but often pursue it in the strangest of ways. We argue and fight, try to gain the upper hand, or hide away where we imagine the ills of this world cannot reach. All the while, it is within reach.

Paul says something quite unusual here that is hidden by the punctuation given the text by later editors. That punctuation may be technically correct, but it hides a significant truth. Pause over his words in Romans 5. He has just finished schooling us on justification, arguing that we are made right with God by faith in what Jesus Christ has done on our behalf, and not by anything we can accomplish. 

He then says this: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” Here’s where the punctuation makes a difference like that made when we say, “Let’s eat, Joe,” instead of “Let’s eat Joe.” The problem with Paul’s statement as we usually read it is that there are a lot of people who have been justified by faith who still don't have peace with God. They believe that Jesus died for them, have trusted in him, but still have that nagging emptiness. I know…that was me for many years.

If we change the punctuation however, things begin to fall into place. Here’s my proposal: “Therefore, being justified, by faith we have peace with God…” God has already done the work for us in Christ, but I must believe his salvation is at work in me, even when I can’t see it, or when I mess things up by my own sin. God can’t just drop peace into our hearts; if I fail to believe I am made right with God, peace will elude me. 

Believing in Jesus makes us right with God, but that isn’t a one time experience. If I start believing my feelings more than God’s promises, my peace will evaporate quicker than a drop of water on a hot griddle. Knowing I have been justified, I trust today in the finished work of Christ, and peace is the result. That’s something for which to give thanks today.