Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1).
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Col. 1:19, 20).At the point of being Biblically justified we have peace with God. To become a Christian repentance is necessary. This is also when our heavy sin load is forgiven, we are cleansed spiritually and are born again. All of that was made possible because of Jesus' blood shed on the cross. But now, for the Christian, the question remains: Is it possible for events to occur after getting saved that would destroy or at least interfere with this precious peace with God? The answer is a definite yes. It is sin that always causes trouble between us and God and that can severely damage and even destroy our precious peace with God. Notice what Peter wrote:Everyone Should Know About Putting Forth EFFORT For PEACE WITH GOD
For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil (1 Pet. 3:10-12).
Peter said we should pursue peace (with God). It is significant that he wrote that to people who have already been redeemed and born again (1:18-23). Paul, similarly, taught we should also pursue peace (with God) among other things:
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Tim. 2:22).
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him (2 Pet. 3:14).
This verse also shows that a Christian's future sins are not automatically forgiven (as Charles Stanley and some others teach), for if they were there would be no chance that we could not have peace with God (which sin destroys). The Christian life is a spiritual battle that requires serious effort on our part. Grace doesn't change this. We are to make it our goal to be found by the Lord in a spotless and blameless condition, as well as, at peace with him. This is what was taught and magnified in first-century Christianity, even though it is ignored and even rejected in our day. To have peace with God can be associated with having a clear conscience. Notice what Paul revealed about his own personal Christian life:
There will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man (Acts 24:15,16).
Paul put forth serious effort to keep a clear conscience. If he sought for such, we should too. Notice the following:
I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced (2 Cor. 12:21, NASB).
This passage proves, among other things, that real Christians can afterwards turn from the Lord and start to practice sin again, something the never saved to begin with grace changing eternal security teachers deny. Also, when we join that stirring truth to the following one from this same epistle, we can easily see that sin destroysour peace with God and creates the need for us to be reconciled to God:
We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20).
NOTE: Unsaved people need to be reconciled with God (2 Cor. 5:18). That is also shown here:
But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation -- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant (Col. 1:22, 23).
Question:Do you have peace with God now? If not, you can find peace with God and God's forgiveness by turning from your sins that are robbing you of this (and dragging you to hell at the same time). Make things right before God and man. Remember: No sin is worth going to hell over regardless what it may be. Now that you know how to find peace with God do it!
Other Topics:
Evangelical Outreach Alphabetical Map
The Exact Point of the Rapture (Post Tribulation Rapture)
Should You Pray About The Book of Mormon?
The Real Blessed Mother of Jesus, Mary
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