After his conversion he tells us that we have peace if we have repented and put our trust in God; “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1). We were once enemies of God but through Jesus’ atoning work at Calvary, the hostility between us and God is placed on Jesus so it won’t have to be placed on us but only because “Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom 5:6b) and we have been freed “from the wrath of God” (Rom 5:9c). Because of Jesus “we have now received reconciliation” (Rom 5:11b). That’s why it’s called the good news.
John 20:18 “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
After Jesus’ death at Calvary, the disciples were likely thinking that they might be next and perhaps this is why Jesus told them after His resurrection “Peace be with you.” This peace is peace of mind because they may have finally understood that even death could not separate them from God. When the Roman church which was undergoing severe persecution Paul wrote “I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38-39). Even death couldn’t separate a Christ-follower from God. Every believer has access to this peace of mind if they would only realize it.
Second Thessalonians 3:16 “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”
You may have different or better Bible verses about peace than I have written about but the essential fact is if you have settled the hostility between you and God…the hostility that our sins had separated us from a holy God…then you can have peace of mind. Your mind can be stayed on the fact that the removal God’s wrath is completed in Christ. It’s an often overlooked fact that Jesus suffered and died for the ungodly but the Father also suffered. What father would not be in agony to see their only son die an agonizing death for which He didn’t deserve? You can have the peace of God if you repent and turn from your sins, if you humble yourself and see what your sin did to Christ, then confess them and place your trust in the One Who took your punishment. He is your Master of whom you obey; either Jesus Christ or the Devil. He is either your Savior now or your Judge after death. It is your choice. I pray you make the right choice today if you haven’t done so already for no one is guaranteed a tomorrow.
May God grant you peace this Advent!
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