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

Read: 1 Chronicles 26:12-27:34, Romans 4:13-5:5, Psalm 14:1-7, Proverbs 19:17

Relate: Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Have you ever had one of those moments when something incredibly familiar becomes beautifully fresh? As I was reading through today’s scripture this verse I have heard a thousand times at least made me just stop and sit up. Read it again.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Before I even began to start typing anything today here on The River Walk, this verse played over and over in my mind again and again.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Honestly, I was half tempted just to post simply that verse and nothing more for today. No picture or song. No read, relate, react, respond. Just:

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Isn’t it so beautiful? There is so much eternal truth packed into this one short sentence. Slow down and read it one more time…

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

React: Let’s break this down into smaller pieces.

Therefore, since we have been justified…
The New Living Translation doesn’t use the word justified but rather explains it. We have been made right in God’s sight. Justified. Growing up I would hear this defined, “Just as if I’d never sinned.” Think about that. Take everything evil you have done. Every impure or unkind thought, all the lies, cruelty, and other vomit that has come out of your mouth, and every selfish and evil action you have committed. Imagine placing all of that filth into your right hand. Close your fist around it. Now open. It is gone. Like a puff of air or a whisp of smoke, it has disappeared. All of the sin we have ever committed has been removed as far as the east is from the west. Justified.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith…
Faith. “Well, that might be all well and good, but I am not sure I can believe it. I’m not sure I have the faith it takes to be justified.” What is my faith in? Is it in my faith? Am I told to have faith in faith? No. Have faith in me? No. Have faith in God? Yes. Is God powerful? Is God good? Does God speak truth? Is this promise a word from God? Then what’s the problem? I don’t trust my faith, I trust my God.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God…
Peace. Do I really have it? All too often it seems that I am at war with my mind. But then I remember that it is the peace of God that guards my heart and mind. (Philippians 4:7) How does this happen? Well, the spiritual armor includes a helmet of what? Salvation. Because of what Christ has done in saving me, I am saved. I am justified. It is finished. It is through this bedrock truth, nothing else, that I can have peace with God.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lord Jesus Christ. We hear those three words so often that it almost seems to be his first, middle, and last name. Or perhaps title first and last name. Maybe we should look at them sideways: our Master (Lord) Jesus the Anointed One (Christ). The word we so often hear as “Lord” in Greek is Kyrios. This is the word a slave would use for their owner. It is the word a person sworn in service would use for their sovereign. He isn’t just some feudal blueblood or even a mayor, governor, or Prime Minister. He is our Master. He has the right to that title because he is the Christ, the Anointed One. Anointed to what? Entire books could and have been written to unpack that question but the short answer is to save the world through the cross. So one last time.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Respond:

Dear God,
Through You I have been justified. Help me to truly believe it. With You I have peace. Help me to embrace it. You are my Lord, my Master. Help me to live it. What more is there to say? You truly are my God.
Amen