War, then Peace

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

Why would we need peace with God?  I'll bet the vast majority of human beings on this planet are unaware that they are at war with the Ultimate Conqueror.  Hippies used to say, "Peace, man!" as a greeting.  One of the slogans of my teen years was "Make Love, Not War", and who doesn't remember the Beatles belting out, "All We Need is Love!"?  


The bad news is that God has declared Himself to be at war with every human being.  


Worse than that, it's a war He'll not lose.  It's a war we CANNOT WIN.  


Why, you may ask, is He at war with me?  I am not so bad.  I pay my taxes.  I've never killed anyone.  I'm a good person.  


Ahh, that's what you may think, but you've been deceived, my friend.


God is at war with every man because of man's sinful rebellion against Him and against His laws.

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. ~Romans 5:10

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. ~ Romans 1:18

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.~ Romans 8:7 

You're the Enemy


It doesn't matter how much you protest.  The truth is, you are an enemy of God in your natural state, and your mind is hostile to Him.  The wrath of God is against you because you do not obey Him or His law.   

and my wrath will burn ~ Exodus 22:24

They have made me jealous with what is no god;
they have provoked me to anger with their idols.
So I will make them jealous with those who are no people;
I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
For a fire is kindled by my anger,
and it burns to the depths of Sheol,
devours the earth and its increase,
and sets on fire the foundations of the mountains.
                           ~Deuteronomy 32:21-22

God is a righteous judge,
and a God who feels indignation every day. ~Psalm 7:11

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. ~John 3:36

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ~Ephesians 5:6

The Good News


Justification is the good news.   It is a legal one-time act whereby God declares the sinner to be righteous on the basis of the work of His perfect Son, Jesus.


The Westminster Shorter Catechism explains...

Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone. Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 33

I, too, was at war with God.  I was in a battle that I could not win.  


Now, I have peace.


You can have this peace, too.  


Listen to a sermon: Peace with God or a Living Hell.


Read the Good News:  The good news of Jesus Christ.