A lesson by Pastor John Skaggs

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Date: 8-16-98

Sermon Number: 25

Text: Romans 5:1-5

Peace with God!

(Romans 5:1-5 NASB) "Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, {2} through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. {3} And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; {4} and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; {5} and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

The design of this great chapter is to set before us the grand results and benefits of Justification by faith. We cannot, however, plunge headlong into the heart of the chapter. We are prevented from doing so by the very first word, "Therefore." Whenever this word is found in the scripture it forces the reader to consider the material that has gone before. In the chapters preceding this one Paul has taught us at least the following things.

First, that every man born to woman is a sinner and is, therefore, condemned by the law of God. This is true of both Jew and Gentile. All have fallen short of the glory of God and are condemned. Second, Paul has proven that one cannot escape the wrath of God by any human means. In other words, sinners are not made right with God by works of merit. Rather, says the apostle, "The just shall live by faith." (Romans 3:27-28 NASB) "Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. {28} For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law."

Third, Paul has shown that justification by faith alone is no new doctrine. For Abraham believed before he was circumcised and before the law was given. The Bible declares that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. The same was true of all the Old Testament saints who were made right with God. They all believed and it was reckoned to them for righteousness. "Therefore," Paul declares in chapter five, having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

We need to remember that Paul is speaking to Christians. Only the Christian HAS BEEN justified. The unbeliever needs to be justified but only the Christian HAS BEEN justified. In addition, Paul says, "We HAVE peace with God." Notice how he includes himself in this great statement. "I, the author, and you, my believing readers, have been justified and now we are at peace with God." Think about it. Justified sinners have entered into to a peaceful relationship with God! What a blessed and wonderful thing to consider! The sinner, at peace with his Creator, how marvelous! One thing that makes this truth so wonderful is the fact that men are not naturally at peace with God.

The Bible tells us that we are sinners from birth and that sinners are enemies of God. Everyone outside of faith in Jesus Christ is an enemy of God! Regardless of race, sex, age, color, or creed all unbelievers are enemies of God. This is a hard saying to be sure but true nonetheless. Consider the words of Romans 8:6-8 NASB. "For the mind set on the flesh (set on pleasing one's self) is death, but the mind set on the Spirit (set on pleasing God through faith in Jesus Christ) is life and peace, {7} because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; {8} and those who are in the flesh CANNOT please God."

The relationship between God and the unbeliever is one of hostility. The sinner is hostile toward God. He cannot and does not want to please God. Rather, he wishes to please himself. He is God's enemy. Consider yet another text.

(Ephesians 2:12-16 NASB) ". . . remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. {13} But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. {14} For HE HIMSELF IS OUR PEACE, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, {15} by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, {16} and might RECONCILE THEM BOTH IN ONE BODY TO GOD THROUGH THE CROSS, BY IT HAVING PUT TO DEATH THE ENMITY.

The unbeliever is separate from Christ because of sin. Therefore, he has no claim on the promises of God made to His believing people. He has no hope for the future because God is His enemy. If such a person is not at some point in his life reconciled to God he will die His enemy and endure His wrath forever.

Consider also the words of James 4:4 which tell us once again that the unbeliever is the enemy of God. "You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is HOSTILITY TOWARD GOD? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world MAKES HIMSELF AN ENEMY OF GOD." The word world as it is used here describes all that is opposed to God and His Christ. It speaks of the general disregard the world has for God's law and for holiness. It describes a system that does not seek His glory but the glory and satisfaction of humans. Such a system is hostile toward God and the friends of such a system are His enemies.

In Romans two we see what God will do with His enemies. (Romans 2:4-11 NASB) "Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? {5} But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart YOU ARE STORING UP WRATH FOR YOURSELF IN THE DAY OF WRATH AND REVELATION OF THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT OF GOD, {6} who WILL RENDER TO EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: {7} to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; {8} but TO THOSE WHO ARE SELFISHLY AMBITIOUS AND DO NOT OBEY THE TRUTH, BUT OBEY UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, WRATH AND INDIGNATION. {9} THERE WILL BE TRIBULATION AND DISTRESS FOR EVERY SOUL OF MAN WHO DOES EVIL, OF THE JEW FIRST AND ALSO OF THE GREEK, {10} but glory and honor and peace to every man who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. {11} For there is no partiality with God."

Ladies and gentlemen, the natural man, the man born only once, has no peace with God.

But that's not the end of the story is it? The unbeliever has no peace within himself either. If a man has no peace with God, by faith in Jesus, he can have no peace within. Unbelievers are peace-less in every area of their lives. The scripture offers us a good description of what life without Jesus is like. Hear the word of the Lord.

(Isaiah 57:20-21 NASB) "But the wicked (unbelievers) are like the tossing sea, For it cannot be quiet, And its waters toss up refuse and mud. {21} "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."

We can all picture in our minds the restless and ever rocking sea. But why is it restless? Why is it always in motion? Science tells us that it has to do with the opposing gravitational pulls of the earth and the moon. The moon pulls the sea one direction and the earth pulls it another. Thus the sea rocks back and forth, back and forth. Then there is the wind. The wind rises, the waves increase in size and strength. The sea becomes violent and destructive. When the storm is over the beaches are covered with all sorts of filthy foam, refuse and mud. Property and lives are destroyed. The wicked are just like this, says the prophet of God! Man, apart from God, is restless like the sea. He is pulled one way be sin, the flesh and the devil, and the other by the law of God and conscience. He is filled with conflict, fear, and confusion. So there is this constant rocking back and forth, back and forth. Occasionally the sinner is accosted with a great storm. He is whipped into a rage of passion, fear, or some other extreme emotion, or action. When the storm finally settles the beaches of his life are strewn about with debris of all kinds. Heartache, disease, addiction, broken relationships, and still the motion continues, back and forth, back and forth. He is peace-less all his days.

This is man separate from God because of sin. He knows there is a problem but he doesn't know exactly what it is. He thinks his restlessness might go away if he is entertained enough so he pursues entertainment. Maybe it will go away if he is successful enough and so he throws himself into his work. When that doesn't bring him peace he thinks he may not have the right person in his life so he changes wives or she changes husbands. Still there's no peace. Still the storm rages. Maybe a move to a new state or town will be just the thing. But it's not, is it? Such things will never satisfy the empty, the lonely, the fearful soul of sinful man. Peace will remain as elusive as the wind until he is reconciled to God by faith in Jesus Christ.

The word translated peace in Romans five verse one speaks of this all important reconciliation. It means to bind or join together that which has been separated. Jesus is the one who makes reconciliation possible. Listen to the words of (Colossians 1:19-22 NASB) "For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in Him, (Christ) {20} and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having MADE PEACE through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. {21} And although you were formerly ALIENATED AND HOSTILE IN MIND, ENGAGED IN EVIL DEEDS, {22} yet He has now RECONCILED you in His fleshly body through death, IN ORDER TO PRESENT YOU BEFORE HIM HOLY AND BLAMELESS AND BEYOND REPROACH." Jesus has reconciled believing sinners to God. He has removed that which made them enemies. He did so through the blood of His cross.

The little word "with" that follows the word "peace" in Romans five verse one is worth looking at also. The word speaks of turning toward something or someone so that you stand face to face with them. It tells us something wonderful. The justified sinner at last stands face to face with God without fear of condemnation! He no longer has anything to be afraid of or ashamed of and God no longer has anything against him. God has turned His face of blessing and acceptance toward the sinner and the sinner has turned his face toward God by trusting in Jesus Christ. They face each other and all is well, they have been reconciled, they are at peace.

When you see the phrase, " Thorough Jesus Christ." You may understand it to mean, "Because of Jesus Christ." When one has faith in Jesus for salvation he is declared just and acceptable to God BECAUSE of who Jesus was and what He has done. He was the spotless Lamb of God. He was the perfect law obeying man. He was so on behalf of and in the place of sinners like you and me. In sacrificing Himself as He did he propitiated the wrath of God. He satisfied the demands of the law by dying in our stead. Christ's life and death was intended to and did in fact redeem all those given to Him by the Father. (Jn 6:38-39) Jesus' blood purchased the elect out of the house of bondage. The believer is now free from sin, self, and the devil. He is free to serve the living God. This great salvation has come to the believer through Jesus Christ by faith. There is no other way to be saved but through Jesus Christ. Only by believing in Him can the sinner find peace with God. This is why I can say to anyone I meet, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved." For the just shall live by faith! Once again we read our text.

How long will this peace with God last? Is our reconciliation to God through faith in Christ permanent or temporary? I draw your attention a couple of texts that answer the question. (Romans 11:29 NASB) ". . . for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."

In light of this text I declare to you that once peace with God has been established it will last an eternity. Why? Because salvation, from eternal election by the Father to it's application in time by the Holy Spirit, is described as a gift from God. Here we are told that God's gifts will never be recalled or revoked. Consider a couple of supporting texts.

(Ephesians 2:8-10 NASB) "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD; {9} not as a result of works, that no one should boast. {10} For WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

(John 6:65 NASB) And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me, unless it has been GRANTED him from the Father."

(Philippians 1:29 NASB) "For to you (believers) it has been granted (given as a gift) for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, . ." The faith by which we trust in Christ for salvation is a divine gift. God never takes back His gifts. Therefore, one who truly believes in Jesus unto salvation will continue to believe to his death. The believing sinner's reconciliation to God is eternal.

Secondly our salvation will be eternal because it involves a divine call? (Romans 11:29 NASB) ". . . for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." We have been effectively called by God to believe in Christ. Having called us to Himself He will never send us away! Our reconciliation is eternal. Recall with me the words of Romans 8:29-30 NASB. "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; {30} and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified."

God calls sinners to Himself, He justifies them, and He will glorify everyone of them. From calling to glory without fail. That is the pathway every Christian will traverse. Those who have been called to faith in Christ will never be un-called. Friend, the justified persons's peace with God cannot be taken away or given up it's is ours forever. "For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable."

The second text I offer in support of my contention that one's reconciliation to God through Christ is permanent is Romans 8:31-33. "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? {32} He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? {33} Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies;{34} who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, WHO ALSO INTERCEDES FOR US."

Based upon the blood, righteousness, and work of the Lord Jesus Christ God grants faith to the ungodly and declares them just. The judge of all creation has handed down the verdict, "All believers in Jesus are righteous, perfect, guiltless, blameless and acceptable to Me." The question is, "Can anyone, the devil or an enemy, accuse us of sin, prove it to God, and have Him reverse His decision? The answer no, a thousand times no! For the perfect Man-God, Jesus Christ has died for our sin. God has accepted His sacrifice. The demands of the Law have been met for us by the Savior. The wrath of the Father has been satisfied or put away or propitiated. He is angry no longer! This same Jesus is presently and eternally at the right hand of God interceding for us twenty-four hours a day for ever and ever! His righteousness, His goodness, His perfection stands between my accusers and the Judge of all men.

Therefore, if you say to God look how vile and sinful John Skaggs is He will say this. "I justified John on the basis of My Son's perfections. Jesus is still perfect and acceptable to Me. Therefore, John is still justified." In Christ, brothers and sisters, we are perfect and blameless before God. In Christ we are justified and at peace with God. Therefore we say with Paul, ". . . I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, {39} nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." What a blessing to know that having been justified by faith we have eternal peace with God through Jesus Christ.

I close with a quote from one of Charles Spurgeon's sermons. It speaks of the similarities between men and hogs. Spurgeon tells of a butcher who was followed by his pigs right into the slaughterhouse. "As pigs do not usually go where they are wanted, it seemed a mystery how these animals were so eager to follow their executioner; but when it was seen that he wisely carried a bag of peas and beans with which he enticed the creatures onward, the riddle was solved at once.

Unsuspicious of impending death the hogs cared only for the passing gratification of their appetites, and hurried to the slaughter. In the same manner ungodly men follow the great enemy of souls down through the jaws of hell, merely because their depraved passions are pleased with the lusts of the flesh and the pleasures of sin which the devil gives them by handfuls on the road. Alas, that there should be such likeness between men and swine!

The joys of sin are so short and so unsatisfactory, that they can never be thought of for a moment as a fitting inducement for a rational being to lose his immortal soul. Will a few hours of foolishness, drunkenness, or immorality, compensate for eternal fire? Is the momentary indulgence of a base passion worth the endurance of flames which never can be quenched? To moan in vain for a drop of water! To be tormented by the never dying worm! To be shut out from hope forever! To be eternally cursed by God! Is any sin worth all this? Can any gain make up for this?

Oh, you who delight in the poisonous sweets of sin, remember that though pleasant in the mouth for the moment, sin will be bitter in your stomach forever. Why will you swallow the bait when you know that the hook is there? Why will you be lured by Satan? Surely in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird; but you are more foolish than the birds and fly into the snare when you know it is there.

Oh, that you were wise, and would consider your end. Let that one word "Eternity" ring in your ears and drive out the silly laughter of the worldly who prefer the present joys of sense. "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."