Peace With God

by Nancy Paulson

(Romans 5:1-5 KJV) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: {2} By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. {3} And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; {4} And patience, experience; and experience, hope: {5} And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

We stand in grace. We know this because we access it by faith, faith in the word of God. Our "Adam man" will protest about this grace wherein we stand because "Adam man" wants to do something so "Adam man" can boast in it. You can show these verses to a saved religious person and he/she will disagree with it because he/she thinks he/she has to do something to be right with God. The reason we stand in grace and have peace with God is because He has imputed His righteousness to us and He cannot respond to us any other way. For God not to have us in a standing of grace would be a reproach to His imputed righteousness.

However, there are those who think that we must not do certain things in order to remain in right standing with God. Why do they go around saying one must not do this and don't do that?

(Galatians 6:12-13 KJV) As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. {13} For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

Let circumcision represent anything connected with Israel's program: tithing, circumcision, baptism, keeping the law, etc. The reason the religious people want you to do these things is so they may glory in your flesh. They have a desire to make a fair show of the flesh. It is all about a manifestation of works, especially the good works of the flesh. Those good works are what Paul is referring to in Romans 7 when he speaks of being carnal.

(Galatians 5:11 KJV) And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

If Paul was preaching the things of Israel's program (works), then why was he being persecuted? When someone preaches a mixed gospel, the offence of the cross has ceased. One will be persecuted if one preaches a grace standing to those who glory in the flesh. Often it is stated because we trust in the finished work of the Cross, place our faith in the faithfulness of Christ, that we teach it is perfectly fine to continue to live a life of sin (license to sin) or in this case, say Jesus is a minister of sin. The cross-work becomes offensive to "religious Adam man" because "religious Adam man" feels one must perform to have a right standing with God. However, the good works of the flesh are just as unacceptable to God as the evil.

(Ephesians 2:15-17 KJV) Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; {16} And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: {17} And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Can we undo what was accomplished at Calvary? No, because of Calvary we have peace with God. We did not do anything to cause that peace. However, wrong doctrine takes away that peace. When things in life result in tribulation, usually the first thing that comes to a thinking man's mind is that God is mad at him and wonders what he did to deserve what is happening to him. But God has made peace through the blood of the cross. This is why God is not mad at us.

(Colossians 3:15 KJV) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

We need to exchange our thinking with God's thinking. Does the sinning of a saint change this peace we have with God? No, not sinning did not create the peace. Does sinning change God's attitude toward us?

Attitude: 1. A person's position or bearing as showing his feelings or purpose
               2. A feeling or mood, a frame of mind.

(Romans 8:28-29 KJV) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. {29} For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

When I sin does Romans 8:28-29 not hold true? Yes, it does for it is totally dependent on His purpose. Our sin does not stop His purpose. His purpose never changes. When I sin, God's frame of mind does not change toward me. But this does not indicate sin in my life does not matter. It does matter if I sin for:

1. Christ died for my sin
2. We are told in Ephesians 4:30 not to grieve the holy Spirit.
3. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 tells us not to quench the Spirit.

So, if we sin, what are we grieving and quenching the Spirit about? The Spirit of God is grieved at my sin because of what I am doing; I am not following His leadership to be conformed to Christ's image. It is the Spirit of God that changes us from glory to glory. Sin does matter. To sin is to contradict His leadership.

However, the grieving of the Spirit is not a change in God's attitude toward us because God has never changed His purpose for us, He does not change our position in Christ when we sin; He has never changed His frame of mind about us when we sin. (see Romans 8:35-39)

God judged our sin at Calvary.

The grace message is the preaching of the cross, not only did Christ take my position on Calvary (substitution) but He willingly identified us in His accomplishment: His death, burial and resurrection. Why? He has a purpose in our lives, as members of the Body of Christ, to conform us to His image. The way He will do this is through knowledge, the knowledge of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery.

Grace does not teach us to deny ungodliness and worldly lust by instructing us not to do this or not to do that, that is what the Law did. Instead grace says, "Look at what God made you in Christ". Do you see any sin, ungodliness and worldly lusts in who God made you in Christ? No. Then what is it doing in your life? The grace of God instructs us in that it is no longer I that live, but Christ in me. (See Galatians 2:20)

God no longer sees us in Adam (It is "Adam man" who does those things mentioned in Galatians 5:19-21) but He sees us in Christ. "Adam man" was crucified with Christ (Romans 6).

We need to evaluate all our thoughts according to God's word. If our thoughts are contrary to God's word then we need to stop thinking that way. If God's word says sin was taken care of at the cross; then what should we do with sin our lives? Stop sinning! We do this by renewing our mind to God's word concerning who He has made us to be in Christ.

Over and over, we see in Paul's epistles that we will manifest who we are in Adam or who we are in Christ. When we read them, we should be able to distinguish what comes out of the natural state of Adam or what comes out of the spiritual state of Christ.

(Ephesians 4:22-24 KJV) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man [what we are in Adam], which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; {23} And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; {24} And that ye put on the new man [what we are in Christ], which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.