“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

THEREFORE…the bridge between what has gone before and what follows. Paul summarises the benefits of our new status in Christ in three major themes… peace, privilege, and purpose. 

Our standing grace, to begin with, came about through God’s love for broken humanity. When we were utterly helpless and without hope, He stepped in and rescued us from our self-made destruction, not because we were good enough but because we were so bad that we needed His mercy to intervene. 

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Now, since Jesus died in our place, we no longer bear the guilt of the fruit of our rebellion. Paul says that we have a “standing in grace”. We have been completely exonerated of guilt and fully and permanently accepted into God’s presence and purpose. 

What is the grace in which we stand? Grace is God’s settled attitude of undeserved favour towards us in which we abide and continue,  and through which we receive all the benefits of His salvation. This permanent standing is the testimony to our union with Jesus which began when we turned back to God from our own way,  (repented), and made the exchange of self-rule for Jesus as Lord, by faith. 

This standing in grace brings with it major changes inside. 

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The first outcome of this new status is peace…not just inward serenity but complete wholeness because of restored relationships to God, others, and oneself. 

“In the Bible, peace is not merely the absence of conflict. It is a state of total well-being, wholeness, and harmony with God, others, and oneself. True peace comes from God, brings inner tranquility despite outward circumstances, and is grounded in justice and reconciliation.”

(Source: Google AI)

This peace is not dependent on what happens to us, good or bad. Its source is Jesus…it is His legacy for those who have chosen to lean all their weight on Him. 

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭NLT‬

Jesus gives this gift of peace to us not only when we believed but also in our day-to-day struggles. Again, to experience this peace,  we make an exchange…anxiety for peace and rest in our new standing with God and our union with Jesus as Lord. 

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This “maintenance” peace which we receive by honest confession in prayer, and gratitude for God’s love and goodness, garrisons us against the nitty-gritty of life in a fallen world. 

The gift of peace has another major benefit…it acts as a referee to monitor our thoughts and behaviour in the family of God like a ref in a ball game. Jesus’ peace helps us stay on track in our relationships with one another in the body of Christ. 

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭15‬ ‭NLT‬

Peace continues as we treat each other with love and respect.  Any “foul” in our lives in community together is quickly picked up by the Holy Spirit. He “blows the whistle” by temporarily withholding our peace. He stops our game, calls out the foul, and reminds us of the “rules”. Once the guilty party has made the correction, inward and outward peace is restored and the game can continue. 

How important, then, that we maintain our peace by dealing with inward anxieties, which call in question God’s faithfulness, and outward “fouls” in our relationships in the body of Christ. Peace within is a declaration that all is well between us and God and between us and one another. 

To be continued