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blessed truth, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the
ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Surely we can now appreciate the words
of the apostle when he says, "justified freely."
The words "freely" is translated "without a cause" in John 15: 25. Justified without a
cause! surely this is grace indeed, and it is all "through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus." Here then is the ground of our peace; this is the "justification by faith" which
brings us "peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ." This glorious truth is
expanded in Col. 1: 20-22:--
"And having made peace through the blood of His Cross, by Him to reconcile all
things unto Himself; by Him, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And
you that were sometimes alienated and enemies (not knowing peace) in your mind by
wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to
present you holy, and unblamable, and unreprovable in His sight."
The peace which is the blessed privilege of the believer here is the anticipation of that
final dispensation of the reconciliation of all things, when sin and sorrow shall flee away,
and peace, perfect peace, will reign and rule (Col. 1: 20; Eph. 1: 10). Not only is peace
connected with the cross of Christ, it is vitally connected with His resurrection. Rom. 5: 1
reads on from Rom. 4: 24, 25, "Who was delivered because of our offences, and raised
again because of our justifying; therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with
God." There is, however, something more to be learned from this verse. The passage
may read, "Therefore being justified, by faith let us have peace with God." We cannot
"make our peace" with God (as some erroneously speak), but we may be exhorted, upon
the basis of the perfect justification that is ours in Christ, "By faith let us have peace with
God."
Why should anything come between now? sin has been dealt with, the sacrifice has
been offered and accepted, "the fruit of righteousness shall be peace," "righteousness and
peace have kissed each other"; therefore, oh believer, enter by faith into that peace which
is yours. Let none say you nay when the Lord says that the peace has been made by the
blood of His cross. Not only do we find peace through His blood, but we read the
glorious words, "But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off, are made nigh
by the blood of Christ; for He is our peace." Let us dwell upon this (not doctrine merely,
but Christ Himself), He is our peace. Well might the apostle say, as the yearning of his
heart, "To be found in Him."
If He is our peace, how well we can understand the power that binds together the
"Unity of the Spirit"; it is the "binding together of the peace." Man-made bonds cause
friction, strife, division; the bond of peace never irritates, never chafes; oh, to know its
power more. When men say "Peace," sudden destruction may be near, but when "the
Lord giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?" (Job 34: 29). Let us notice the
Lord's action as recorded in John 20: 19, 20:--
"Then. . . . came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto
you, and when He had so said He showed unto them His hands and His side. Then were
the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. "