Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
— Romans 5:1 NIV
What Does It Mean to Have Peace with God?
To have peace with God, you must acknowledge that you are a sinner. Sin erects a wall separating people from God. If we continue under the guilt of sin, there can be no peace with God. The good news conveyed throughout the Bible is that God is merciful, and He has provided a way to remove that wall.
Through faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice, God justifies us, forgives our sins, and takes away the wall. When God justifies us, we not only experience freedom from sin. In addition, we also enter a relationship of true friendship and loving-kindness with Him. Christ—our mediator—bridges the gap caused by our sin. Thus, He brings us into reconciliation with God. We no longer have to live in fear of guilt. We can rest assured in God’s acceptance and love. This is because our relationship with Him is secure through our Lord Jesus Christ, allowing us to experience true peace with God.
Before God justified us, we were in a state of hostility with God. We rebelled against His authority and transgressed His laws. Before, we were bound by the guilt of sin. Now, having been justified by God, we have peace because by faith we know and believe that He has taken away our sin, granting us peace with God.
We no longer carry the burden of condemnation. When doubts or fears arise, we can rest in the assurance that our standing with God is based on what Christ has accomplished, not on our own efforts or merits. For that reason, we are blessed with peace with God, an enduring security and joy, knowing that nothing can separate us from God’s love.
Justified by Faith, Not Works
We are justified by our faith—not by our works. Like Abraham, we are justified by believing God, not by the things we do in God’s name. James 2:23 tells us that God justified Abraham and called him His friend. In John 15:13-15, Jesus referred to His disciples as His friends. This friendship with God is not something we can earn or achieve through our own efforts or good deeds. Rather, it is a gift that comes to us through trusting in God’s promise and accepting His grace. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, He brings us into a new relationship with God—one based not on fear or obligation, but on love and acceptance, and ultimately peace with God.
Living in a Justified Relationship
Through faith, we receive the righteousness of Christ, and God sees us as justified and blameless. God no longer counts our past mistakes and failures against us. Instead, God welcomes us into His family and invites us to walk with Him daily. Our heavenly Father justifies us when we fully trust in what Christ has accomplished on our behalf. One of the greatest gifts is to live in the peace that comes with God’s justification.
As we continue to trust in Him, we grow in our understanding of His love and our identity as His friends. This ongoing relationship is marked by gratitude, obedience, and a desire to reflect His character in our lives—not as a means to earn justification, but as a response to the amazing grace we have received. Ultimately, through this justified relationship, we find lasting peace with God.
