Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1
One Heart
A Christian missionary named Jim Walton was translating the New Testament for the Muinane people in the jungles of Columbia, but he was having trouble with the word peace. During this time, the village chieftain, Fernando, was promised a 20-minute plane ride to a location that would have taken him three days to travel by walking. The plane was delayed in arriving, so Chief Fernando departed on foot. When the plane finally came, a village runner took off to bring the Chief back. Unfortunately, by the time he was back, the plane had left. The Chief was very livid because of the mix-up, and he went to Jim to give him a piece of his mind. Luckily, Walton had recorded the Chief’s diatribe. When he later translated it, he discovered that he kept repeating the phrase, “i don’t have one heart!”. When Jim asked the villagers what “having one heart” meant, they told him it was as if Fernando was saying, “there is nothing between you and the other person”. That’s when Jim realised he got what was needed to translate the word peace. This is what peace with God means, having nothing- not sin, guilt or condemnation separating us from Him.
Justification Through Faith
In the garden of Eden, we had complete peace and union with God. The first human couple enjoyed communion with the living God in the refreshing coolness of the garden. But as a result of sin and disobedience, they were chased out of the garden, separated from His presence. The enemy will always cause guilt and make us feel not deserving of the goodness of God. However, because of cavalry, we are now able to have “one heart” with God. There is no condemnation for all those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1). Accompanying this knowledge is a glorious truth that the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus. Faith is the only way we are restored to a place of righteousness and glory with God. Justification through faith in Jesus takes away all the guilt and makes way for God’s supernatural peace.
The Peace Of God
Apostle Peter writes that we must cast away our burdens to Jesus for He cares about us (1 Peter 5:7). When we cast away these burdens to Him, the peace of God that surpasses human understanding will be made available to us. Through Jesus, the believer comes into the fullness of joy, saved from wrath, safe in His love and not only going to heaven but going triumphantly. Peace with God allows us to live without fear of death or eternity. Our hope is made secure in the knowledge that Jesus has done all that is necessary to make us right with God. Our last breath on earth will be our first breath in heaven.
For this very reason, the Holy Spirit has been given to us like a promise ring, a certainty that a more significant event will take place soon (Ephesians 1:13). Right now, the Holy Spirit lives within us to guide, convict, comfort, and remind us of the completed sacrifice on our behalf. The more we know Jesus, the more peace we obtain.
King James Version (KJV)
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
New International Version (NIV)
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
“Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
New American Bible (NASB)
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Living Bible (TLB)
“So now, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith in his promises, we can have real peace with him because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.”