Devotional 1

“How to Have Peace with God”

Scripture Reading:

Romans 5:1

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

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Opening Thought:

Everyone desires peace. We want peace in our homes, in our hearts, with our families, and in the world.

But the most important peace we could ever have is peace with God.

There’s a difference between the peace of God and peace with God.

• The peace of God is the calm He gives in our hearts when life feels troubled. It can be subjective and a feeling.

• Peace with God is something even deeper—it means the war between us and God is over. It is objective and not necessarily something we experience with emotion.

Before a person is saved, the Bible says they are “enemies” of God because of sin (Romans 5:10). But when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, that hostility ends forever. The moment we trust Him, we are justified—declared righteous—and the result is peace with God.

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What Does “Justified by Faith” Mean?

To be justified means to be declared righteous, to be made right in God’s sight.

Imagine standing in a courtroom, guilty of breaking the law. The evidence is clear—you have no defense. But then the Judge steps down, pays your fine Himself, and declares you free as if you’ve done no wrong.

That’s what God did for us through His Son, Jesus.

Our sins demanded justice. The Bible says the wages of sin is death and that there are none righteous in God’s eyes. But Jesus, Who is God in flesh, took the punishment for His people at the cross. As Romans 4:25 tells us, When we believe on Him “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”, then God declares us righteous.

It’s not that we’ve become perfect people.

It’s that God treats us as if we were, because we’re covered in the righteousness of His Son.

That’s justification by faith.

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The Bible says,

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

—Romans 3:24

Freely means it costs us nothing—it’s a gift.

Grace means it’s undeserved.

Faith means we simply take God at His word.

If we depend on anything we’ve done, whether it be works, baptism, church attendance, or simply being a “good” person, then it is no longer grace. It is solely the Blood of Christ that we must put our trust in to have peace with God, God will not accept anything less.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

—Ephesians 2:8-9

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Why Peace with God Matters:

Many people spend their lives trying to earn God’s favor. They hope their good outweighs their bad, that they’ve done enough, that they’ve been kind enough. But the truth is, no amount of goodness can erase sin.

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” Galatians 2:16

Peace with God doesn’t come from what we do for Him—it comes from what He’s already done for us.

And once that peace is established, it can never be broken.

We might lose our peace of mind sometimes—but we never lose peace with God.

You may not always feel worthy, but if you trust Christ as the Lord and Savior of YOUR life, you are a child of the Living God.

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Reflection:

Sometimes people say, “I hope I’m saved,” or “I’m trying to be right with God.”

But the Bible says we can know.

“These things have I written unto you… that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13)

Peace with God doesn’t come from guessing—it comes from believing.

It’s resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

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Scripture to Hold Onto:

• Romans 4:5: “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

• Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”

• Isaiah 53:5: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

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Encouragement for Today:

If you’ve believed on Christ, then you have peace with God—right now. You don’t need to earn it or maintain it by effort.

It’s not fragile; it’s fixed for eternity.

It rests on Jesus, not on you.

When doubts arise, remind your heart:

“Jesus paid it all. I am justified. I have peace with God.”

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Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for sending Your Only Begotten Son to die on the cross for sins, and to make peace between You and sinners. We thank you for raising Him from the dead for our justification.

Thank You that by faith in Him we are declared righteous, forgiven, and made Your children.

Help us to rest in that peace today, to stop striving, and to rejoice in the salvation You have freely given.

Remind us that because of Jesus, all is well between our souls and You.

In the Name of the Lord Jesus we pray,

Amen.