MULTITUDES of souls are longing to know peace with God, and by a variety of expedients, endeavoring to obtain it. They fail, however; and no doubt the reason in a majority of instances is that they look within themselves to find grounds for supposing they possess it. They imagine that when they can collect sufficient evidence from the piety and devotion of their lives they will be entitled to believe they are at peace with God.
Since however there is no defined degree of holy attainment laid down as essential to the assurance of salvation, these souls are never sure whether they have reached such a stage of Christian development as proves beyond question that they are accepted with God. Viewing the matter as they do, they believe it would be highly presumptuous to say positively that their good works are of sufficient quality and quantity to render them approved before God. He alone has the right to pronounce such a sentence, and they consequently conclude we ought not to expect certainty on such a momentous question until the ordeal of the judgment day has been passed.
Now scripture makes it clear that peace with God is not based upon the performance of good works, but upon the expiation of evil ones. In other words, it rests not upon what a soul can do for itself before or after conversion, but upon what Christ has already done as the Sin-bearer. The question therefore becomes not whether I have sufficient warrant in my godly ways to claim peace with God, but whether the work of Christ is of sufficient efficacy to bring my soul into the possession of it. This question admits of but one answer.
Peace however only follows repentance and the forgiveness of sins, and is never gained by glossing over evil in the heart or ways. Jehu, sinner as he was himself, spoke truth when, in answer to Joram’s question, “Is it peace, Jehu?” he replied, “What peace, so long as the sins of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?” (2 Kings 9:2222And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many? (2 Kings 9:22)). And God has solemnly declared not once only, “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked” (Isa. 48:22; 57:2122There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked. (Isaiah 48:22)
21There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. (Isaiah 57:21)); and again, “The way of peace have they not known” (Isa. 59; Rom. 3:1717And the way of peace have they not known: (Romans 3:17)). It follows therefore that the state of each soul is one either of “peace,” or of “no peace.” On the one hand it is certain a sinner cannot have peace with God; while on the other hand we shall find the believer is stated to have peace with God as the inevitable consequence of Christ being delivered for his offenses.
This truth is recorded in the following words, “Who [Jesus our Lord] was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25); vs. 1). Two facts are brought before us: (1) that our offenses were the cause of our Lord’s being delivered up, and (2) that the accomplishment of our justification was the cause of His resurrection.
So that in the risen Christ we have an abiding testimonial that we who were laden with offenses have now been justified by faith. Justification is consequent upon the expiation of sins and attested by the resurrection of Christ. From these facts it is shown that peace with God follows as the inevitable result.
So the apostle argues, “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” What has a justified soul to fear from God? “It is God that justifieth.” Where sins are not removed there may well be dread of coming wrath. But the gospel declares that Christ “was delivered for our offenses,” and further, that He Who bore our sins in His own body on the tree (1 Peter 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)) is now raised up, having so perfectly atoned for them that, as a necessary consequence we who believe are imputed righteous. Peace with God follows, no other condition being laid down.
It is clear then that this blessing is based upon a work entirely apart from ourselves. We are “justified by his blood,” not by works of righteousness which we have done, or can do. And if we are justified, the scripture declares “we have peace with God.”
Faith receives this truth and rejoices in it and in God Who guarantees it. To look within for grounds of peace is a source of instant disquiet. To look at the revelation of Christ and His work is to be established on the immutable basis of the word of God.
1 Corinthians 13:1313And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. (1 Corinthians 13:13). —It is to be noted that the apostle, who of all others is the inspired exponent of faith, is the one who affirms, equally by the Holy Ghost, that love is greater. —R. B., jr.