When a lady was respectfully asked by us if she had peace with God, she replied,
“I believe very few persons attain to that.”
This was a serious mistake, for “peace with God” is nowhere set forth in Scripture as dependent on our experience, or on our attainments in any sense, but wholly “through our Lord Jesus Christ.” It is not founded on what we are, or have done, or may do, but on what He has done, who “was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.” Romans 4:2323Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; (Romans 4:23).
Others, when asked if they had peace with God, have replied, “Yes, for I feel so happy!” as if it were a question of feeling; so that, if afterward from any cause they feel unhappy, they would doubt their salvation, and have no sense of peace with God. Such, though perhaps unknown to themselves, are making feelings the ground of peace as to their eternal salvation, instead of the work of Christ and the Word of God.
It never says in Scripture that we are justified by feelings, but by faith. But it does say that we have “joy and peace in believing;” so that happy and joyful feelings accompany believing. Believing God’s testimony to the Lord Jesus Christ, and His finished work as set forth in His Word, we must have “peace with God.”
“Our souls through many changes go, His love no change can ever know.”
A religious life, and conscientiously fulfilling our duties, some say, must ensure a happy future. But it is not so; for while good works follow faith in the Son of God, yet to trust in works or duties, or religious ordinances, for eternal salvation, is a fatal delusion, a crafty snare of Satan’s, and a soul-destroying trap. We are plainly told,
“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.” And again,
Nothing can possibly be clearer, or more decided; yet what a common thing it is when a man has the eternal importance of his soul’s salvation brought home to his conscience, to have the reply, “I’ll try;” or, “I will hope to be better;” or, “I’ll turn over a new leaf;” thus plainly showing he has entirely missed the salvation of God.
The true secret of settled peace with God, is founded on the precious fact that God, instead of justly banishing us from His presence forever, loved us even “while we were yet sinners;” yea so loved us, even when sinners, that Christ His Son died for us.
Peace, then, springs from God, – “the God of Peace.” Peace is founded entirely on the atoning work of Christ in His death and blood shedding on the cross. There is no other foundation of peace; for Scripture plainly says, we are justified by His blood, and that He has “made peace through the blood of His cross.”
This peace becomes deepened in the soul, as the new relationships into which we are brought, and the new standing given us in Christ Jesus, are apprehended. The fact of being a child of God now, through faith in Christ Jesus – an object of the Father’s constant care and love as such – is a relationship which is unchanging in its character, and going on to our perfect conformity to the image of the Son.
When we know that we are loved by the Father as He loved Jesus, and have received the Spirit of adoption to make it known to us, it causes settled peace to occupy our hearts. We enjoy the goodness and love of God; and, it may be, are lost in wonder, love, and praise:
“Hence through all the changing seasons –
Trouble, sorrow, sickness, woe,
Nothing changeth God’s affection,
Abba’s love shall bring us through.”
But if we become worldly, careless in our walk, and neglect prayer and reading of the Word of God, the Spirit dwelling in us will be grieved, and our spiritual senses will be blunted; so that our hearts, before we are aware of it, glide into that which the Lord has forbidden, and we shall not enjoy the presence of God, but become unhappy. This neglect may call too for the Father’s discipline, and though the work in which our peace is founded never changes, such will not be abiding in the Saviour’s love. Nothing changes His love to us, but our enjoyment of it is another thing. How can we be happy, if we are walking in a path of disobedience? Did He not say, “As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you”? But did He not add to this, “If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in His love” (John 15:9-109As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. (John 15:9‑10))?
“I hear the words of love;
I gaze upon the blood;
I see the mighty Sacrifice,
And I have peace with God’”