FIRST.—Do you know that peace has been made through the blood of Christ's cross? Beloved reader, mark it well! It is not that Christ is making peace; nor that He will make it; but it has been made.
Eighteen hundred years ago Christ shed His blood on the cross, and through that blood, peace was made. There He silenced every foe, there He answered every charge, and met every claim which could be brought against the believer, there He satisfied Divine justice, and there the sword was sheathed in His bosom, there He bowed His blessed head, and before He died, the loud, clear tones of the Victor were heard, "It is finished!”
Glory to His matchless name, the penalty has been borne by Jesus. Sin-root and branch, has been judged at the cross in His death. The divine character has been vindicated; and now, the mighty work having been accomplished, God's righteousness is declared "that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (Rom. 3:2626To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:26).)
All enemies are vanquished: not one is left; "The Lord hath triumphed gloriously." He was delivered for our offenses, and raised again for our justification. And now peace, absolute and eternal, based upon that mighty, unchanging, and infinite work, is the present portion of the sinner, whatever the amount of his guilt may have been, who believes on God who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. (See Rom. 4:24, 2524But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:24‑25).)
What an astonishing fact It is not a mere doctrine, but a great, glorious fact, that "Peace has been made through the blood of His cross." (Col. 1:2020And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20).) Every foe is vanquished, and the Victor has been received up into glory, where He now sits "crowned with glory and honor." (Heb. 2:99But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:9).)
Just suppose, after peace had been concluded in the late Franco-German war, when the French had been completely conquered, you had met a man on a journey, and had asked him whither he was bound.
“Oh," says he, "I'm going to try and make peace with the Germans.”
You laugh at him and say, “Why, my friend, you have surely taken leave of your senses; peace has been made with the Germans. And if it was not, you could not make it; the proper authorities must do that; but it is made.”
“But still," he replies, "we must do our best, and the best can do no more.”
You turn away, and say, "The man has parted with his senses." But how shall we describe the irreverent folly of those who are trying to make their peace with God? He has declared that by the blood of the cross of His holy Son, peace has been made. Shall not that suffice? Oh, foolish man! When will you cease your efforts, and rest in the blessed and glorious fact that peace has been made?
Second.—"Have you peace with God?" Peace has been made, but have you peace? Observe, it is peace with God of which we speak: not peace with yourself, nor with your neighbor, nor with your friends. Not some thing inside you, not something around you, not a feeling—but a possession. It is peace made through blood, made on behalf of sinners.
The moment you believe on God who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification, and see how that God has in righteousness done for you what no power of yours could ever have effected—you know your sins are gone. There is nothing left for you but peace. God has justified you by faith; and being justified, you have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is yours. You may say, "I have now peace with God.”
Alas! that souls should be trying to make their own peace with God. It is impossible. Jesus has done it already. What is needed is peace-takers, not peace-makers.
Dear anxious, seeking soul, why try any longer to make your peace with God! Oh, rest in what has been done! W. E.
His be the Victor's name,
Who fought the fight alone,
Triumphant saints no honor claim,
His conquest was their own.