ICS Daily Devotions
Jesus Our Peacemaker
Have you ever been to a place or a home where you are able to immediately sense that there is a tense atmosphere because there has been a lot of strife and contention in that home? The good news is that we don’t need to have that kind of atmosphere in our homes because we can have peace and joy in our homes if we want to pursue them!
Romans 5:1-2 (NKJV) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God THROUGH our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (emphasis added)
Sin has separated mankind from God. Sin has brought about a very antagonistic environment between a holy God and sinful men. Man was unable to re-establish the relationship with God based on his own strength and action. When the law was implemented, it acted as a school master to educate men on what sin was but was unable to deliver them from the wrath of God. God has to judge sin and we are powerless to overcome temptations. The sin nature rules in the fallen man due to the weakness of the flesh and therefore, it is impossible for anyone without Christ to stand righteous before God. We are driven to seek the grace of God since we live in sin and hopelessness. Mankind would be destined for hell if men were left on their own without God’s intervention.
The Scripture above amplifies the best news to us! What was impossible in the past has been made possible! We have peace with God through Jesus Christ!
We have read about the wrath of God whenever the Israelites sinned against God in the Old Testament. The Israelites operated in two covenants, namely the Mosaic and Abrahamic covenants. The Mosaic covenant was a conditional covenant whereby all the punishments and curses would come upon them if they were to violate God’s laws and statutes. Obviously, we have seen the judgement of God upon them because of the weakness of the flesh. However, the Abrahamic covenant, which was an unconditional covenant initiated by God in His grace and mercy, was fulfilled by the birth of Jesus Christ. We are blessed by the Abrahamic covenant because we are accepted in the Beloved regardless of our colour, race and nationality when we receive Christ. We are able to abound in the grace, mercy and faithfulness of God, thus enjoying the restoration and peace with Him. All our sins have been washed and redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
When we say that we are justified by faith, it means that we believe Jesus Christ was made sin for us, He was our substitute on the cross and God judged our sins that were placed on Him. Jesus took our place, took the wrath of God and all the curses of the law upon Himself. Justification means we are made to stand before God like we have never sinned in our lives because Jesus has dealt with the sin issue that separated us from God. We have peace with God now. Peace means no more antagonism, no more at war but at PEACE. This peace with God came THROUGH JESUS and it has nothing to do with us. Jesus is a peacemaker between God and men!
Sermon Series: Peacemaker
