Peace that Cannot be Broken

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 5:1

A core principle in the Reformed tradition is the doctrine of justification by faith alone. Paul emphasizes this in Romans 5:1: “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God…” This peace is not just an emotion or fleeting feeling. It is an objective, lasting reality rooted in Christ’s finished work.

Before salvation, Scripture depicts us as “enemies” of God (Romans 5:10), rather than neutral wanderers. Our sin actively rebelled against a holy God. However, through Christ's justifying work—His perfect obedience and sacrificial death—all obstacles are removed. Reformed theology stresses that this justification is not something we earn or maintain through our deeds, nor is it based on our performance. It is purely an act of God’s sovereign grace.

Since we are justified, we now exist in a state of peace—fully accepted, fully reconciled, and fully secure. This peace is stable and not fragile. It doesn’t rely on whether today was a good, disciplined, or spiritually victorious day. Instead, it is grounded in Christ’s righteousness, which is credited to us through faith.

Believers now live under God's favor rather than His wrath. His approval rests on us, and He delights in us. Our relationship with Him remains steady and unchanged. The Judge has pronounced us righteous, a declaration that endures forever. In Reformed theology, this peace is called 'peace of status'—a permanent standing before God because Christ's righteousness covers us. From this secure position, a deeper, experiential peace arises—the tranquil assurance that God is for us, near us, loving us, and not condemning.

Imagine a man waiting anxiously for a legal verdict that will determine his future. His case is complicated, his failures are real, and he fears the judgment. After what seems like an eternity, the judge enters the courtroom, raises the gavel, and declares: “Justified. Not Guilty. Case closed. You are free.” The clerk stamps the papers with a seal that cannot be altered. In that moment, the man’s entire life changes—not because of what he did, but because of the verdict declared over him. From that point on, no one can reopen the case or accuse him again.

This is what justification provides for the believer. God has declared through Christ that the case against us is closed. The verdict is righteousness, and it is permanent. The result is peace with God. Romans 5:1 encourages us to rest—not in ourselves, but in Christ. We do not strive to achieve peace with God; we stand in it. We do not beg for favor; we already have it. Only through faith, by grace, and in Christ has God moved us from hostility to harmony, from judgment to joy. Today, live confidently in this truth: the peace with God you possess is as steady and unshakeable as the One who gave it.

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark