Having Peace with God

A Sermon on Romans 5:1-2

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Scripture

Romans 5:1-2 ESV KJV

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (ESV)

Sermon Description

Chapter by chapter, Paul’s letter to the Romans has explained that all humanity is under God’s judgement and have hope through justification by faith, and now he is explaining that all can have peace with God. Christians were previously enemies of God but now they can have assurance and a resting faith in their salvation through Jesus Christ. In this sermon from Romans 5:1–2, titled “Having Peace with God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones outlines how Christians know if they have this assurance and peace with God: their mind will be content with the process of justification by faith, they know that Christ loves them despite being sinners, they can answer the accusations of conscience and the devil, and they no longer fear death or judgement. If they were to fail or falter at any of these tests, then they may not have a true peace with God. Sometimes sin makes one question or doubt their justification, but regardless, their salvation is still true. Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds that justification is one declarative act forever and faith always can fight this doubt victoriously. Dr. Lloyd-Jones also explains what the results of justification by faith look like in their lives as well as discussing what a false sense of peace with God is.

Sermon Breakdown

The apostle Paul is summarizing the benefits and results of justification by faith in Romans 5:1-2.
Before justification by faith, God's wrath was upon us due to our sin and unrighteousness. There was no peace between God and man.
For there to be peace between God and man, God's wrath must be appeased. This was accomplished through Jesus's death on the cross as a propitiation for our sins.
Not only did something need to happen on God's side, but also on man's side. By nature, man is at enmity with God and afraid of Him.
Justification by faith removes man's fear of God and enmity towards Him, allowing for peace with God.
The peace we have with God is an objective fact, not just a feeling. It is a change in our actual relationship and standing with God.
Our peace with God can be tested by whether our natural fear of God and enmity towards Him has been removed.
Additional tests of truly having peace with God: our mind is at rest about our relationship with God; we know God loves us; we can answer accusations of conscience and the devil; we are no longer afraid of death and judgment; we can maintain peace even after sinning.
Though we have peace with God, faith may still have to fight doubts and temptations. But faith will ultimately prevail.
There is a difference between assurance of faith (which is necessary) and full assurance of faith (which is not necessary and may fluctuate).
Unfortunately, there is such a thing as a false peace with God. Characteristics include: mere intellectual assent; resting on one's faith rather than Christ; lack of doubts or trouble; too "healthy"; only interested in forgiveness, not righteousness; takes sin too lightly.
Characteristics of true peace with God include: not glib or lighthearted; filled with wonder and amazement; humble; grateful; careful about one's life.
We can maintain our peace with God by continually reflecting on 1 John 1-2:2.

The Book of Romans

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.