Peace with God

This morning I listened to the story of a man who was being baptized.  After living on the streets in NYC and being incarcerated and paroled for crimes he didn’t specify, he had turned to God for forgiveness and restoration.  His story was inspiring and was a clear example of God’s grace, mercy and love.  He is now married, has a job, is involved in church, and is following Jesus Christ.  But what I found to be intriguing was his statement at the beginning of his story that he accepted Jesus as his Savior when he was a child, but he never experienced the peace and assurance of his salvation that his friends had experienced.

Some find it difficult, whether as children or as adults, to believe that God will forgive all of their sin and accept them as they are.  Many will believe that Jesus died for their sin and will acknowledge Him as Savior, but then continue to live with the guilt of their sin. 

Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”

If you have accepted in your heart that Jesus, as the Son of God, died on the cross to pay the penalty of your sin, and was raised from the dead victorious over the power of sin and death, God no longer condemns you for your sin.  Jesus paid the debt for you, and you are free.  You have peace with God through Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 5:1