Coming Up: Sonday June 22, 2014
Romans 5:1-11. Peace With God.
Read Romans 5:1
Peace has been a big cry and heartfelt need over the centuries. One website recorded that we have had only 26 days of peace in the world since the end of the second World War in 1945. And yet for over 2,000 years God has been reaching out to us with the offer of peace.
But what does peace with God mean? What does it look like in every day life? Before we answer that question we need to realise that the word ‘therefore’ ties Romans 5:1 to chapter 4. In that previous chapter Paul had ‘proven’ that even Abraham was justified by faith. His faith was credited to him as righteousness. In other words, God’s righteousness was written onto Abraham’s account because he believed (or had faith in) God.
The peace of God comes to those who have placed their faith in Christ Jesus. It is for those who have been justified by faith. ‘Justified by faith’ is a legal term where by God’s righteous legal condemnation against us is removed. It is removed because the debt or fine is paid in full. The person who puts his/her faith in Christ has that debt paid once for all in full. Having had his/her debt to God paid in full, the emotion of peace, the lifestyle of peace, the reality of peace flows to that person. The feeling never comes first. Faith is firstly placed in the facts of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Then feelings follow. Peace can still be present even if ‘feelings’ are not.
What does this mean? What does it look like in every day life? Unfortunately we can’t use a modern day parallel because when our fines are paid in full, we simply go our own way and ignore the legal system until we are in trouble again. Peace with God is something far different. Without the peace of God we stand under the condemnation of the righteous and heavenly judge. When we place our faith in Jesus, God’s wrath is justly and totally taken away. We are not free to live our own lives but we are free to love God and to worship Him.
Peace with God means that we enter into a right relationship with God. The relationship is restored to the way it should be. It means that I know deep within myself that God is not angry with me. I know in my inner being that God loves me and, dare I say, even likes me. He and I are in a Father/Son relationship. But even that earthly description falls short. It’s not that God’s waiting for me to call Him on the royal telephone when (and often only when) I have an issue. God dwells with me and cares for me like a parent cares for a new born baby.
I walk through each day with God dwelling within me. I am His every second of every day. I know that as each second ticks away on the clock, God still loves and adores me. I walk through each day confident that God loves me and cares for me and that He will bless me with His love and goodness in all things. That’s peace with God. That’s what shalom is all about.
Prayer:
Use the bible passage from today and the reading notes to write down your prayer points before you pray.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that your church would grow as more people find peace with God through Jesus Christ. Pray that every believer in your church would be sharing the gospel at every opportunity.
¥ Pray that believers who struggle with sin will be granted victory and peace.
Witness Moment:
Peace with God is a magnet that draws people to Christ. If you exhibit that peace, people will ask you why and how you got it. The door will open for you to share the good news with lots of people.
1. What are the symptoms you might see in a believer that has no inner peace?
2. What things might take away our peace with God, albeit temporarily?
3. A believer says to you that she has no inner peace. How do you counsel her?
4. How can a believer grow in peace?
Intro: Sometimes when we do something really bad we have no peace in ourselves. We ’stew’ about it for ages.
Discuss a tough time you have been really unhappy with yourself. Share how you overcame that unhappiness.
Read 1 John 1:9
What two things does God promise us?
What is our role?
How can we use this to stop beating ourselves up?
Pray together that God would give you deep peace in Himself so that you are at peace with yourself.
Intro: Boys tend to act on impulse without thinking. Sometimes we do really dumb things.
Discuss a time you acted on impulse and did something stupid that you regretted.
Read 1 John 1:9
What two things does God promise us?
What is our role?
How can we use this to stop beating ourselves up?
Pray together that God would give you deep peace in Himself so that you are at peace with yourself.
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