Peace Before Blessing

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

Romans 5:1 declares, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” That peace is not a feeling—it’s a fact. Yet many today reverse the order, offering the blessings of Christ before the foundation of reconciliation. “Come to Jesus and He’ll fix your marriage, heal your body, give you peace of mind.” But Scripture teaches that peace with God must come first. Without it, we are still enemies of God, no matter how spiritual we feel. Ephesians 5:6 warns, “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” Until we are justified by faith, we remain under judgment. The blessings of God are not random acts of kindness—they are covenant gifts given to those who have been reconciled through Christ.

This reconciliation is not earned—it is received. Colossians 1:20–22 tells us that peace was made “through the blood of His cross,” and that we who were once alienated are now presented “holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.” That’s not a future hope—it’s a present reality. The war is over. Hostilities have ceased. We are no longer striving to gain peace; we possess it. And this peace with God is distinct from the peace of God. Philippians 4:7 speaks of the peace that guards our hearts in life’s storms, but Romans 5 speaks of the peace that secures our standing before a holy God. One calms our emotions; the other settles our eternity. And this eternal peace is maintained by Christ Himself, who “ever lives to make intercession” for us (Hebrews 7:25). His blood not only saves—it sustains.

So how should we respond? First, examine your standing. Are you seeking blessings without reconciliation? Are you asking for peace without surrender? The gospel’s first gift is peace with God, and it comes only through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Second, rest in the finished work. If you’ve been justified, you are no longer at war—you are a child of promise. And third, walk in confidence. Christ not only saved you, He keeps you. 1 John 1:9 assures us that He continues to cleanse us. So don’t live in fear of losing what He secured. Instead, live in the joy of knowing that “He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). Peace with God is not a goal—it’s a gift. Receive it, rest in it, and rejoice in it.

“The soul that is brought to peace with God through Christ, hath the spring of all true joy opened to it.”—John Flavel