Reflections on “Faith and Peace!”- Romans 5:1-2 – April 8, 2025

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.. Romans 5:1-2.

What is faith in God? It begins by believing He is, and grows into trusting Him with our hearts and minds. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, I Thessalonians 5:8-9.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:1-3.

I gaze with wonder and awe at a lovely flower, a bush, or a tree waving its leaves. Then I see the sky at dawning or as the sunset and then I read John 1:1-4. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

All things were made by Jesus and without Him nothing was made that was made. As a child, I sat in the car’s backseat and looked at the rise of the hills and deepness of the valleys and imagined God’s fingers shaping the hills of Oklahoma. Then I saw a gigantic mountain in Colorado.

Being faithful has no time clock. God is eternal. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, Who also will do it. I Thessalonians 5:23-24.

Jesus prepared to give His Life on the cross by praying with his disciples. Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Matthew 26:36-40. Jesus placed His Faith and Trust in God, His Father.  

Jesus promised that His Father would send the Holy Spirit. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John 14:25.

There is no end to learning and thinking when we accept Jesus into our lives. The Holy Spirit gives us fruit for learning. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such, there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23.

We often desire Peace. It is the third fruit the Holy Spirit gives us. The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace. Psalm 29:11.

God’s Creation of trees, flowers, and all things surround us speaks of the peace of God. For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12.

How does Peace and Faith in God lead to Hope? “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit”. Jeremiah 17:7-8.

Trusting and believing in God gives us assurance of salvation. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation. ’Isaiah 12:2.

This Hope we have in Jesus provides an anchor for our souls and gives us purpose for living in His Presence as a Child of God.

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. I John 3:2-3.

Therefore, do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Romans 14:16-18.