Perfect Peace!

 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.”
Ephesians 2:13-18 English Standard Version (ESV)
 
“Yet look at you now! Everything is new! Although you were once distant and far away from God, now you have been brought delightfully close to him through the sacred blood of Jesus—you have actually been united to Christ!
 
14 Our reconciling “Peace” is Jesus! He has made Jew and non-Jew one in Christ. By dying as our sacrifice, he has broken down every wall of prejudice that separated us and has now made us equal through our union with Christ. 15 Ethnic hatred has been dissolved by the crucifixion of his precious body on the cross. The legal code that stood condemning every one of us has now been repealed by his command. His triune essence has made peace between us by starting over—forming one new race of humanity, Jews and non-Jews fused together!
 
16 Two have now become one, and we live restored to God and reconciled in the body of Christ. Through his crucifixion, hatred died. 17 For the Messiah has come to preach this sweet message of peace to you, the ones who were distant, and to those who are near. 18 And now, because we are united to Christ, we both have equal and direct access in the realm of the Holy Spirit to come before the Father!”
Ephesians 2:13-18 The Passion Translation (TPT)
 
Jesus is our peace! So many people wrongly feel like God is angry with them because they think He isn’t pleased with their performance. If that’s you, then here is some awesome news for you: Because of Jesus, God is not holding your sin or failure against you! God is not angry at sin because He has judged sin in the body of Jesus, and now He is at peace with all mankind.
 
“Our faith in Jesus transfers God’s righteousness to us and he now declares us flawless in his eyes. This means we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, has done for us.”
Romans 5:1-2 The Passion Translation (TPT)
 
“By God’swill we have been purified and made holy once and for all through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus, the Messiah!”
Hebrews 10:10 The Passion Translation (TPT)
 
“But it was the Lord’s good plan to bruise him and fill him with grief. However, when his soul has been made an offering for sin, then he shall have a multitude of children, many heirs. He shall live again, and God’s program shall prosper in his hands. 11 And when he sees all that is accomplished by the anguish of his soul, he shall be satisfied; and because of what he has experienced, my righteous Servant shall make many to be counted righteous before God, for he shall bear all their sins.”
Isaiah 53:10-11 Living Bible (TLB)
 
“For God was in Christ, restoring the world to himself, no longer counting men’s sins against them but blotting them out. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others.”
2 Corinthians 5:19 Living Bible (TLB)
 
Jesus did what He did, for us. He paid the penalty of sin, for us. He took our sin and gave us His righteousness. He took our place and perfectly satisfied the payment for sin. When God dealt with sin in Jesus on the cross, He dealt with every hindrance that stood between Him and us. All anger against sin was fully satisfied in Jesus’ perfect sacrifice! God is no longer angry at sin and there is no longer any payment due for sin.

Read the following verses and make a note of what stands out for you:

   John 1:29                 _______________________________________________________________
   Romans 5:1             _______________________________________________________________   2 Corinthians 5:19          _______________________________________________________________
   2 Corinthians 5:20   _______________________________________________________________
   1 John 2:2               _______________________________________________________________
   1 John 4:17             _______________________________________________________________
 
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Luke 2:14 King James Version (KJV)
 
The angels were announcing the birth of Jesus to some shepherds: What a powerful truth they declared! They were declaring peace and goodwill from God toward mankind. They were announcing the birth of the Saviour of all mankind and declaring that in Christ God was extending peace towards the world!
 
“Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 4:25-5:1 King James Version (KJV)
 
We have peace with God because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Through Jesus’ finished work we have been justified (made “just as if I’ve never sinned”; made holy and righteous; a saint), which means that we are perfect and 100% right before God. All we needed to do was believe! (See Romans 10:9-10)
 
“Our faith in Jesus transfers God’s righteousness to us and he now declares us flawless in his eyes. This means we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, has done for us. 2 Our faith guarantees us permanent access into this marvelous kindness that has given us a perfect relationship with God. What incredible joy bursts forth within us as we keep on celebrating our hope of experiencing God’s glory!”
Romans 5:1-2 The Passion Translation (TPT)
 
“Our faith guarantees us permanent access” not our performance. There is no peace when we’re basing our relationship with God on our performance because our performance fluctuates. Sometimes we mess up badly but even when we’re doing well it’s never good enough. Jesus is our peace; not our efforts and best behaviour! Faith – being persuaded of Jesus and His perfect work for us – is what gives us access to this perfect peace and it is the foundation for a deep and intimate relationship with God.

Say it out loud: “I HAVE PEACE WITH GOD. GOD IS NOT MAD AT ME. GOD IS NOT HOLDING ANYTHING AGAINST ME!”