1253. What the Redeemed Have
What the Redeemed Have
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom_5:1).
We have now come to one of the interesting parts of this study. There are three things which we have, if we have received the atonement.
1. We have peace with God (see Rom_5:1). The burden of sin is gone; the fear of judgment has passed; the sense of God's wrath is removed.
We who were enemies, separated from God by wicked works; we who dwelt in the far country, alienated from God, strangers to the covenant of promise, without God, are brought back again, reconciled–"for He is our peace."
The war is over, the rebellion of sin has passed, and we have peace with God. When the victorious army grants peace, it is upon terms which makes the defeated army cower and cringe. The defeated army has peace, but it is a peace, based upon the stacking of arms, the surrender of lands, the loss of prestige. It is a peace of necessity, not of choice; a peace of "have to," not of "want to."
With saints it is so different. We have peace with God, not because we are forced to an unwilling surrender. Our peace is based upon God's surrender of His Son; upon Christ's bearing our sin, suffering in our stead. Our peace is builded upon grace, not force. We stack our arms and accept the peace of God gladly, with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
2. We have access to God (see Rom_5:2). Not only is Christ our peace; but, through Christ we have approach to God, and access to His presence. This access is the result of the peace Christ made. Not only does the peace of God rule in our hearts, but the presence of God is restored to our lives.
When Adam sinned, he was driven out; we are now welcomed in. Truly our fellowship is with the Father. We can draw nigh in full assurance of faith, because we are washed from our sin.
This access is possible alone in Christ Jesus. No man can come to the Father except by Christ; He is the Door by Whom we enter in; He is the Way upon which we walk to God; He is the Rent in the veil that opens the way unto the Holy of Holies.
3. We have hope (see Rom_5:3). Peace and access are present possessions. Hope anticipates things to come. For what a man hath, why doth he hope for? We hope in the glory of God.
(1) In this hope we rejoice. No matter how dark the day; no matter how gloomy the sky, we know that a better day and a clearer sky lies ahead of us. Just around the next shore line, we see the dawning of millennial rest.
Why should we not rejoice? We believe what He hath spoken. We believe, yea, and are sure that all that our God promises He will do. The coming things may be long delayed, but we have need of patience, for we shall inherit the promises.
(2) Of this hope we are not ashamed. Why should we be ashamed? Many have arisen saying, "Where is the promise of His coming?" Many have reviled and rebuked those who hold to the "blessed hope," yet we are not ashamed. We will let no man despise us; we will let nothing move us from the "hope of our calling."
Our hearts are fixed, O God, our hearts are fixed.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR