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Answer
Before we can comprehend the significance of having peace with God, we must acknowledge that human beings in our natural state are adversaries of God. Due to inheriting a sinful nature from our first ancestors, Adam and Eve (Genesis 3;Romans 5:12), we are born with a tendency to prioritize ourselves and act as our own deities. This rebellious disposition puts us in conflict with our flawless Creator. His righteous nature cannot ignore our sins; fairness requires consequences (Romans 3:23;Romans 6:23). We are unable to establish harmony with God because our most diligent efforts, even on our finest day, are insignificant compared to His purity “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”, (Isaiah 64:6). Therefore, in our sinful condition, we cannot be reconciled, we cannot achieve peace with God, regardless of our efforts.
God took the first step in seeking peace with us by sending His Son to earth. Jesus led a faultless life, His crucifixion atoned for the sins of all who would have faith in Him (Hebrews 4:15;2 Corinthians 5:21), and His resurrection ensures our righteousness before God “who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”, (Romans 4:25). Jesus is the Prince of Peace “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The PPrince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6), and He is the One who gives us peace with God. That’s why the message of salvation in Christ is called the “gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15).
The angels’ words to the shepherds on that first Christmas were “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased” (Luke 2:14). With whom is God pleased? God’s pleasure and peace rest upon those who receive God’s Son by faith (John 1:12). “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Peace with God means that our great sin debt has been paid and God sees us as righteous (Colossians 2:14;Romans 3:22). We are no longer enemies but beloved children (1 John 3:2). His holy nature can have fellowship with us because He sees us “in Christ.”
Peace with God means our consciences are cleared (Hebrews 10:22; Titus 3:5). The heavy burden of guilt that afflicted us has been lifted, placed on Jesus on the cross (Colossians 2:14; 1 Peter 2:24). The shame we rightly felt for our sinful actions was borne by Jesus. God the Father embraces us as His own children and encourages us to “approach the throne of grace with confidence” to connect with Him and request what we need «Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.», (Hebrews 4:16). For believers, maintaining a sense of peace with God involves confessing our ongoing sins and failures «If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. », (1 John 1:9). We do not need to keep confessing to secure peace with God; Jesus accomplished that on the cross when we believed. Truly regenerated individuals live in continual repentance so that sin does not regain a foothold to defile them again (John 3:3; Romans 6:1-4). Unconfessed sin disrupts the joyful relationship between a child of God and their Father.
Peace with God also enables believers to live without fear of death or eternity. Our confidence rests in the assurance that Jesus has completed all that was required to reconcile us with God (Matthew 5:17; John 3:16-18). Our final breath on earth will be our first breath in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Luke 16:22)
). The Holy Spirit has been given to us like a promise ring, a certainty that a greater event will surely take place (2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:5). Right now, the Holy Spirit lives within us to guide, convict, comfort, and remind us of Jesus’ completed sacrifice on our behalf (John 14:16–17; 16:8–11; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 1:13–14).
Human beings were created to live in peace with God. Sin destroyed that peace and still destroys it for everyone who refuses Jesus’ offer of salvation. However, anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord, believes in his heart that Jesus is the only way to God, and is willing to surrender to Him as Savior and Lord can have peace with God (Romans 10:9-10, 13; John 3:16, 36; Acts 2:21, 28).
