Here is an excerpt from my study in Romans 5:1.

In Romans 5:1, Paul writes:

“Because we are justified…εἰρήνην ἔχομεν — We have peace with God.”

Peace is not merely calm — It Is the end of hostility. A preacher I once knew said that 

“Peace is the cessation of againstness.”

The Greek word Paul uses is eirēnē, which carries the idea of reconciliation, harmony, and restored relationship. It echoes the Hebrew concept of shalom — wholeness, completeness, things set right.

Before justification, humanity is not in a neutral relationship with God. Paul has already explained that our real dilemma is that we suppress the truth, exchange God’s glory for lesser things, resist His authority, and stand guilty before Him.

The problem is not merely that we feel distant from God. The deeper reality is that, by nature, we stand in opposition to Him.

Even more sobering is the fact that God is not neutral toward sin. His wrath is revealed against it (Romans 1:18). There is, therefore, opposition on both sides: humanity stands against God in rebellion, and God stands against sin in righteous judgment.

Peace, then, means that this mutual opposition has ended.

Here is something important to consider. Being justified, and being at peace with God – does that mean we are done sinning? No. Does it mean our sinning doesn’t matter? No. Sin will still have its effects. Sin still has its repercussions. We still deal with the consequences of our sin. So what’s the difference in the before-and-after scenario for us who used to be unsaved but are now saved? 

God is no longer against us

He is not our enemy. Unregenerate mankind has made themselves enemies of God. As a result, they have put themselves in the position of making God THEIR enemy. But we who are justified have peace with God; the “cessation of againstness” is here, and hostility with and from God has vanished. The consequences of THIS are huge. He Who used to be our enemy is now our ally in the battle against sin. We who used to be helpless in our enslaved condition to sin are slaves no longer.

We who were “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” (A sermon preached by Jonathan Edwards circa 1741) are now sinners in the hands of a loving Father. This changes everything. So what, then, is the difference between who we were before salvation and who we are now? The answer is breathtaking.

God is no longer against us

Tying the Knots

He is not our enemy. Unregenerate mankind has made themselves enemies of God. As a result, they have put themselves in the position of making God THEIR enemy. 

But we who are justified have peace with God; the “cessation of againstness” is here, and hostility with and from God has vanished. The consequences of THIS are huge. He Who used to be our enemy is now our ally in the battle against sin. We who used to be helpless in our enslaved condition to sin are slaves no longer.

We who were “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” (A sermon preached by Jonathan Edwards circa 1741) are now sinners in the hands of a loving Father. This changes everything.

This truth is so important, and I have an example that makes it clear. When I was in Navy boot camp, I was terrified of my company commander. He was not my friend. He was, in many ways, my enemy. Everything he did or said carried the shadow of fear. Even small tasks, like making our bunks, felt like potential traps for punishment if we made a mistake. Our goal wasn’t to do things perfectly — it was simply not to be singled out or ridiculed.

Compare that to my Dad teaching me a new skill, like tying the boat off at the dock. I’m sure I tied plenty of knots wrong at first, but he would gently guide me, correcting mistakes, walking me through the process until I got it. There was no fear of punishment — just guidance and patience. My father stood alongside me, helping me through the task at hand – whatever it was. I never felt fear from him, even when I tied the knot wrong.

That’s how God relates to us. Being justified and at peace with Him means we can navigate life’s challenges without fear of punishment. We still sin – but now the Father stands alongside of us, teaching us to “tie the knots”.

In His Grip,

Paige