Peace Through Christ
Week 14, Thursday
Tammy Ethridge
He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
This week we have been looking into God’s Word to see what He has to say about the peace of God and having peace with others. You may be feeling as if these are unattainable goals. You are absolutely correct, unless you have first experienced peace with God that comes only through the Cross. Because of sin, man is separated from a Holy God. The only sufficient payment for sin is the precious blood of Jesus. He willingly laid down His life, was put in a borrowed tomb, and rose from the dead three days later to pay the ultimate sacrifice for our sin, thus bringing peace between God and man.
I can never do enough “good things” to bring me to God. Going on mission trips, being a member of a great church, feeding the hungry, being kind, helping others, trying to live right, and even being a pastor’s wife will not bring me peace with God. I must trust in the blood of Jesus as payment for my sin. Sin must be punished. The punishment for sin is death and eternal separation from a Holy God. Jesus came to bring peace between sinful man and Holy God. In His death, He took my wickedness, washed me in His blood, cleansed me of sin, and presented me spotless before God. When God looks at me, He sees me through the blood of Jesus. Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Colossians 1:20-22 says, “By making peace through his blood . . . now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” Regardless of who you are or how many wonderful or wicked things you have done, it is all as filthy rags when presented before God. Peace with God comes only through His Son, Jesus Christ, and His sacrificial death on our behalf. Ephesians 3:12 tells us that only through Him can we approach God. Ephesians 2:14 says that Jesus is our peace because He destroyed the barrier and dividing wall of hostility between us and God.
Precious Savior, thank You for being my Prince of Peace, the One who gave Himself to bring me peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.
