Therefore, Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. . . .

— Romans 5:1

As a Jehovah’s Witness for almost 40 years, Ilya tried his best to earn salvation and find peace with God. But one day he heard a Christian radio program about salvation by grace through faith in Christ. For Ilya this was an eye-opener. He started studying the Christian Bible and visited a local Christian church.

Today he is a committed believer, professing Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He says that studying the Bible has helped him finally find peace with God.

In our verses for today the apostle Paul explains that through faith in Jesus, we have a sinless record, as if we’ve always obeyed God’s righteous standards. This ushers us into a place of friendship, unity, and peace with God.

Our sin separates us from God. No matter how hard we work, we cannot bridge the gap that separates us from God the Father. All our good deeds aren’t enough to bring us to the point of being at peace with God. Things such as our religious background, our ethnicity, or our cultural heritage cannot make us right with God either. We are too weak, too sinful, to free ourselves.

But the Son of God can set us free. We find real peace when we wholeheartedly believe in and follow the teaching of Jesus Christ. Have you found God’s peace and hope in Christ?

Heavenly Father, we praise you for your grace in Jesus Christ. Open our hearts and minds to your truth. Give us your peace and hope. Amen.