Romans chapter 5.
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Our sermons are all on there.
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Alright, so Romans chapter 5.
One verse this morning.
Verse 1.
Before we dig in, John Lennon wrote.
He said,
Imagine there's no heaven.
It's easy if you try.
No hell below us.
Above us, only sky.
Imagine all the people living for today.
Imagine there's no countries.
It isn't hard to do.
Nothing to kill or die for.
And no religion too.
Imagine all the people living life in peace.
You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us and the world will be as one.
Imagine no possessions.
I wonder if you can.
No need for greed or hunger.
A brotherhood of man.
Imagine all the people sharing all the world.
You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us and the world will live as one.
John Lennon may have been a dreamer, but his dream was peace.
And we as humans desire to have peace.
Since the fall though, Genesis chapter 3, we've been unable to find any type of peace.
We have desired it.
Look around the afternoon TV schedule.
Most of you guys don't do that, I know.
But look around.
Show after show is filled with conflict resolution counseling.
Host after host trying to help people find peace in their situation.
With their families.
With their neighbors.
And sometimes with themselves.
The TV is filled with these shows because people are looking for peace.
And John Lennon, imagine all the people living life in peace.
Peace between people is important.
In fact, the gospel demands it.
The gospel teaches us to love others as we love the Lord.
It tells us to live generously.
It demands radical living.
Radical loving for the glory of God.
Jesus, our example, lived a radical life.
A life that pointed everything to the work of the Father.
Not what He was doing, but always to what the Father was doing.
And we as image bearers of God must do the same thing.
The Bible teaches two main types of peace.
Peace with others.
In the church and outside of the church.
Peace with God.
A peace that has everything to do with what God has done and nothing with what we have done.
Peace with God is the grandeur of the two.
It trumps the other peace.
And that is, of course, if you are comparing the two.
Both are important.
And this peace is our subject this morning.
I will be asking and answering questions about this peace.
Like, why do we need peace with God?
What is it?
What is it not?
And finally, what do we do with it?
Why does this or how does this change our life today?
Alright, Romans chapter 5.
I am going to start reading in verse 22 of chapter 4 to kind of put it into context.
And we will read through verse 5.
Verse 22 says,
That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness.
Him being Abraham.
But the words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also.
It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord.
Who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand.
And we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings,
knowing that suffering produces endurance.
And endurance produces character.
And character produces hope.
And hope does not put us to shame.
Because God's love has been poured into our hearts,
through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Pray with me.
Father, I thank you for this day, this day that you have made.
I thank you that the breath I breathe,
I thank you that the sunlight we see,
the cooler weather,
is all your grace to us.
evidence of you being at work.
God, I pray and I ask now that you would speak to us.
That you would speak clearly to us,
that we leave here different because your word has been revealed to us.
I thank you for your word as we set it in our laps and read it in front of us.
I thank you that that is your word to us.
God, we pray and plead that you would speak.
Holy Spirit, penetrate the hardened and hardest hearts in this room.
Soften those hearts.
Soften all of our hearts so that we can be receptive to your word.
And that we can walk out of here with our faith strengthened,
at peace with who we are because of who you are.
In Jesus' name I pray this.
Amen.
Romans 5 verse 1 is the text this morning.
And it says,
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now before we jump into peace,
I feel it's important that we establish,
if we haven't already,
what does justified by faith mean?
So that we all are on the same page.
And this is our launching pad.
This is where we're jumping from.
And if it's where we're jumping from,
I need to make sure that we're all jumping in the right direction
with the same trajectory.
So what is justification by faith apart from works?
Well, it's what Paul has been writing about
for the last chapter and a little bit.
First of all, justification by faith for the believer is a one-time event.
Okay?
It is a one-time, once and forever.
It isn't an action that we have to constantly come back to,
like repentance or confession.
So once you have been justified,
that's it.
Done.
Forever.
Justification also is that moment that we have been made right before God
because of Jesus Christ's righteousness.
And that righteousness was given to us,
and from us our sin was taken away.
So because of Christ,
we stand forgiven,
righteous,
and holy before God.
And apart from Christ,
we have none of those traits.
None of those things.
Justification by faith is the act in which God declares that in Christ,
in Christ,
He regards us as if we had never sinned at all.
That's good stuff.
He pronounces that we are just and righteous in Christ.
Our sins are forgiven.
We are clothed by the righteousness of Christ.
And it is God who declares it.
Not us.
It is God who declares that.
Apart from Christ,
it is impossible.
It is impossible to be righteous.
Justification by faith,
apart from works,
is an action by God,
through Jesus Christ,
on our lives,
apart from anything and everything that we think we deserve or have done.
So verse 1 of chapter 5 says,
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,
now we can move on, right?
Now we can...
What is the result?
Being justified by faith is a single moment.
We need to understand this.
It is a single moment.
The implications last forever.
Now Paul,
it's almost like a change in direction for Paul as he's writing this letter.
The first four chapters have been instructional.
This is who you are.
This is why you can't do what you think you can do.
This is why what you do doesn't matter.
We're all sinners.
We come to chapter 5.
And he changes his tone a little bit.
It goes from instruction to almost a celebration.
Some commentaries and scholars say that this next paragraph,
or a couple paragraphs,
is written as a celebratory song.
It's as if Paul was writing this first section,
and he's realizing the truth that he just got done talking about,
writing about,
and he's filled with awe and wonder.
And now he rejoices in the result of God's work.
This is where we sit in chapter 5.
Paul is celebrating by saying,
since we have been justified,
since God has brought death to life,
since He has done it,
oh, what a great God.
Since we are standing as if we've never sinned,
we have peace with God.
Peace with God.
We also have access to His grace.
And we rejoice in hope.
Hope from God,
rooted in God,
because of God,
for His glory.
This is what Paul is writing.
He says,
what a great God who shows us mercy daily.
And as you keep reading,
you go all the way down to verse 11.
He says,
more than that,
we also rejoice in God
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now received reconciliation.
He is celebrating this justification by faith.
He is celebrating what Christ has done.
And He's revealing to us now,
you've been justified
and this is what it looks like after.
This is what your life,
this is the result of being justified.
So the question is,
the question is,
why do we need to have peace with God?
That's our first question.
Why do we need to have peace with God?
Our first point.
In chapter 1 of Romans,
verse 18,
Paul writes,
God's Word says,
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven
against all ungodliness
and unrighteousness of men,
who by their unrighteousness
suppress the truth.
All men,
women,
and children,
every person who has ever lived
or will live is born into ungodliness
and unrighteousness.
And it's not just born into,
it is ungodly and unrighteous.
We are ungodly and unrighteous.
In verse 10 of chapter 5,
it says that we are enemies with God.
That we were enemies before being justified.
Before Christ,
we were at war against God Almighty.
We fought against Him and His truth.
In verse 6 of chapter 5,
it says we were ungodly.
Verse 8,
it says we were sinners.
God does not fellowship with,
partake in,
or entertain any unrighteousness.
Which is why,
in verse 18 of chapter 1,
it is His wrath,
not His righteousness,
not His holiness,
not His love
that is against the ungodliness
and the unrighteousness of men,
but it is His wrath.
Because God
cannot fellowship,
partake,
and entertain.
And He must judge.
Because that is who He is.
John says in 1 John,
that if we love the world,
then we are at enmity with God.
We are enemies.
We are of opposition with God.
Because we are born into this world,
condemned,
loving the world,
born into ungodliness and sin,
we are enemies with God.
And you guys can picture
war,
two sides fighting against each other.
That's who we are,
the Lord Christ.
We are fighting against God
and His plan.
That's what sin is.
And that's what sin is.
Ephesians 5, 6 says,
Let no one deceive you with empty words.
For because of these things,
which are found in verse 5,
which are sexually immoral,
impure,
covetous,
and idolaters,
the wrath of God
comes upon the sons
of disobedience.
I know some of you
might be thinking,
God created us.
And He said it was good.
And we're created in God's image.
All true.
But chapter 3 of Genesis
thwarts all of that.
Chapter 3 of Genesis
is the fall
where sin comes into the picture.
And we have been corrupted
since that time
and fought against God.
So because of sin,
because of no matter
what bad thing you do,
big or small,
because of sin,
there is a need
for peace with God.
Sin is the barrier
that we cannot
get over or around.
It is in us
and corrupts
every part of our lives.
Flip back to Romans 3.
It corrupts so much
of our life
that Romans 3,
verses 11 and 12,
the last part of 10 says,
None is righteous.
No, not one.
No one understands.
No one seeks for God.
All have turned aside.
Together they have become worthless.
No one does good.
Not even one.
It sounds harsh.
But it's the truth.
We were created
originally,
Adam and Eve
were created
to fellowship with God.
They were created
to have community with God.
But because of sin,
that fellowship
and that community
has been broken.
And until
we trust
and place our trust
in Christ,
who makes us righteous,
we are at war with God.
So until you trust
and are justified
by faith,
you are at war
with God.
That's the reality.
Christ is the Prince
of Peace
who gives peace
to those who don't
deserve it.
Who haven't earned it
and who frankly
don't even seek it
from Him.
We seek peace,
but we seek it
in all other places
except in Him.
So,
why do we need
peace with God?
Because of our sin.
Because we are at war
with God.
So our second point
this morning is
what does peace
with God look like?
So what does this
peace look like?
What is it?
So because
our justification,
verse 1 of chapter 5,
therefore,
since you have been
justified by faith,
we have peace with God
through our Lord
Jesus Christ.
The justification
is a once and forever
action.
It's done.
This peace with God
is as well
a once and forever
action.
Peace is the result
of being justified.
or me.
Peace is the result
of being justified.
Okay?
We have peace with God
because of Christ
and no other.
Anyone who places
their trust in Christ
who believes in Him
will no longer
be an enemy,
but be eternally
at peace with God.
This peace
is an eternal
assurance of God,
His promises
and His salvation
for us.
Okay?
Now,
since it's an eternal
peace,
an eternal assurance,
hear me clearly,
there is nothing
that you do
or can do
to break the peace
with God
that you have
in Christ.
Nothing.
Now,
if that isn't
freeing
and empowering,
then
check your pulse
and see if you're alive.
Nothing you do
will break the peace
that you have with God.
You have peace
because of Christ,
not because of you.
Now,
what other religion
out there
can say
that no matter
what you do,
no matter
what you say,
no matter
what you think,
you're loved
and have peace
with God.
There isn't.
There isn't
another religion.
And it's not like
I'm leading you
down a path here
that,
okay,
I made the decision.
Well,
it's not like
you weighed the pros
and cons
between Buddhism
and Christianity
or Islam
and Christianity.
You didn't.
You didn't want
to be a Christian.
You didn't want
to serve God.
God chose you.
He called you
and He made you
righteous
because of Christ
and not because of
something you had done.
The glorious beauty
of the Gospel
is that you did not choose.
That's what grace is.
Not choosing,
but Him choosing you
for no reason.
Your salvation
is rooted
and founded
in Christ.
And there is
nothing that changes
the peace
that you have
with God.
So here are
a few characteristics
of a life
that fully understands
their justification
and their peace
with God.
First thing is,
a man who understands
his justification
is a man who knows
that God loves him
even or in spite
of his sin.
A man who knows
that God loves him
in spite of his sin.
Before Christ,
we may ask the question,
how can God love me?
Why would God
want to love me
of everything
that I've done?
We may ask those questions.
We may be troubled
Troubled by the wrath
of God.
Why?
How could God
love me?
Why would He want
to bless me?
But now,
we can look at Christ,
we can look at His death
and resurrection
and say,
I know He loves me.
I don't understand it,
but I know He loves me.
It's not a feeling
or a sentiment.
We know solid facts
leading to a strong faith
with evidence
that God loves Him.
In chapter 5 of Romans,
down in verse 6,
it says,
For while we were still weak,
at the right time
Christ died for the ungodly.
That was us
before Christ.
For one will scarcely die
for a righteous person,
though perhaps
for a good person
one would dare even to die.
But God shows His love
for us
and that while we were
still sinners,
Christ died for us.
Since therefore
we have now
been justified
by His blood,
much more
shall we be saved
by Him
from the wrath
of God.
For if while we were enemies
we were reconciled to God
by the death of His Son,
much more now
that we are reconciled
shall we be saved
by His life.
More than that,
we also rejoice in God
through our Lord Jesus Christ
through whom we have now
received
reconciliation.
God loves us
and we know it
because we have peace
with God,
because we understand
our justification
and our standing
before God.
we cannot have peace
without Christ.
The second characteristic
of a man
who understands
His justification,
who gets
and understands
His peace with God,
he can answer
the accusations
of his conscience.
There's going to be
a moment,
there's going to be
moments,
plural,
when we doubt.
I guarantee it.
that doubting
leads to questioning.
Questioning along
the lines of
how could all this
be true?
How can it possibly
be true
that God has
forgiven me?
How can I be
at peace with God
who knows
exactly what
I've done?
But a man
who understands
His justification,
a man who is
at peace with God,
can answer
these questions
and squash
the doubt.
So,
for you,
can you answer
those questions?
Do you fully
understand
where you stand
with God?
Do you fully
understand your
justification?
Do you fully
understand the peace
that you have
with God now?
Because of Christ
and not because
of anything
you've done.
If you can't
answer these
questions,
then you're going
to be miserable
and unhappy
and that peace
is not going
to feel like peace.
it's not going
to be freeing.
It's going
to be enslaving
to you.
So,
can you answer
those doubts
and those questions
that will arise?
So,
not only
can He answer
the questions
from His conscience,
but thirdly,
can He answer
the accusations
of the enemy?
John Newton
wrote the hymn
Amazing Grace.
And before
writing that hymn,
He was a man
engaged in
slave trade
and slave trafficking,
it is said
that there wasn't
a sin that He
did not commit.
And God's grace
was shown to Him
as He trusted
and believed
in Jesus Christ.
See,
the devil was given
artillery,
ammunition,
rock after rock
to throw at John
Newton because
of his past.
To bring his past
back,
to haunt a man
changed by grace.
He could,
the devil could
raise up his past,
throw it in his face,
and then say,
do you still claim
to be a Christian,
forgiven and at peace
with God?
John Newton
had his answer.
An answer that
all of us can use
to silence the devil.
John Newton
wrote in his hymn,
Approach My Soul
to Mercy See.
He wrote,
Be thou my shield
and hiding place
that sheltered
near thy side.
I may my fierce accuser
face and tell him
thou hast died.
In other words,
what can I tell
my accuser?
I can't tell him
I'm a good man.
I can't tell him
about my past
or even my present
or what I'm trying
to do.
There's only one way
of silencing the enemy.
I can my fierce
accuser face
and tell him
thou hast died.
The only way
to silence the enemy
is to bring to light
not what we've done
but what Christ
has done for us.
Revelation 12
verse 11 says,
And they have conquered
him, the enemy,
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word
of their testimony.
For they loved
not their lives
even unto death.
A man who understands
his justification
will be able to give
answers to the enemy
who accuses
and questions.
But not only that,
a man can do
all of these things
while in sin.
While fallen in sin.
A man can answer
these questions,
these accusations.
That's my fourth
characteristic of a man
who understands
his justification
and peace.
When a temptation
is too strong
and you fall,
when you've been living
a victorious life
and fall in sin,
can you employ
the argument
that I have been
describing?
Can you say,
I stand in Christ
and in Him alone.
I am at peace
with God.
Can you say
those things?
Can you see
out of your sin
or are you defeated
and blinded
by your sin?
I find in my own life
that this is the hardest
of times
to proclaim the truth.
It's the moments
that I'm most vulnerable
to the enemy
and his schemes.
And yet,
these are the times
that we should be boasting
about what God has done.
These are the times
proclaim the truth.
Because in the truth
there is freedom.
There is comfort.
There is victory.
See,
the temptation
in these situations
is to just doubt.
It's to doubt
our own justification.
It's to doubt everything.
Doubt the very foundation
of our faith
that we believe.
See,
when you do that,
you're giving evidence
that you do not understand
your justification
or your peace
with God at all.
When you do that,
you say,
I'm not getting it.
Listen carefully.
You cannot
be just
one minute
and not the next.
If you are made righteous,
if you are made justified,
that's it.
You are justified
forever
in Christ.
It is in the moments
of sin
and after
that we must remember
the truth.
of God's Word.
And as chapter 4,
verse 21 says,
be fully convinced
that God will do
what He says
He will do.
If He says
He forgives,
He forgives.
If He says
He will never forsake,
He will never forsake.
So,
why do we need
peace with God?
Our sin.
What does peace
with God look like?
I've given you
some characteristics.
Our third point
this morning.
What peace
with God
is not?
What is it not?
A man who has
a false peace
is resting
on his own faith
rather than
on Christ
and His work.
See,
they look at
their own faith
instead of
what Christ
has done.
Churches are
filled with people
like this
because it isn't
usually rooted
from an intellectual
ascent.
It's rooted
in a false faith.
They would define
faith by simply
believing
and salvation
by simply
confessing.
pulled from
a verse
like Romans
10.
And with the
mouth one
confesses
and is
saved.
See,
there's
teachings in
our churches
today
and in the
past
that all
you have
to do
is say
that Jesus
is Lord
or all
you have
to do
is say
a prayer.
A magic
prayer.
And the
problem,
though,
is that's
not biblical.
Read the
rest of
Romans
chapter
10.
And
if
they
if
if a
person
speaks
a prayer,
if they
initiated,
then
then they're
the instigator
and not
the recipient.
It's not
a prayer.
It's a
it's a
person
in Jesus
Christ.
And if
you're
if you're
the instigator
and not
the recipient
of God's
grace,
then who
needs
Christ?
Who
needs
the Holy
Spirit?
For
the
person
who
instigated,
decided,
and it
happened.
And all
they have
to do is
look at
the faith
that they
have
created
and not
what
Christ
has
done.
And
that is
a false
sense
of
peace.
Peace
with God
is not
a feeling.
It's
not an
emotional
peace.
It's
not a
balanced
life.
Or
however
new age
thing
you want
to say.
having
peace
with
God
does
not
give
you
a
happy
life
or
a
perfect
life.
In fact,
having
peace
with
God
will
actually
make
this
life
more
difficult
because
you are
now a
Christian
proclaiming
Christ
with the
title
that you
take.
you are
now a
cross
bearer
and a
person
with
Christ
who
is
hated
and
will
be
hated
by
this
world.
Peace
with
God
is
more
about
the
life
to
come
and
less
about
how
comfortable
you
are
in
this
life.
man
who
has
false
peace
is
only
interested
in
forgiveness
and
not
in
righteousness.
He
doesn't
want to
go to
hell.
So
he
wants
to be
forgiven.
He's
not
concerned
with
being
holy
and
walking
in
holiness.
So
he
lives
a
negligent
life
without
concern
for
the
commands
of
God.
He
ignores
warnings
like
Hebrews
12
verse
14
to
strive
for
peace
with
everyone
and
for
the
holiness
without
which
no
one
will
see
the
Lord.
He
is
only
interested
in
forgiveness
and
cares
nothing
about
living
the
Christian
life.
Well,
I've
been
saved.
I
can
live
however
I
want
now.
The
last
characteristic
of
false
peace
is
not
caring
enough
when
you
fall
into
sin.
You
take
it
much
too
lightly.
A
person
with
a
false
peace
isn't
shaken
by
their
sin.
It
doesn't
affect
them.
Jesus
and
his
blood
are
more
of a
security
blanket
and
less
a
relationship
and a
right
standing
before
God.
When
this
man
does
fall
into
sin
he
would
say
something
like
it's
alright
the
blood
of
Jesus
covers
me.
Now
and
he
continues
on
in
his
life
he
continues
living
and
just
goes
on
doesn't
confess
doesn't
repent
now
all
of
us
should
do
this
when
we're
in
sin
we
should
say
Jesus
blood
covers
me
it's
I'm
still
okay
but
then
we
should
confess
!
that
sin
we
should
repent
of
that
sin
not
move
on
with
our
life
and
take
care
of
it
later
or
say
we'll
take
care
of
it
later
we
should
there
should
be
some
mourning
over
our
sin
not
tears
but
we
should
be
saddened
by
and
moved
by
the
sin
that
we
have
committed
because
a
holy
God
has
paid
for
that
sin
Matthew
says
blessed
are
those
who
mourn
for
they
shall
be
comforted
you
will
only
be
comforted
by
Christ
and
his
work
on
the
cross
because
you
have
peace
with
God
alright
so
our
last
point
is
how
should
we
now
live
knowing
this
peace
we
have
with
God
so
what
do
we
do
in
light
of
having
peace
with
God
and
I've
touched
on
some
of
those
things
here's
some
practical
what
do
we
do
now
the
first
thing
is
we
must
always
be
aware
of
our
sin
and
the
sin
around
us
we
must
always
be
aware
must
be
a
seriousness
over
sin
if
you
know
and
understand
the
peace
that
God
has
given
you
then
you've
been
given
a
glimpse
into
hell
you've
been
given
a
small
picture
of
what
you
deserve
and
in
light
of
that
you
now
see
the
grace
that
God
has
shown
you
and
given
you
and
if
you
know
that
then
you
won't
be
lighthearted
about
sin
you
won't
be
frivolous
about
your
actions
and
those
actions
of
others
around
you
so
we
must
always
be
aware
of
our
sin
we
must
always
be
in
awe
of
the
grace
that
God
has
shown
us
amazement
and
wonder
will
be
the
songs
that
we
sing
we'll
proclaim
the
good
news
because
of
what
God
has
done
we'll
echo
the
words
of
Charles
Wesley
and
his
hymn
and
can
it
be
that
I
should
gain
an
interest
in
the
Savior's
blood
died
he
for
me
who
caused
his
pain
for
me
who
him
to
death
pursued
amazing
love
how
can
it
be
that
thou
my
God
should
die
for
me
echoing
the
amazement
and
they
awe
in
the
wonder
of
what
God
has
done
not
only
that
we
must
also
be
humble
now
this
of
course
isn't
something
that
we
just
can
do
or
be
we
can't
just
be
humble
we
can
act
humble
but
we
cannot
be
humble
and
it
comes
from
being
amazed
and in
awe
of what
God
has
done
when we
realize
the truth
about
who we
are
who we
were
who
Christ
is
humility
is the
only
logical
response
see
what
can
you
and I
boast
in
nothing
justification
by faith
destroys
boasting
it is
all by
grace
and
finally
we
must
always
keep
a
watch
on
our
lives
always
being
aware
of
the
traps
of
the
enemy
because
we
have
been
justified
and
we
have
peace
with
God
always
keeping
our
eyes
open
keeping
a
watch
on
our
lives
this
peace
with
God
is
freeing
Romans
8
1
there
is
no
condemnation
there
is
no
death
no
fear
of
man
this
peace
with
God
is
assurance
there
is
nothing
that
can
change
God's
love
for
us
turn
over
to
Romans
chapter
8
nothing
can
change
God's
love
for
us
Romans
8
verse
31
says
what
then
shall
we
say
to
these
things
if
God
is
for
us
who
can
be
against
us
he
who
did
not
spare
his
own
son
but
gave
him
up
for
us
all
how
will
he
not
also
with
him
graciously
give
us
all
things
who
shall
bring
any
charge
against
God
elect
it
is
God
who
justifies
who
is
to
condemn
Christ
Jesus
is
the
one
who
died
!
than
that
who
was
raised
who
is
at
the
right
hand
of
God
who
indeed
is
interceding
for
us
who
shall
separate
us
from
the
love
of
Christ
shall
tribulation
or
distress
or
persecution
or
famine
or
nakedness
or
danger
or
sword
verse
37
no
in
all
these
things
we
are
more
than
conquerors
through
him
who
loved
us
imagine
there's
no
countries
it
isn't
hard
to
do
nothing
to
kill
or
die
for
and
no
religion
to
imagine
all
the
people
living
life
in
peace
nothing
to
kill
or
die
for
because
Christ
has
died
for
us
all
and
no
religion
too
it
isn't
a
religion
that
gives
peace
it
is
a
man
who
lived
a
sinless
life
living
life
in
peace
the
only
peace
that
matters
is
peace
with
God
it
trumps
all
others
Christ
is
the
prince
of
peace
do
you
have
peace
with
God
do
you
have
peace
with
God
let's
pray
together
father
i
thank
you
for
your
word
i
thank
you
that
in
it
we
are
challenged
in
it
we
are
comforted
in
it
we
are
convicted
in
it
we
are
encouraged
and
in
it
we
find
victory
thank you
for this
morning
and this
great
opportunity
to
meet
together
with
our
brothers
and
sisters
i
pray
that
you
would
continue
to
move
among
us
continue
to
speak
to
our
hearts
about
this
peace
that
we
have
with
you
what
a
great
truth
to
know
that
no
matter
what
I
do
what
I
say
cannot
change
the
grace
and
love
that
you
have
for
me
and
cannot
change
the
peace
that
I
stand
in
Christ
and
not
any
work
of
my
own
I
pray
that
you
are
pleased
and
honored
by
the
rest
of
this
morning
the
songs
that
we
sing
are
honoring
and
worshiping
of
you
but
more
than
that
the
hearts
that
are
singing
those
songs
will
be
pleasing
to
you
pray
God
that
you
are
pleased
as
we
celebrate
and
partake
in
what
we
call
the
Lord
supper
celebrating
what
Christ
has
done
I
pray
that
no
one
in
here
takes
it
for
granted
but
we
all
reflect
and
examine
the
love
that
you
have
shown
us
in
Christ
and
it
is
his
name
I
pray
Amen