Read: Romans 5:1-11
Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (v. 1)
How should we view sin? Think for a moment about a debtor who has so much debt that nothing else matters to him except for how to pay off his debt. His debt is so great that he enjoys no peace, joy, or relief. Nothing can ease his condition—no outside help, no advice, no psychologist, no doctor. The other issue this debtor has is that he is short on time. His only hope for a way out of this would be to find someone who can pay off his entire debt. But who can volunteer to pay it for him? Is there really anyone who can pay his enormous debt?
Such are our sins before God. The person who sins and goes unpunished is simply adding to his debt and accumulating God’s wrath for the day of judgment (Rom. 2:5). But the good news is this: God provided someone to pay our debt, Jesus Christ, his Son. And for this reason, Jesus died on the cross to pay on our behalf.
Those who believe in Christ are justified and enjoy peace with God precisely because Christ has paid their debt. And, since their sin can no longer stand against them on the day of judgment, they experience peace with God right now.
Wouldn’t you like someone else to pay your huge debt? Well, what are you waiting for? Trust in Jesus!
As you pray, thank God that he has made peace with us through Christ.
Gentian Dogani is a pastor of two small churches in two different small towns in the southern part of Albania. He is married to Nikoleta, and they live in the town of Memaliaj. Since his conversion, Gentian’s desire has been to reach people and preach the good news of the gospel, “for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16).
