The true secret of settled peace with God is founded on the precious fact that God, instead of justly banishing us from His presence forever, loved us even "while we were yet sinners." Yea, He so loved us, even while we were sinners, that Christ His Son died for us.
Peace, then, springs from God-"the God of peace." It is founded entirely on the atoning work of Christ when He shed His blood and died on the cross. There is no other foundation for peace. The Scripture plainly says we are justified by His blood, and that He has "made peace through the blood of His cross.”
This peace deepens in the soul as the new relationships into which we are brought and the new standing given us. in Christ Jesus are apprehended. Now the fact of being a child of God through faith in Christ Jesus—an object of the Father's constant care and love as such—is a relationship unchanging in character, and going on to our perfect conformity to the image of the Son.
When we enter into the knowledge that we are loved by the Father as He loves His Son Jesus, and have received the Spirit of adoption to make these good to us, it causes settled peace to occupy our hearts. We then enjoy the goodness and love of God; and more and more we are lost in wonder, love, and praise.
"Hence through all the changing seasons—
Trouble, sorrow, sickness, woe—
Nothing changeth God's affection;
Abba's love shall bring us through.”
But there is another side. If we become worldly, careless in our walk, and neglect prayer and the reading of the Word of God, the Spirit dwelling in us will be grieved. Then our spiritual senses will be blunted so that our hearts, before we are aware of it, will be enticed by that which the Lord has forbidden: "the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life." 1 John 2:1616For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 John 2:16).
When the heart is filled with worldliness, one cannot enjoy the presence of God, but becomes unhappy. This neglect may call too for the Father's discipline, for though the work in which peace is founded never changes, the disobedient child is not abiding in the Savior's love.
Nothing changes God's love to us; but our enjoyment of it is another thing. Did the Lord not say, "As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you"? And He added this: "If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in His love." John 15:9,109As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. (John 15:9‑10).
"I hear the words of love;
I gaze upon the blood;
I see the mighty Sacrifice,
And 'I have peace with God.'”