Our opening verse says, "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ." That means there's no war or enmity between you and God. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ has brought you into everlasting peace with God. The peace being referred to here is much more than a "ceasefire," quietness, or an end of hostilities; it means oneness. We've been brought into a harmonious union; an inextricable oneness with God. To understand this, imagine two nations who have been at war and have had nothing in common. But now, there's peace between them; they've opened their borders, and now there's effective interrelationship between them; reconciliation has taken place. This is similar to man's case with God, before Jesus came. Ephesians 2:13 (NIV) says, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ." By virtue of Christ's substitutionary work, you've been "justified"; that means declared righteous, and therefore, have peace with God. The word "justified" is from the Greek "dikaioó," which means to be acquitted. God isn't mad at you, and doesn't count your sins against you. So, don't be afraid that one day, He may remember all the wrong things you've done and punish you as a result; no. You've come home to Him; you're now at rest in Him, because Jesus paid the price on your behalf. Isaiah 53:5 says, the chastisement—the punishment that brought us peace—was upon Him. Now you know, and can relate with God as your Father. Romans 5:2 tells us that by Christ Jesus, we have "access by faith into this grace wherein we stand…." We have right-standing with God, through Jesus Christ. He gave us access into God's divine presence. In the Old Testament, they didn't have that access; only the high priest went once a year into the presence of Almighty God, to intercede for the people. But now, we have direct access into His presence, because we're at peace with Him; we're in fellowship with Him, for there's no peace without fellowship.