Romans 5:1-5 English Standard Version (ESV)
Peace with God Through Faith
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 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. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 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.
Yesterday the last words spoken were: “Those who do it to us want to control and use us to their own gain. That is not how God works.” Having placed the issue of what God has done opens up a myriad of topics, experiences, beliefs and opinions. What must be put forth at this time is this issue of the peace of God which we have found. We are all different and what God has done in order to bring peace to one believer might not be the same as it is for another.
We all want to be right. That is fair but we do not have the right to destroy the peace of another by how we express our beliefs. Strong opinions may be founded in totally different experience from others. It is difficult to know exactly what others deem important without having those open and searching conversations in bible studies. Our theologies need to be examined in light of God’s Word but none of us are the last word on truth. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth and some of us are not as experienced at hearing the Holy Spirit as others. We must be careful not to destroy another’s peace.
Romans 14:20 English Standard Version (ESV) Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.