Peace with God

What makes you feel truly secure? Some people find security in their bank account, others in their relationships, still others in their achievements or reputation. But what happens when the market crashes, relationships fail, or accomplishments fade? You see, human security is always temporary, always fragile, always dependent on circumstances beyond our control.

But what if I told you there’s a security that can never be shaken? A peace that doesn’t depend on your performance, your circumstances, or even your feelings? That’s exactly what Paul reveals in Romans 5:1-11—the unshakeable security that belongs to every believer through justification by faith.

We’ve been walking through Paul’s magnificent argument in Romans. In chapters 1-3, he demonstrated that all humanity stands guilty before a holy God. In chapter 4, he showed how Abraham was justified by faith apart from works. Now in chapter 5, Paul answers the crucial question: “How secure is this salvation? Can we really be certain?”

Here’s the point: Justified believers possess unshakeable peace with God that transforms even suffering into hope through His demonstrated love.

Peace with God – Our New Standing

Paul begins with a stunning declaration: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Notice that word “therefore”—it connects everything that follows to what Paul has just established about justification by faith. Because we have been declared righteous through faith, we now possess something extraordinary: peace with God.

But what exactly is this peace? You see, this isn’t the subjective feeling of tranquility we might experience during a quiet morning or after resolving a conflict. This is something far more profound—it’s the objective end of hostility between God and the believer. Before justification, we were at war with God. Our sin had made us His enemies. But through Christ’s work, the war is over. The hostility has ended. Peace has been declared.

Think about it this way: when two nations sign a peace treaty, that treaty creates an objective reality regardless of how the citizens feel about it. The war is officially over. Similarly, when God justifies a sinner, He declares peace. The divine hostility toward that person’s sin has been satisfied through Christ’s sacrifice. This peace doesn’t fluctuate with our emotions or circumstances—it’s a settled legal reality.

But Paul doesn’t stop there. He says we also “have access by faith into this grace in which we stand.” The word “access” here was used in ancient courts to describe the privilege of approaching a king. It’s the same word used for a formal introduction to royalty. What’s remarkable is that we don’t just have occasional access to God’s presence—we have permanent standing in His grace.

Notice that perfect tense: “we stand.” This indicates a fixed, immovable position. We’re not precariously balanced on the edge of God’s favor, hoping we don’t slip. We’re firmly established in grace. Our position is secure because it’s based on Christ’s finished work, not our ongoing performance.

And this standing in grace produces something beautiful: “we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” This hope isn’t wishful thinking—it’s confident expectation. We know with certainty that we will one day share in God’s own glory. This isn’t presumption; it’s the natural result of being justified and having peace with God.

Hope Through Suffering – Our Present Experience

Now Paul makes what seems like a shocking statement: “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations.” Wait—we rejoice in suffering? How can that be? Here’s what’s interesting: Paul isn’t promoting masochism or suggesting we enjoy pain for its own sake. Rather, he’s revealing how justified believers can have a completely different perspective on trials.

You see, when you know you have peace with God and are standing firm in His grace, suffering takes on a different meaning. It’s no longer punishment from an angry God—it’s the loving discipline of a Father who is conforming us to the image of His Son. We can rejoice in tribulation because we understand its purpose and its outcome.

Paul explains the divine process: “tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” This isn’t automatic—it requires faith’s perspective. But when we respond to trials with trust in God’s goodness, something beautiful happens. The pressure produces endurance, like a muscle growing stronger under resistance. That endurance develops proven character—the kind that has been tested and found genuine. And that proven character strengthens our hope.

But here’s the crucial point: “hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Our hope is absolutely secure because it’s grounded in God’s love, not our circumstances. The Holy Spirit has lavishly poured God’s love into our hearts like oil being abundantly poured from a vessel. This isn’t a trickle—it’s a flood of divine love that assures us of our security in Christ.

At its core, this transforms how we view suffering. Instead of seeing trials as evidence that God has abandoned us, we see them as tools in the hands of a loving Father who is working all things together for our good. We can rejoice not because suffering is pleasant, but because we know its purpose and its end result.

God’s Love Demonstrated – Our Ultimate Security

But how can we be certain of God’s love, especially when life is difficult? Paul provides the ultimate proof: “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Notice the timing—Christ didn’t die for us after we cleaned up our lives or proved our worth. He died for us while we were helpless, ungodly sinners.

Paul drives this point home with a comparison: “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” You see, human love typically responds to worthiness. We might sacrifice for someone who deserves it or someone who has been kind to us. But God’s love is radically different—it reaches out to the undeserving, the rebellious, the hostile.

This leads Paul to what theologians call the “much more” argument—one of the most powerful assurances in all of Scripture: “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

Here’s the logic: If God did the harder thing—reconciling enemies through Christ’s death—how much more will He do the easier thing—preserving friends through Christ’s life? If God loved us enough to sacrifice His Son when we were His enemies, how much more will He care for us now that we’re His children? If Christ’s death was sufficient to justify the ungodly, how much more is His resurrection life sufficient to preserve the justified?

This isn’t just theological theory—it’s the bedrock of Christian assurance. Our salvation doesn’t depend on our ability to hold on to God; it depends on His ability to hold on to us. And since Christ lives forever to make intercession for us, our security is as certain as His eternal life.

Paul concludes this section with a note of triumph: “And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” We don’t just rejoice in God’s gifts—we rejoice in God Himself. The reconciliation isn’t something we’re hoping to receive someday; it’s something we have already received. It’s a present possession, a current reality.

Living in Unshakeable Security

So what does this mean for us today? First, it means we can face each day with confidence, knowing that our relationship with God is secure. When we sin, we don’t lose our peace with God—we may lose our sense of fellowship, but the objective reality of peace remains. When we face trials, we don’t need to wonder if God still loves us—His love has been demonstrated once and for all at the cross.

Second, it means we can approach suffering with a completely different perspective. Instead of seeing trials as evidence of God’s displeasure, we can see them as tools in His loving hands. We can actually rejoice in tribulation because we know it’s producing something beautiful in our lives—proven character and strengthened hope.

Third, it means we can rest in God’s finished work rather than striving to earn His favor. Our standing before God isn’t based on our performance but on Christ’s perfect sacrifice. We’re not trying to achieve peace with God—we already have it. We’re not hoping to gain access to His grace—we’re already standing in it.

But here’s the thing: this security isn’t meant to make us complacent. Rather, it’s meant to free us for joyful service. When you know you’re secure in God’s love, you’re free to take risks for His kingdom. When you know your salvation is certain, you can focus on growing in holiness rather than worrying about your standing before God.

The peace we have with God through justification by faith is unshakeable because it’s based on Christ’s finished work, not our ongoing performance. The hope we have of future glory is certain because it’s grounded in God’s demonstrated love, not our circumstances. And the love that has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit is the guarantee that our hope will never disappoint.

So what does this mean for you today? It means you can face whatever comes with confidence. Whether you’re dealing with financial stress, relationship problems, health concerns, or spiritual struggles, you can know that your fundamental relationship with God is secure. You have peace with Him. You’re standing in His grace. You have confident hope of sharing in His glory.

And when trials come—and they will come—you can actually rejoice, knowing that God is using them to develop proven character and strengthen your hope. You can rest in the certainty that the God who loved you enough to sacrifice His Son when you were His enemy will certainly care for you now that you’re His child.

This is the gospel—not just the good news of how to be saved, but the good news of how secure that salvation is. You are justified by faith. You have peace with God. You’re standing in grace. You have hope of glory. And nothing—absolutely nothing—can change that reality.