Peace That Can’t Be Shaken

When was the last time you felt truly at peace? Not just relaxed. Not just distracted from your problems for a moment. But genuinely, deeply at peace—where your soul was settled and your heart was calm?

For many people, it's probably been a while.

We live in an anxious world. We're anxious about the economy. We're anxious about our health. We're anxious about our kids. We're anxious about relationships that aren't where they should be. We're anxious about the future—because let's be honest, nobody really knows what's coming next.

And here's what makes it worse: many keep chasing peace in all the wrong places. We think if we just made a little more money, we'd have peace. If our spouse would just change, we'd have peace. If the diagnosis came back clear, we'd have peace. If the political situation settled down, we'd have peace.

But the peace never sticks. Because it's built on circumstances. And circumstances always change.

So what do you do when the things you thought would give you peace keep letting you down?

That's exactly what Paul addresses in Romans 5:1-5. And what he reveals in these five verses is one of the most stabilizing truths in all of Scripture. It's the truth that anchors your soul when everything else is shifting.

Here's the main idea I want you to hold onto this morning:

Main Preaching Idea: Because you have been justified by faith, you have a peace with God that circumstances cannot touch—and that peace produces access, hope, and love that carry you through anything.

That's it. Because once you've been justified by faith, you have peace with God that nothing can shake. And from that peace flows everything else you need to face life.

Let’s start reading… Romans 5:1-5

Romans 5:1–5 NKJV

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now 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.

Paul is now shifting gears. He's done explaining how we get justified. Now he's going to explain what justification gives us. What does it mean for your daily life that God has declared you righteous?

The answer? Everything.

And it starts with one word: "Therefore."

Romans is a book of "therefores." When you see "therefore" in Romans, Paul is about to draw a conclusion from everything he's just said. And this "therefore" in verse 1 is massive. It's the hinge point of the entire letter. Everything before it explains the problem and the solution. Everything after it explains the benefits and the implications.

So let's look at what justification gives us—and how it changes everything.

Because we’ve already been made righteous, we can now…

Rest in the Peace We Already Have with God (v. 1)

Look at verse 1:

Romans 5:1 NKJV

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

The first thing I want you to notice is the phrase "having been justified." This is past tense. It's a done deal. It means "to be declared righteous." This isn't something you're working toward. It's something that has already happened to you if you've placed your faith in Christ.

You have been declared righteous. The verdict is in. The case is closed.

And because of that verdict, Paul says, "we have peace with God."

Now, I need to stop here because this is important. The word "peace" used here is the same word used to translate the Hebrew shalom in the Old Testament. And shalom doesn't just mean the absence of conflict. It means wholeness, completeness, well-being. It's a relational word. It describes a relationship that is fully restored and functioning as it should.

Before you were justified, you were at war with God. Paul will say later in this chapter that we were "enemies" of God (Romans 5:10). Isaiah 48:22 puts it bluntly: "There is no peace, says the Lord, for the wicked." The Law declared us guilty, and guilt brings condemnation, and condemnation means hostility between us and a holy God.

But justification changes everything. When God declares you righteous, He's not just giving you a legal status. He's ending the war. He's removing the hostility. He's establishing shalom—full, complete, relational peace.

And notice: this peace is "with God," not just "from God." This isn't a feeling of calm that God gives you when life is hard. This is a restored relationship with the Creator of the universe. The hostility is over. The case is settled. You are at peace with Him.

We have peace as a settled fact, and we should live in the experience of that peace.

Warren Wiersbe writes: "Condemnation means that God declares us sinners, which is a declaration of war. Justification means that God declares us righteous, which is a declaration of peace."

We can rest in the peace we already have with God.

Stop living like you're still on trial. Stop waking up every morning wondering if God is angry with you. Stop trying to earn what has already been given. The war is over. The verdict is in. You are at peace with God—not because of your performance, but because of Christ.

This week, every time anxiety rises up, remind yourself: "I am at peace with God. The case is closed. I don't have to prove anything."

Rest in the peace you already have. Next…

Use the Access You've Been Given (v. 2a)

Now look at the first part of verse 2:

Romans 5:2 NKJV

2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand,

Peace with God doesn't just settle your legal status. It opens a door. Paul says we have "access" into grace.

This word was used in ancient courts to describe being ushered into the presence of a king. You didn't just walk into a king's throne room whenever you wanted. You needed someone to bring you in—someone who had the authority to grant you entrance.

That's what Jesus does for us. He's our means of access. Because of Him, we can walk right into the presence of God. Not as criminals hoping for mercy. Not as strangers hoping to be noticed. But as children who belong there.

And notice where this access leads: "into this grace in which we stand."

The word "grace" is charis (χάρις)—God's unmerited favor. And Paul says we "stand" in it. The tens of that word is perfect active indicative—meaning we have taken our stand and we remain standing. This is our permanent position. We're not visitors in grace. We're residents. Grace is our home.

Think about what this means practically. In the Old Testament, the average Israelite could never enter the Holy of Holies—the place where God's presence dwelled. Only the high priest could enter, and only once a year, and only with the blood of a sacrifice. A thick veil separated God from His people.

But when Jesus died on the cross, Matthew 27:51 tells us that veil was torn in two—from top to bottom. God ripped it open. The barrier was removed. Access was granted.

And now, Hebrews 4:16 says we can "come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

You have access. You have a standing invitation to come into God's presence anytime you need Him.

Because our peace with God is through our Lord Jesus Christ, Paul says in Ephesians 3:12 that 'in him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.'

Use the access you've been given.

Don't treat prayer like a last resort. Don't wait until you're desperate to come to God. You have access. You have a standing invitation. Use it.

Come regularly into God's presence—not because you're in crisis, but because you can. Come with your worries. Come with your gratitude. Come with your questions. Come with your needs. Just come.

And when you come, remind yourself: "I have the right to be here. Jesus gave me access. I stand in grace."

Use the access you've been given. Then…

Rejoice in the Hope That's Coming (v. 2b)

Now look at the second part of verse 2:

Romans 5:2 NKJV

2 and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Paul adds another benefit of justification: we "rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

This is confident, joyful celebration. We're boasting about what's coming.

And what's coming? "The glory of God."

Remember what Paul said back in Romans 3:23? "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Sin separated us from God's glory. We were created to reflect His image, to display His character, to live in His light. But sin cut us off.

But now, because of justification, we have hope of reclaiming that glory. One day, we will share in the glory of God. We will see Him face to face. We will be transformed into His likeness. We will live forever in His presence.

Our English word for hope implies at least some sense of uncertainty. But the this word here means confident expectation. It's certainty about the future. It's not wishful thinking. It's settled assurance.

Paul will expand on this in Romans 8:18: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Here's the thing about hope: it changes how you live in the present. When you know where you're headed, you can handle where you are. When you're confident about your destination, you can endure the journey.

Think about it. If you're driving to a vacation destination and you hit traffic, it's frustrating—but you keep going because you know what's waiting for you. Hope doesn't eliminate the difficulty. It gives you a reason to press through it.

And that's exactly where Paul goes next.

Don’t get bogged down in the difficulty of your present. Rejoice in the hope that's coming.

When life gets hard—and it will—remind yourself where you're headed. The glory of God awaits you. This world is not your final destination. The best is yet to come.

This week, when discouragement creeps in, speak this truth out loud: "This is not the end. Glory is coming. I have hope."

Rejoice in the hope that's coming.

The next thing we see won’t seem at first glance to be joyous. We’re told to…

Let Suffering Build Your Character (vv. 3-4)

Now look at verses 3-4:

Romans 5:3–4 NKJV

3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

This is where Paul gets practical—and counterintuitive. He says we don't just rejoice in the hope of future glory. We also "glory in tribulations."

Wait—what? We boast in suffering? That sounds crazy.

But look at what Paul says next. There's a reason for this. "Knowing that tribulation produces perseverance."

The word "tribulation" is thlipsis (θλῖψις)—pressure, affliction, distress. It comes from a root word that means "to press" or "to crush." In Paul's day, a tribulum was a heavy threshing board used to separate wheat from chaff. The image is of being crushed under weight.

Paul isn't talking about minor inconveniences. He's talking about real suffering. Real pressure. Real hardship.

And he says this pressure "produces" something. The word he used means to work out, to accomplish, to bring about. Suffering doesn't just happen to you. It produces something in you.

What does it produce? Hypomonē (ὑπομονή)—perseverance. This word means steadfast endurance, the ability to remain under pressure without giving up. You can't develop perseverance in comfort. You can only develop it under pressure.

And perseverance produces dokimē (δοκιμή)—proven character. This word describes something that has been tested and approved. It's the idea of metal that has been refined by fire and found to be genuine. Suffering doesn't just test your faith—it proves your faith. It shows what you're made of.

And proven character produces elpis (ἐλπίς)—hope. The same word from verse 2. When you've been through the fire and come out the other side, your confidence in God grows. You've seen Him sustain you. You know He's faithful. And that experience deepens your hope.

Do you see the progression? Tribulation → Perseverance → Character → Hope.

Suffering isn't random. It isn't meaningless. It's a process. And the end product is stronger hope.

James says something similar: "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience" (James 1:2-3).

Now, let me be clear. Paul isn't saying suffering is fun. He's not asking you to pretend it doesn't hurt. He's saying that for the believer, suffering has a purpose. It's not wasted. It's working something in you.

It may sound counterintuitive, but… Let suffering build your character.

The next time you face hardship, don't just endure it—engage it. Ask yourself: "What perseverance is God building in me? What character is being refined? How is my hope being strengthened?"

This week, identify one trial you're facing and write down what God might be producing in you through it. Then thank Him for it—not because it's easy, but because it's not wasted.

Let suffering build your character. And lastly…

Experience the Love That's Been Poured Out (v. 5)

Finally, look at verse 5:

Romans 5:5 NKJV

5 Now 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.

Paul brings it all home with this verse. Hope doesn't disappoint. The word means to put to shame, to let down. Paul is saying: this hope won't leave you hanging. It won't fail you. It won't prove to be wishful thinking.

Why? Because it's grounded in something unshakeable: the love of God.

And notice how Paul describes this love. It's been "poured out" in our hearts. This isn't a trickle. It's a flood. God hasn't rationed His love to you. He's poured it out abundantly.

And the agent of this outpouring? The Holy Spirit. This is the first significant mention of the Holy Spirit in Romans in relation to the believer's experience. The Spirit is the one who makes God's love real to us. He's not just a doctrine to believe in—He's the personal presence of God living inside you, assuring you that you are loved.

This is critical. The love Paul is talking about isn't just our love for God. It's God's love for us—poured into our hearts by the Spirit. It's subjective and experiential. You don't just know intellectually that God loves you. You feel it. You experience it. The Spirit bears witness to your soul.

And this is what sustains you through suffering. When the pressure is intense and the road is long, it's the love of God—made real by the Spirit—that keeps you going. You're not alone. You're not unloved. You're held.

We can Experience the love that's been poured out.

Don't just believe God loves you. Ask the Spirit to help you experience it. When doubt creeps in, when hope wavers, pray this simple prayer: "Holy Spirit, help me feel the Father's love."

This week, take a few moments each day to sit quietly and ask the Spirit to make God's love real to you. Don't rush. Don't perform. Just receive.

Experience the love that's been poured out.

Conclusion

Paul has given us an incredible picture of what justification means for our daily lives. Because we've been declared righteous by faith, we have:

Peace with God— the war is over, the relationship is restored.

Access to grace— we can come into God's presence anytime. 

Hope of glory— the best is yet to come.y 

Character through suffering— our trials aren't wasted. 

Love poured out by the Spiri— we're never alone. 

This is what it means to be justified. It's not just a ticket to heaven. It's a new way of living right now.

So here's my challenge to you this week:

Rest in the peace you already have.

Use the access you've been given.

Rejoice in the hope that's coming.

Let suffering build your character.

Experience the love that's been poured out.

You don't have to chase peace in circumstances that always change. You have a peace that can't be shaken—because it's rooted in the finished work of Christ.