By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.
—1 Peter 5:12 (NKJV)
The true Gospel of Grace does not demand our right standing with God. If it did, the work of redemption would place the work of holiness upon us. The Gospel of Grace is a gift given to those who believe by faith in the finished work of Jesus. It is nothing we do. It is all He did. Right standing with God only comes through faith in what Jesus did for us. We are encouraged in this verse that it is the true Grace of God in which we stand.
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2).
Being justified—having right standing with God—is peace. We can only stand in the true Grace of God—in His peace—when we believe that Jesus gave us His righteousness and right standing with God. We can only live His righteousness when we believe we have received His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). When we truly believe we have peace with God, then we have peace. We choose to stand strong in that peace. We use the authority Christ has given us to fight our battles because we know He has already won. And having done all, we stand (Ephesians 6:13).
Right standing with God—peace with God—only comes through faith in what Christ did for us. True Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and to live soberly and righteously (Titus 2:12). True Grace also teaches us that it is only by His righteousness we live and have our being (Acts 17:28). When we believe we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21), we live out of that truth. Serving God is then not something we do to try to prove to Him we deserve His grace.
Grace is unmerited favor. We can’t earn it. When we believe Christ’s righteousness is ours, we know who we are in His Grace. We rest in the peace of knowing Jesus has won our righteousness. When we know who we are in Christ’s finished work of Grace, we know the work is done. And when we believe He provided a perfectly complete payment for our salvation, we rest in His Grace. We don’t have to force ourselves to serve God. Serving Him is born out of our relationship with Him in Christ. Knowing Him and serving Him is our identity. We love because He first loved us.
Faith comes out of knowing who we are in Christ. It comes from knowing we have peace with God. We have peace with God and are His. And having peace with God is the only way we can walk in faith. Otherwise, we are going to try to do something to get God to do something for us. Trying to prove ourselves to God through the work we do is self-righteous. But when we believe the work of Jesus is finished, the veil is gone. We don’t have to prove ourselves. God accepts us. He loves us. We are His. When we know Christ has made us righteous, we can come boldly into God’s presence. We can freely come to Him. There is nothing more for us to do but believe in Christ’s perfect love for us.
The Law gives power to sin. The Grace of Jesus gives power to Jesus. The Law isn’t victorious. Jesus is victorious (1 Corinthians 15:56-57). Many Christians live in bondage believing they must do something to earn and keep God’s love. They read the Word that says they are free in Christ but they live in bondage to the very thing from which Christ came to deliver them. Knowing and believing who they are in Christ—believing their right standing with God—convinces them they are free.
You have access by faith into God’s Grace! Digest the Word. Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal your identity in Christ. Know who you are in His finished work of Grace, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:2). Rest in the peace of knowing your right relationship with God, your Father.
Where you have peace, you have faith. Exercise your faith and rest in His peace. Having done all, you stand by faith in what God says is true.
© 2022 Lynn Lacher
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