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, which gives us right standing with God, does not demand our performance to prove that we are worthy. 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 1 Peter 5:12 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 with God—having right standing with God—is peace. We can only stand in the true Grace of God—in His peace—when we believe in our hearts that Jesus gave us 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 know we are at peace with God, then we have peace. We choose to stand strong in that peace. Jesus has won what we can’t. We take hold of the shield of faith that is ours in Christ. We walk in the peace His righteousness has given us. We exercise the authority Christ has given us (Luke 10:19). And having done all, we stand in the truth and the power that is ours in Christ (Ephesians 6:10-13).
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). But true Grace also teaches us that it is only by His righteousness we live and have our being (Acts 17:28). When we know our righteous standing with God through the Grace of Christ and live out of that truth, we rest in God’s peace.
Faith in God comes out of who we believe we are in Christ. It comes out of believing that nothing can separate us from God —and that we have peace with Him because of our relationship with Jesus. Having peace with God is the only way we can walk in faith. Otherwise, we are going to try to do something—to prove something to God trying to get Him to do something for us. God does not do something for us because we do something for Him. There is nothing left to be done. Christ’s work is complete and finished. When we believe His work has already accomplished our right standing with God—our eternal forgiveness and healing (1 Peter 2:24), there is nothing for us to do but receive God’s forgiveness and healing and rest in His Grace. And we rest in His Grace when we believe there is nothing we have to earn.
We choose to access God’s grace which gives us the power to stand by faith. Know who you are in the finished work of Christ—believe what Christ has given you—and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:2). When you exercise faith, you trust God. When you trust God, you experience peace. Where you experience peace in your life is where you have faith.
You are blameless and at peace with God (Ephesians 1:4). Trust your right standing with Him. Exercise your faith to experience His peace. Stand in faith and believe in your heart that God who promises you is faithful to keep His promise (1 Corinthians 1:8-9, Hebrews 10:23).
What you believe in your heart, you speak (Matthew 12:34). You have the power to speak either life or death (Proverbs 18:21). What do you believe in your heart?
© 2023 Lynn Lacher
www.lynnlacher.com/2023/01/the-gospel-of-grace.html
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