The True Grace in Which You Stand

 

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)

 

Peter emphasized the true grace of God in this verse. If there is a true grace in which we can stand then there is also a false grace into which we can put our faith. The true grace of God, which gives us right standing with Him through faith in Christ, does not demand our performance to prove we have received God’s righteousness. False grace says we must prove we deserve the righteousness of God. We don't deserve it, and we can't earn it.

 

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

 

If the grace of God demanded our work to prove our salvation, then the work of redemption would place the work of holiness upon us. Holiness is God’s work in and through us. It is not our work. The gospel of grace is God’s gift given to those who believe by faith in the finished work of Jesus. It is nothing we do. It is all Jesus 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 a right standing with God—is having peace with God. When you have peace in your relationship with someone, you don’t feel you need to prove yourself to them. We can only stand in the true grace of God—in His peace—when we believe in our hearts that we don't have to prove ourselves to Him. We can only live His righteousness when we believe we have received His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

 

When we know we are at peace with God, we have His peace. We stand in His peace. We have nothing to prove to Him. Jesus proved Himself for us. He has bought for us what our human flesh could never purchase. We walk by faith in the righteousness He has given us.

 

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 our righteous standing with God through the faith we have placed in Christ, we know we have peace with God. We live soberly and righteously out of His righteousness.

 

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 ourselves 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 for Christ to complete for us. His work is finished. 

 

When we believe Jesus’ work of grace is finished—when we believe He has accomplished our right standing, our forgiveness, and our healing (1 Peter 2:24), there is nothing left but to receive His forgiveness, healing, and peace with God. The work we do for Him that comes from our relationship with Him brings us rest. When we labor out of His righteousness, we can spiritually rest in His power. It is not our human strength. It is His spiritual strength. He brings the work into existence and not us. The work we do for Him is alive and powerful when it is His, and we have no need to prove that it is ours.

 

The true grace of God is received by faith and not by works in case any man boasts in his own effort. 

 

Know who you are in the finished work of Christ—believe the righteousness Christ has accomplished on your behalf—and rejoice in the hope of His glory (Romans 5:2). When you exercise faith, you trust God. When you trust God, you experience peace. Where you have peace in your life is where you have chosen to place your faith.

 

Are you standing in the true grace of God? Surrender to the righteousness that is yours in Christ. When you believe in your heart you have nothing to prove to God, He empowers His work in and through your surrendered life. You have been crucified with Christ, and you live your life by faith in Christ who lives in you. Out of your life will flow His living water. It is the true grace of God in which you stand. 

 

 

© 2024 Lynn Lacher

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