The True Grace of God

by Robert H. Farish

Peter stated that this, his first letter, was written "exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God: stand ye fast therein" (1 Peter 5:12). The exhorting and testifying was intended to strengthen their conviction and thus encourage them to stand fast in that true grace. 

Exhorting And Testifying 

The word "exhort" has the idea of "calling to the side of" or "to call near". The picture called up here by the word "exhort" is that of a sincere, concerned friend calling one closer in order to urgently persuade to a certain course. Not only did the writer pen these words of the letter to persuade them that they were in the real favor of God and encourage them to stand fast in it, but he also gave testimony as a fully qualified witness. This testimony he advanced as evidence in proof of the fact that this is the true grace of God. 

Favor And Suffering 

It is no new thing for people to regard suffering as evidence of God's disfavor. The danger of some falling away from grace, due to suffering they were experiencing as well as that anticipated by the apostle, was real and acute. The word "suffer" in the sense of experiencing or enduring pain is used fifteen times in First Peter; it occurs only thirty-five times in all other books of the New Testament. The writer deals rather fully with the problem of "suffering as a Christian". Then, as now, people need to learn not to be ashamed of the "gospel of the grace of God", but rather to "glorify God in this name" (1 Peter 4:16). Early in the letter he wrote, "Wherein (in 'living hope') ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials,.." (1 Peter 1:6). Here he sounds a warning of impending trials and pointed out that suffering and trials were not without profit. They would prove the quality — character of that faith — through which God guards them unto salvation. Men find it hard to reconcile grief with favor. When Christians suffer, questions sometime come from the sufferers which indicate their inability to grasp the idea of one who is in the favor of God having to suffer. The danger of apostasy in the face of suffering still threatens the faithfulness of Christians; therefore, we still need to heed the exhortation and study the testimony in order to continue to stand in the true grace of God. 

True Grace 

The word "true" describes the grace in which they stood. It means "real," "authentic," "genuine" grace as opposed to "false," "counterfeit" or "imaginary" favor. People need to know the metes and bounds of divine favor in order to be fully assured that they are standing in the true grace of God. The question is vital. What is the territory in which one must be located to qualify as standing in the true grace of God? This question deserves our earnest consideration. The frightening possibility that some will discover at the judgment that they have been depending on a false "grace" should cause deep concern now. 

Counterfeit or Imagined Grace 

That favor is offered by some upon basis other than that set forth in the expressed will of God is unquestionable. Such was offered to people, even in the lifetime of some of the apostles. "For there are certain men crept in privily, even they who were of old written of beforehand unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness,.." (Jude 4). Lasciviousness is defined as "excess... absence of restraint, indecency, wantonness." Lasciviousness has frequently been "palmed off" as proper liberty by wolves in a sheep skin disguise. People have been encouraged to presume on the grace of God by false teachers who posed as champions of grace and mocked at the idea that human effort had an essential place in the divine arrangement for human salvation. Those who sought to counter teaching which was a perversion of the gospel of God's grace were and are accused of depending upon works for salvation. These accusers seem to have equated "obedience of faith" with "works" of which man could glory. One man charged some of preaching a gospel which was 97% faith plus 3% grace. It is high time that brethren begin earnestly listening to Peter's exhortation and testimony of the true grace of God and from the scriptures learn what is genuine grace and take a stand therein. 

Salvation By Grace Through Faith Illustrated 

The Holy Spirit didn't descend to the point of expressing the "elements" of salvation percentage wise. He declared through the apostle, "For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory" (Ephesians 2:8, 9). Again, in the letter to the saints at Rome, he expressed the same doctrine in these words, "being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:1, 2). The doctrine expressed in these places is made clear when the human actions in the cases in view are observed. 

The Ephesians were saved by grace through faith; the human effort involved was not "works" in which men could glory; such works are ruled out by the Holy Spirit. They do not earn salvation for the ones performing them. But when we observe the case of the conversion of the Ephesians as recorded in Acts 19, we see approved human effort. The Ephesians responded to Paul's preaching by doing something. When Paul encountered these at Ephesus and upon inquiry learned that they had been baptized with John's baptism, he informed them that they were required to "believe" on Jesus. Note with care the language, "When they heard this", i.e., when they heard that they were to believe on Jesus, "they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 19:5). No human action (work of obedience) done in the name of the Lord Jesus, i.e., by his authority, will, by those who respect God's word, be branded as "works" in which men could glory! 

The Roman saints were "justified by faith". They had had their access "into this grace wherein we stand" through Christ "by faith." These were standing in the same favor in which those to whom Peter wrote were to stand fast. They had been baptized (Romans 6:3, 4) as had the Ephesians. All were saved by grace through faith. 

All of us need to refresh our memories as to what constitutes "faith unto the saving of the soul," i.e., what it is to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." Study carefully the cases of conversion in Acts, Hebrews 11 and other scriptures and observe carefully the human response which demonstrates the faith unto the saving of the soul. 

We need to be reminded of responsibilities which God has assigned to us. Some seem to deny the proposition that men can "understand what the will of the Lord is" (Ephesians 5:17). it needs to be realized that in order for one to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3), one must be able to identify the faith, i.e., the "gospel of the grace of God." It is imperative for a person to do the "will of the Father" in order to "enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 7:21). The text which contains the subject of this lesson, calls for action — human action, which is impossible to take if one is unable to recognize the genuine grace of God. Failure to positively identify the true grace of God exposes one to the danger of taking his stand upon an imagined or counterfeit favor, rather than standing in the true grace of God. 

Are you well acquainted with "the gospel of the grace of God"? If so, "stand fast therein."

"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love" (1 Corinthians 16:13, 14).

 

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