Isaiah 59:1-2: Behold, the Lord's hand is not so short That it cannot save; Neither is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.

Our God is just and His nature is unchanging (Deut. 32:4, 2 Thes. 1:5-7). No sin will go unaccounted for—but by God’s design, prompted by His infinite love and mercy (grace), Christ died as the ultimate sin offering (Isa. 53).

In First Peter, we have a brief tutorial in the meaning of “true grace.” Perhaps some clarification might be made from an examination of some points made within that epistle.

I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! (1 Pet. 5:12)

1. Our system of grace was prophesied and anticipated by the prophets of old (1 Pet. 1:10).

2. God delivers His grace to men through His inspired Word.

1 Peter 1:22-23:  Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.

Titus 2:11-12: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, [HOW?] (12) instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,

This teaching is the gospel.

Acts 20:24: "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.

This teaching is also simply referred to as “the word.”

Acts 20:32: "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

We stand in grace . . .

Romans 5:2: through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

We stand in the gospel—

1 Corinthians 15:1: Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,

We are saved by grace (Eph. 2:5). . .

We are saved by the gospel--

1 Corinthians 15:2: by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.

A basic truth that none can get beyond is that EVERYTHING we know pertaining to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3), about God’s grace and His saving men from their sins, is found in His teaching. From that fundamental starting point, it is intimately tied to our drawing closer to God—it is our lifeline.

Since God’s grace was delivered by way of the gospel, and when obedience to the message of the gospel results in the remission of sins, then it ought to be apparent that God’s grace saves by the gospel. This is a vital element of “true grace.”

3. Grace, though unmerited, is NOT unconditional—thus, the warnings given by the apostles to “stand,” “hold fast,” etc. The gift of grace may be lost by one’s own neglect or rejection. Since grace has been delivered by way of instruction, it must be received.

Grace is given to those who humble themselves by submitting to the will of God.

You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble (1 Pet. 5:5).

If grace, once effected, is completely out of our hands, why is there so much need to emphasize the value of holding onto it?

We are also expected to stand fast in the favor of God.

Romans 5:20-21: And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:1-2: What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?

We can thus be strong in His grace.

2 Timothy 2:1-2: You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
[Paul wants Timothy to pass that strength in grace on—how should he do it?]
(2) And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

The implication that lies within Peter’s admonition of 1 Peter 5:12 (“Stand firm in it!”) is that one can himself depart from the system of grace.

This the Galatians did when they esteemed Jesus’ gospel alone to be insufficient in keeping them justified, and turned back to the nullified covenant of Moses for further fulfillment.

Galatians 5:4: You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

Hebrews 12:15-16: See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.

We may neglect the word and thus neglect salvation—

Hebrews 2:1-3: For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard,

HOWEVER, as one may despise God’s grace and depart from it, he may likewise return to it. “GOD IS FAITHFUL.” HIS end of the bargain stands. How does one return to grace? The requirements are simple.

Acts 8:22: "Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.”

1 John 1:8-10: If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

These things are simple, but necessary. There is no allowance given in Scripture for a continually renewing grace without these.

4. Grace is being freely supplied to Christians now and continually—their sins are forgiven day by day by repentance and prayer (Acts 8:22, 1 John 1:9), BUT grace will be completely fulfilled in the revelation of Christ on the last day.

1 Peter 1:13:  Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.