The true grace of God

“. . . this is the true grace of God.  Stand firm in it.”  1 Peter 5:12

What does the this refer to?  What is “the true grace of God”?  The basic message of Peter’s letter: first the cross, then the crown.  For example, “Rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13).  Suffering now, and glory then — this is the true grace of God.

When you are following Christ and your whole life falls apart, don’t think God has turned against you.  It’s the opposite.  You’re entering into the true grace of God.  Therefore, don’t cut and run.  Stand firm.
Whatever life thrusts upon us — not some dreamy ideal life we could wish for, but our real lives as they are — the true grace of God is in that hard place, where we embrace identification with Jesus in his death and resurrection.

The true grace of God is a post from: Ray Ortlund