We are to stand firm in God's grace. We are not to be moved, nor let it be twisted. We can't be saved if grace is corrupted. It must be the pure grace of God's election that's based on for knowledge, not of us being better than others, but God's unmerited and distinguishing grace. It must be grace that leads to holiness, and relies on precious blood of Christ as our only acceptance with the Father. It must be grace that orders our steps in love, prayerfulness, and submission. It's grace that conquers sufferings. 1 Peter 5:10, “Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little.” Bless God for this grace and preach it, the true grace of God, in which we stand.

First, it is salvation entirely by grace. God did not choose us because we chose him. He chose us, when we were filthy, because he loved us in his Son. 1 Peter 1:2, “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.” He predestinated a particular number of people, and then he gave his Son a ransom for our sins. He raised him from the dead to give us hope, so that our faith and confidence is in God. He taught us the gospel by special revelation, and he keeps us to the end with joy unspeakable and full of glory. He makes us strive after holiness in godly fear, and he gets the glory in every good thing and good work that we do. He is the Savior of people who'd go to hell without his special intervention and distinguishing love. He loved Jacob and hated Esau.

Will you glorify God? If so, then the gospel is for you. It will save you unto God's glory, and give you things that can't be seen, like a hope laid up for you in heaven, and a Savior who thrills your soul. We have hard times, but we overcome, receiving our salvation as a fact, and living upon the Invisible. 1 Peter 1:8, “Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,”

Bless God for his grace and love to the world. Bless him for distinguishing mercy.

Secondly, God's grace makes us holy. He disciplines us as a Father, and makes us long for obedience. He corrects us, and opens our eyes to Scripture. He puts his fear in our heart.

We are prone to wander like David, because all is well. God, however, brings us to honor grace, rather than abuse it.

Cry out for obedience. 1 Peter 1:14, “Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance.” It's your inheritance. He's made you holy, and he wants us to be holy in all our deeds. 1 Peter 1:16 for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” It's an Olympic struggle and a gargantuan task, but we have the grace of God. It is not by our power, but by mercy that he delivers us from the chains of sin, as we continually trust Christ. We learn the secret of his blood for cleansing - that it always avails - and so we love each other. 1 Peter 1:22, “Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth [believing the gospel] so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart.” We overcome hardships and thrive in difficulty. We are in no danger, and the devil is defeated.

Walk, carefully but confidently, holding a holy balance - fearing God but trusting him… assaulted by Satan but confident in the Lord. Grace will never fail. God is for us, and he will help us. He is our power, confidence, and Lord. He is the Savior in word and deed. It is not just talk. He delivers from the sewer of sinfulness, and grows us in grace and obedience.

Thirdly, stand for this gospel. Don't let it slip, and don't compromise it! Uphold it's purity. Fight for every truth against the attacks of this world. Help people come to grace, but don't rest until it's believed. A partial gospel is not better than nothing. No! A car without breaks does no good. Medicine without the crucial ingredients is deception, leading to death. Holding faulty grace will destroy souls. Grace is not to be bargained down until it's palatable. It's to be preached and believed in its rawness. It's to be pure from the lips of his people, and it will be, because God teaches us the truth, and we stand firm in it. Zephaniah 3:9, “At that time I will change the speech of the people's to a pure speech, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord.”

Don't be ashamed to graciously and boldly set forth truth. God's people will receive it, not because it's popular or meets the lusts of the flesh, but because God opens the heart, and calls whom he's chosen. It's because he never fails that we use this sword of the Spirit, and he conquers Satan and delivers his captives. He teaches people the truth.