Nov
19
2009
Freedom from self-preservation
Peter denied Jesus, to preserve himself physically (Mark 14:66-72). Later he denied the gospel, to preserve himself socially (Galatians 2:11-21). But by the time he wrote his first letter, his heart had been set free: “I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it” (1 Peter 5:12).
What is “the true grace of God”? Not survival, physical or social, but the privilege of sharing in Christ’s sufferings that we may also rejoice when his glory is revealed (1 Peter 4:13). Whatever life thrusts upon us, the true grace of God is to stand firm in that hard place and embrace identification with Jesus.
9 Comments
[...] the post titled, Freedom from Self-Preservation, Pastor Ortlund glances at the apostle Peter’s failures born from fear and then focuses us on [...]
A-men @ a-men!!
Amen and amen. This was refreshing to read. and challenging.
[...] Freedom From Self-Preservation I just had to steal this from Ray Ortlund’s blog: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/rayortlund/2009/11/19/freedom-from-self-preservation/ [...]
Amen! I pray the Lord would break me of myself and sustain me with such boldness!
[...] Three Points of Interest In Uncategorized on November 20, 2009 at 8:50 am Ray Ortlund has some great thoughts on Freedom from self-preservation. [...]
Amen – short, concise and to the point. I appreciate the tie in to his denial to preserve himself socially. Never thought of that…
[...] (HT: Ray Ortlund) [...]
It is noteworthy, for our own sakes, that the consistent reason for Simon Peter’s denials was his willful oppostion to death on the cross for Christ’s self-revelation as “Son of the living God” (Matt. 16: 13-28); and, once and for all, infallible vision-borne proof of Jesus’ immortality (John 1: 47-51; 8: 21-28; 10: 17-18; 19: 30-37).
Peter required no less than 40 additional days of rehabilitation to change direction from the “easy” to the “hard” way to life (Matt. 7: 13-14; Acts 1: 1-5; 2).