Grace in Peter's Epistles: A Detailed Analysis from Christ's Perspective

 

Grace in Peter's Epistles: A Detailed Analysis from Christ's Perspective

John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth"

Gal 2:20 "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me"

1 Cor 15:10 "But by the grace of God I am what I am"

1 Pet 1:2 "May grace and peace be multiplied to you"

2 Pet 1:2 "May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord"

2 Tim 1:9 "Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began"

Titus 2:11 "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people"

Rev 22:1 "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb"

Eph 3:2 "The stewardship of God's grace that was given to me"

Eph 4:29 "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up"

James 4:6 "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble"

Ps 138:6 "For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar"

1 Pet 5:12 "This is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it"

Phil 4:19 "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus"

2 Pet 3:18 "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"

Rev 21:2 "And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband"

 

Aspect	Definition	Explanation	Examples	Application	Detailed Scripture References
The Essence of Grace	Christ Himself as believers' enjoyment	Grace is the resurrected Christ as the life-giving Spirit, freely giving Himself to believers	Christ dwelling in believers as their all	Experience and enjoy Christ in daily life	• John 1:16-17 "From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ"
Multiplying Grace	Grace increasing in daily life	Grace growing in the knowledge of God and Lord Jesus	Experience grace increase through suffering and weakness	1. Experience Christ in burdens 2. Enjoy with those who love the Lord 3. Abide in the word of grace	• 2 Cor 12:7-9 "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" • Eph 1:6-8 "To the praise of his glorious grace...which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight"
Prophesied Grace	Grace prophesied by Old Testament prophets	Christ's Spirit in the prophets revealing grace concerning Christ	Fulfilled through Christ's incarnation, suffering, resurrection	Applied through prophecy and apostolic preaching	• 1 Pet 1:10 "Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace" • Isa 53:4-5 "Surely he has borne our griefs...with his wounds we are healed"
Future Grace	Grace to be brought at Christ's revelation	Points to the salvation of souls as completion of God's full salvation	Grace given to believers before the world began	Daily receiving grace, hoping fully upon it	• 1 Pet 1:13 "Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ"
Grace of Life	God in His Trinity as believers' life supply	Father as source, Son as course, Spirit as flow	Divine life flowing in believers	Being heirs and vessels of grace	• 1 Pet 3:7 "Heirs together of the grace of life" • John 7:38-39 "Whoever believes in me...out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. Now this he said about the Spirit"
Manifold Grace	God's multifaceted grace supply	Rich supply of life, multiple aspects of the Triune God's supply	Saints mutually supplying one another	Being good stewards speaking words of grace	• 1 Pet 4:10-11 "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace"
Grace to the Humble	Grace given to the humble	God gives grace to the humble, opposes the proud	Being humble in church life	Submit under God's mighty hand, cast anxieties on Him	• 1 Pet 5:5-7 "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves...casting all your anxieties on him"
All-sufficient Grace	God who calls believers into eternal glory	1. God as source of all grace 2. Perfect through suffering 3. Make believers stand in grace	1. God perfects through suffering 2. God strengthens 3. God establishes	1. Enter God's eternal glory 2. Stand in true grace 3. Experience full supply	• 1 Pet 5:10 "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you"
True Grace	Grace for believers to grow in	Final goal of grace in God's economy	Growing in knowledge of Christ	Becoming God's poem, composition of New Jerusalem	• Eph 2:7-10 "So that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus...For we are his workmanship"

 

Conclusion:

The grace revealed in Peter's epistles demonstrates Christ Himself as our all-inclusive portion. This grace is manifested as:

1.      Christ Himself as our enjoyment

2.      The increasing grace in our daily experience

3.      The prophesied grace fulfilled in Christ

4.      The grace to be revealed at Christ's coming

5.      The grace of life for our inheritance

6.      The manifold grace for mutual supply

7.      The grace given to the humble

8.      The all-sufficient grace for our perfection

9.      The true grace for our growth

This comprehensive view shows that grace is not merely a blessing or gift, but Christ Himself becoming our experience and enjoyment in every aspect of our Christian life.

*Please refer to the 2024 International Thanksgiving Conference

Message Five: Grace in Peter's Epistles - Living the Christian and Church Life under God's Government for God's Economy