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:
- * Christ Himself as our enjoyment
- * The increasing grace in our daily experience
- * The prophesied grace fulfilled in Christ
- * The grace to be revealed at Christ's coming
- * The grace of life for our inheritance
- * The manifold grace for mutual supply
- * The grace given to the humble
- * The all-sufficient grace for our perfection
- * 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