(I Peter 1:3)

  Grace and peace be yours in abundance (1:3)

Grace – charis

“graciousness, attractiveness”

“favor, grace, gracious care or help, goodwill”

“thanks, gratitude”

charisma – special gifts bestowed by the grace of God on individual Christians.

Webster’s Dictionary says that grace is from a root seen in the Greek chairo – to rejoice.

I asked a person at the license bureau in Detroit Lakes about these days of grace once as I was renewing the license on my old car; I said how long is the grace period after this license runs out?  He told me quite clearly, there is no grace period, the day this runs out you are driving an unlicensed vehicle.

To which I said – OkeeDokee. That’s a big 10-4.  I guess we had better get that remedied right now (I thought for a second he was going to slap the cuffs on me). Crazy thing is that I thought for sure that was something my dad had told me.

We have glimpses and pictures of grace between ourselves as people.

As born again believers we are to be gracious with one another and with all people.

But the only reason we know this is because we have found the true source of all grace.

How can a man possibly preach the grace of God?

GOD’S RICHES AT CHRIST’S EXPENSE

There are 7 times that Peter talks about grace in this first epistle.

1)      Grace and Peace be yours in abundance (1:3).

2)      Our God is the God of all grace.

  1PE 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

The affirmations grace makes about God and human beings stand in bold contrast to the normal human approach to relationship with the Lord. Grace holds that human beings are helpless, so locked in sin that their state can only be represented as death. Grace declares that God is merciful and loving and that he is able to act to meet our deepest need. Grace teaches that God has acted in Jesus to bring us forgiveness and new life through his atoning sacrifice on Calvary. (See ATONEMENT) Because of motives rooted deeply within his own character, God has reached out in Jesus to save sinners.

3)      Grace was to come.

   1PE 1:10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care,

The word "grace" seldom appears in the English OT versions. There is no full parallel to this NT concept in the OT. The closest parallel seems to be drawn by the Hebrew hanan, "to be gracious," "to be merciful" (hen, "grace," "favor").

  In the NT, Paul fastens on this word and develops it as a technical theological term. It is clear that Jesus' teachings provide a solid basis for Paul's affirmation of the grace of God. Jesus shows that God stoops to help the undeserving and pardons the helpless sinner (e.g., Mt 11:28-12:13; 18:21-34; 20:1-16; Lk 7:36-50; 15). But in the Gospels, these actions are not termed grace. Even in Acts, "grace" is used in a different way, namely, to indicate the visible expression of God's power in action, an expression that marked his presence in the early church.

  Yet as the church expanded beyond Palestine and penetrated the Roman world, Paul fastened on charis to communicate the truth that lies at the heart of God's saving work in Jesus. To Paul, "grace" is a transforming reality. It transforms the way we think about a person's relationship with God. It transforms our present and eternal destiny.

4)      The full realization of this grace is yet to come.

1PE 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

5)      Saved husbands and wives are joint heirs of the gracious gift of life.

1PE 3:7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

6)      The gifts of the Spirit are grace gifts (carisma) which administer God’s grace (caris).

I Peter 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

7)      (For some reason) God, Himself, gives grace to humans who are humble.

1PE 5:5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

  "God opposes the proud

    but gives grace to the humble."

Winter Grief, Summer Grace – James E. Miller

The new life blossoming within you grows out of all you have undergone, all you have done.

This summertime of your grief does not just arrive on its own; you invite it to come.

You summon it by making your way through all your pain, so that you can welcome what lies on the far side of pain; the possibility of thanksgiving and joy and hope.

You encourage this experience of summer as you face your fears and your doubts, the silence and the aloneness.  Because then you can greet what is taking hold within you:  your fortitude and faith, your inner strength and outer awareness.

This new life of yours also has another source, a larger one.  For while you invited this change, you did not by yourself create it. 

While you nurtured it, you are not responsible for its birth.  It comes to you as a gift.  A grace.

“You need not cry very loud; He is nearer to us than we think”  Brother Lawrence

8)      The Scripture gives testimony to the true grace of God – thus we  “Stand fast in it.”

1PE 5:12 With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.

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Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me; I once was lost but now am found; was blind but now I see.

Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise then when we first begun.