"The Gifts of Christ to the Church"

“The Christian life is simply the process of becoming what you already are.”

“The Christian life is also leaning to experience what you have been given.”

2 Peter 1

I. Each Believer is Given Grace - (4:7)

Ephesians 2:8 NIV84

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

Romans 12:6 NIV84

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.

A. Grace is UNIQUE - “But to each one of us...”

1 Corinthians 12:4–6 NIV84

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

B. Grace is FREELY GIVEN - “…grace has been given”

C. Grace is ACCORDING to Christ - “…as Christ apportioned it.”

II. How Christ Won the Right to Give Gifts - (4:8-10)

A. What Jesus DID! - (v.8)

Psalm 68:18 NIV84

When you ascended on high, you led captives in your train; you received gifts from men, even from the rebellious— that you, O Lord God, might dwell there.

B. Paul’s EXPLANATION of What Jesus Did - (vv.9-10)

Philippians 2:5–6 NIV84

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

Philippians 2:7 NIV84

but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Philippians 2:8 NIV84

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!

1 Peter 3:18–19 NIV84

For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison

1 Peter 3:20–21 NIV84

who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

1 Peter 3:22 NIV84

who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

Hebrews 1:8 NIV84

But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.

Matthew 28:18 NIV84

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Next Week...

III. The Gifts of Christ to the Whole Church - (4:11)