Thoughts In 2 Peter – Number 6 – Partakers Of The Divine Power And The Divine Nature - 2 Peter 1:5-11 Series

THOUGHTS IN 2 PETER – NUMBER 6 – PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE POWER AND THE DIVINE NATURE - 2 PETER 1:5-11

[1]. THE INTRODUCTION

We are going to look at a series of verses here, interesting ones in the development of the Christian life. Peter’s ministry lay mainly in reaching and supporting those of the circumcision, that is, the Jews. This letter is written to scattered Jews throughout the empire. I am assuming it follows the same line as did the first letter – {{1 Peter 1:1 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen”}}

In these verses today we shall examine, there is instruction for the growth of Christians and this is what we will look at. In the last message we saw how important grace and peace are, two fundamental aspects in establishing the Christian’s relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the verse – {{2 Peter 1:3 “His divine power HAS GRANTED TO US everything PERTAINING TO LIFE AND GODLINESS, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”}} - we can’t miss the term “has granted to us” and that is the divine power that has granted to us everything we need for life and godliness.

Then in the next verse – {{2 Peter 1:4 “By these HE HAS GRANTED TO US His PRECIOUS AND MAGNIFICENT PROMISES in order that by them you might become partakers of THE DIVINE NATURE, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”}} – We have an additional granting to us, this time, precious and magnificent promises.

Why would God grant to us so many magnificent things? What are these promises? Well the reason He has granted them to us was answered in 2 Peter 1:2 and that is through grace and peace. I think in this earthly walk we can never appreciate correctly the grace of God but it is ever giving. We are fallen creatures of Adam’s sin but God’s grace keeps being extended to us.

The second question about promises – what are they? Peter calls them precious and magnificent. I will not outline these at this time. It is up to us as individuals to find and appreciate them for ourselves. They are in the bible, both Testaments. The Old Testament was the scriptures of the early Church so there are a huge number there. Read and study to find them, and then appropriate each one for yourself.

Two verses speak of what God has granted to us, and the final purpose of all that, is in verse 4. It is that we become the PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE. Do you feel it? Does it take hold of you? I don’t know if it works that way we understand. We have a new nature as Christians when God creates us anew with His nature, the divine nature.

Just think of that for a bit. We walk around but we possess the divine nature. That is a very powerful fact. How we ought to be ashamed when we let the Lord down. We carry the divine, nature. That completes the Introduction but it is very necessary to establish that so we can proceed with what follows on from this.

[2]. VERSES 5-7. THE INTERCONNECTED PROGRESSION

{{2 Peter 1:5 Now FOR THIS VERY REASON also, applying all diligence in your faith, supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,

2 Peter 1:6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,

2 Peter 1:7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.}}

Verse 5 begins “for this very reason” and that is why we spent time on verses 3 and 4 because we have established that we partake of the divine power and the divine nature. BECAUSE THAT IS FACT then there is a follow on from that, a development. It is not automatic because Peter says in verse 5 “applying all” and lazy Christians apply nothing. They wallow in the shallows.

It is imperative for us to follow on from what God has granted to us. The unworthy servant will do very little and not value the relationship with God. We need to treasure what God has granted us and then apply due diligence to the development of our Christian lives.

In verse 5 Peter asks that ALL diligence be applied in their faith. This word diligence means effort, speed, haste, earnestness, enthusiasm. That sounds to me like a person alert, active and keen. How many of us would measure up to that?

What would God require from us – full effort and application to our faith; or a half-hearted effort; getting around to it when we have time? I think it is more meaningful if we consider the cost of faith and testimony in the times when Peter wrote his letter. Martyrdom was a very real possibility so there was no place for play actors. There was no place for complacency.