2 Peter 1:3-4
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Exceeding great and precious promises!
2 Peter 1:3-4
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
• Yesterday we looked at who we are in Christ — I am a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ. That’s who I am. I’m not defined by what I do but by whom I belong to.
• We were reminded that we are saved by grace alone and that Grace and peace are multiplied unto us through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
Verse 3 starts out with ...
• According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. Think about that, all things that pertain to life and godliness — God has given unto us according to his divine power. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, lives in us.
• He has given unto us all things ... through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. Knowing him. How? Through his Word and by the spirit. We cannot know him apart from his Word and we cannot understand his Word apart from the Spirit. Jesus said in John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
• What has he said unto us? Verse 4 says: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises — not just on promise, but promises. Great and precious promises. What promises come to your mind? Do you know him? If yes, how well do you know him?
• Think of someone that you’re really close to (if you have someone like that) — how did you become close to them?
◦ We obviously have to spend time with someone if we want to get close to them.
◦ But not just time, intimate time. Listening, talking, communicating with them.
◦ How does God speak to us? Through his Word. Through his Son. Hebrews 1 says: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son”
◦ How important is it to spend time with the Lord in his word, and especially in Jesus Words. In the Gospels and Epistles.
• Next it says: that by these. By what? His great and precious promises. Ye might be partakers of the divine nature — what does that mean a “partaker of the divine nature”?
• partake means to take part in : to have a portion as of food or drink. By “these”, by his great and precious promises, we are partakers of His divine nature. His life, Christ in me the hope of glory.
• Apart from Christ I can do nothing, but IF I abide in him and his word abides in me — what has he promised? “ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” John 15:7
• And lastly: having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
• If I’m sitting at Jesus feet, spending time with him in his word and growing in knowing him — I will escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. Lust means intense longing ... in want of.
• What has he promised: According as his divine power hath given unto me all things that pertain unto life and godliness. If I know this, especially if I know this by experience, then why would I be in want of anything?
• As David said in Psalm 23 “The Lord is my Shepard I shall not be in want”. I shall not be in want why? because the LORD is my Shepard.