To Be Partakers Of The Divine Nature

2 Peter 1:1-11

"Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, 'to those who have attained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may BE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE, having escaped the corruption of the world through lust'.

 

'But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, ADD to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverence, to perseverence godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, to brotherly kindness love. FOR IF THESE THINGS ARE YOURS AND ABOUND, YOU WILL BE NEITHER BARREN NOR UNFRUITFUL in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is short-sighted, even to blindness and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things YOU WILL NEVER STUMBLE; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ'."

 

This portion of scripture discusses the transformation of the saint from new birth to completion or maturity in Christ Jesus. These people have attained like precious faith and have been cleansed of their old sins. Yet they must add things to the faith they have attained: virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverence, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. Lacking these fruits indicates short-sightedness: you are not looking past the prayer to receive your sins forgiven to see the end of your faith: the salvation of your soul. The entrance to be supplied to you into the everlasting kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ comes with your diligence to make your call and election sure, becoming a partaker of the divine nature.

 

Peter called himself a bondservant. What do you call yourself?

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