EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES

"May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:2-4, RSV).

Devotion 5 of 10

PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE

To partake of the "divine nature" is to "participate in" or "share" in it. That is an arresting consideration! The word translated "partakers" is a strong one. It comes from the word koinonos, which means "a sharer, i.e. associate:--companion, fellowship, partaker, partner." For some, this is a blasphemous thought. Yet, this is the Word of the King! This is another way of saying we are to be "conformed to the Image of His Son" (Rom. 8:29). It refers to the process of being "renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Col. 3:10). 2 Corinthians 3:18 states it this way; "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." The revealed intent of our salvation is that men be "joined to the Lord" (2 Cor. 6:17). The NIV provides an excellent translation of our text. "Through these (glory and virtue) He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires" (2 Pet. 1:4). What an arresting consideration!

Incorporated Into the Godhead

In Jesus, we are incorporated into the Godhead--not as co-equals, but as participators. While we participate at a measured level, we do participate! No one should stumble at this. We are "in Christ" (Rom. 8:1), and Christ is "in us" (2 Cor. 13:5; Eph. 3;17). We are "in God" (Col. 3:3; 1 Thess. 1:1), and God is "in us" (John 14:23; 1 John 4:15;). We are "in the Spirit" (Rom. 8:9; Gal. 5:16; 5:25), and the Spirit is "in us" (Gal. 4:6; 1 John 4:13; 1 John 3:24). That is participation at its highest level! A remarkable thing is accomplished in our salvation. We are made "one" with the Lord. "He that is joined to the Lord is ONE spirit" (1 Cor. 6:17). The Word of God also speaks of men having "the mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 2:16). Jesus said to His troubled disciples; "Peace I leave with you, MY peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). He also spoke of HIS joy remaining in His people: "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full" (John 15:11). Paul admonished believers, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:5). Such things are not possible if there is really no unity between the individual and the Savior.

Escaping the corruption that is in the world

The modern church appears oblivious to the necessity of "escaping" the defiling influences of this world. This is a serious condition, which will, if not corrected, mandate divine condemnation. To "escape" the corruption of the world means that you are not corrupted by it. It means that you will not be condemned with it. In Christ you are "translated" into a new order, where there is "no condemnation" (Col. 1:13; Rom. 8;1). To get there, you must "escape" the conflicting realm of nature. This state cannot be accomplished by law. It is not the result of slavish obedience, as necessary as that may be. Rest assured, that disobedience is never condoned by God. It ALWAYS disqualifies the individual ensnared by it. Further, obedience is always requisite, never minimized, never merely an option. We do "purify our souls" by obeying the truth (1 Pet. 1:22). But law-keeping is not the appointed means of getting beyond the contaminating effects of corruption. The "commandment" was not given to enable this escape. The promises are the designated means of deliverance. They provide a glorious future, toward which we stretch and press (Phil. 3:12-14). The promises do not displace the commandments. They are of a higher order, providing the incentive to obey the commandments. PRAYER POINT: Father, give me the grace to focus on your exceeding great and precious promises. Help me to see them when I read the Scripture. Grant me grace to ponder them, and to inherit them through faith and patience.

-- TOMORROW: CONSIDERING THE FUTURE --