Today's Quick Word
Today’s Quick Word
2 Peter 1:3-4 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these […]
2 Peter 1:3-4 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
As I reflected on these verses I thought of the deep impact it would have had on Peter when Jesus, in the presence of his disciples, said to the spiritually-minded Pharisee, Nicodemus: “You must be born again.”! He had now experienced this ‘new birth’ for himself, and so he wanted to encourage the struggling, persecuted believers to whom he was writing to stay focussed on just who they are in Christ.
Firstly, the basis of their new life was ‘divine power’, sourced in the essential ‘glory’ and ‘goodness’ of ‘our God and Saviour Jesus Christ’ (verse 1).
Secondly, they can now rely fully on all the ‘great and precious promises’ of a faithful God and Saviour.
Thirdly, this ‘new birth’ gives them privilege of actually ‘participating in Christ’s divine nature’. And at this point he was probably remembering Jesus’ words: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. … If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:5, 7-8).
Finally, the undeniable consequence of all this is that they would no longer be in bondage to “the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”. Nevertheless, he would go on to point out that this ‘escape’ cannot just be taken for granted, but needs to be kept in good repair by “mak[ing] every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love” in order to “keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (verses 5-8).
Let us be encouraged by Peter’s words in these challenging days of opposition to the proclamation of the Gospel.
– Bruce Christian
