Our Identity -A Divine Nature

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Blessed is the man

That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor standeth in the way of sinners,

Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD;

And in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,

That bringeth forth his fruit in his season;

His leaf also shall not wither;

And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Psalm 1:1–3 KJV 1900
1 Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
2 Peter 1:1–11 KJV 1900
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 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: 4 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. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
What was the law of the Lord?
How does this apply today?
2 Peter 1:1-11
What are laws of the kingdom that cause us to be fruitful, full of life and prospering in all that we do?

Diligence

2 Peter 1:1–12 KJV 1900
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 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: 4 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. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

SIMON Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, gthrough the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4 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.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

Introduction - Verse 1 & 2

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
Simon Peter -he was calling himself by his new name, the name that Jesus gave - -a piece of rock
He first reminds himself and others that he is a servant of Jesus Christ. He was servant first and apostle second.
It is important to always cloth yourself with this mindset. The greater the authority and responsibility, the greater the need to walk in humility because without it we will be easily be made to stumble in pride
How many people include this in the summary of who they are?
“Obtained” (received)
​The Bible Knowledge Commentary 1:1b
“Received” is from the unusual verb lanchanō, “to obtain by lot” (cf. ; )
“Like precious”
​The Bible Knowledge Commentary 1:1b
The Greek word for “like precious” was used for foreigners who had been granted the privileges of citizenship which were equal to those of the native born.
We have been given the gift of salvation, not because we deserved it, but because of how righteous God is!
Righteousness. Conformity to a certain set of expectations, which vary from role to role. Righteousness is fulfillment of the expectations in any relationship, whether with God or other people.
Verse 2
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
“Grace” expresses God’s steadfast love toward man and “peace” shows the relational state as a result of that grace.
Hoehner, H. W. (1985). Ephesians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 615). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
Grace and peace are only available through Jesus Christ -through our intimate & personal relationship with him
“Be multiplied” -be in abundance
Verse 3 is what everything hinges on
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:
The key is the divine (Godlike) power (dunamis) -what they received at Pentacost (used 120 times)
But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech (logos) of them which are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
It gives to all of us
All things that pertain (or are related) to
Life
2 Peter 1:1 KJV 1900
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
Godliness
Through the knowledge of God, and Jesus
Who has called us to
Glory -splendor:—dignity, glory (-ious), honour, praise, worship.
Virtue -Strong’s def. - manliness (valor), i.e. excellence (intrinsic or attributed):—praise, virtue.
Because of the “divine” power of God we receive everything mentioned in verse 4
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.
How do we receive? Through the exceeding great and precious promises that are given to us
Given –The Greek verb translated “has given” (dedōrētai) means “to bestow, to endow.” Not the usual word for “give,” it carries with it the idea of the worth of the gift. Peter used the same verb in verse 3. In the word is used to describe Pilate’s “giving” of Jesus’ body to Joseph of Arimathea.[1]
What are the exceeding great and precious promises?
The Holy Spirit -
All that the Holy Spirit reveals
Why? That we can partake, (receive, be partners in) the divine nature of God
This is our identity!
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Why? We escape the corruption that is in the world through (or because of) lust
What is this corruption and lust?
This is a natural result
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Lust of the flesh -mentioned in at least 20 separate verses in the Bible
We are called to abstain from all fleshly desires -and there are a lot of verses telling us exactly that.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
How do we overcome?? (look back to v.3) By the supernatural power of God!
Not by our own effort
Not by memorizing endless amounts of scripture -the Jewish rabbi’s solution
They read and read the scriptures but missed the living Word
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
The solution that empowers and strengthens us
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it (the heart) shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 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.
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
The old song is simple, yet profound:
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
file:///C:/Users/Verlin/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/02/clip_image004.pngfile:///C:/Users/Verlin/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/02/clip_image005.pngfile:///C:/Users/Verlin/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/02/clip_image006.pngfile:///C:/Users/Verlin/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/02/clip_image007.pngfile:///C:/Users/Verlin/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/02/clip_image008.png3 For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue). [2]
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.”
Diligence - Verses 5-7
Verses 5-7
And alongside of all that we have received…be diligent
These could also be strands of a rope
Giving all diligence
4710. σπουδή spŏudē, spoo-day´; from 4692; “speed”, i.e. (by impl.) despatch, eagerness, earnestness:—business, (earnest) care (-fulness), diligence, forwardness, haste.
2304. θεῖος thĕiŏs, thi´-os; from 2316; godlike (neut. as noun, divinity):—divine, godhead.[3]
In verse 3 & 4, Peter is first pointing out what has been given to us. Do we really understand? Do we have a revelation on how much we have and what is our rights as a person of the kingdom?
It is of extreme importance that we understand this before we start with verse 5 where Peter is exhorting them (us) to take action.
If we don’t position ourselves to receive it will feel like dead religion as we try on our own to do what is right
Good and pure religion is a result of obeying the Holy Spirit
What is religion?
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
1411. δύναμις dunamis, doo´-nam-is; from 1410; force (lit. or fig.); spec. miraculous power (usually by impl. a miracle itself):—ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.
When we have the right perspective of receiving before doing, then the following verses about being diligent will not be legalistic:
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
We receive by humbling ourselves before God, recognizing our inability and allowing him to be Lord
7 Virtues -elements of true faith
Virtue
1391. δόξα dŏxa, dox´-ah; from the base of 1380; glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (lit. or fig., obj. or subj.):—dignity, glory (-ious), honour, praise, worship.
Knowledge
Temperance
Oxford Dictionary Def. -restraint of the appetites and passions in accordance with reason
Simon Peter -he was calling himself by his new name, the name that Jesus gave - -a piece of rock
Used in when listing the fruit of the Spirit and in
And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
The idea of self control is also brought out in many other words -sober, temperate, discreet, sobriety (other versions -live wisely, prudent)
It can seem religious to emphasize the importance of this, but it is the truth
703. ἀρέτη arĕtē, ar-et´-ay; from the same as 730; prop. manliness (valor), i.e. excellence (intrinsic or attributed):—praise, virtue.
Patience – Strong’s def. - cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy:—enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).
Godliness -Def. - Reverence for God and a life of holiness in the world.[2]
Brotherly Kindness -love or affection between brothers
Charity -a feast of love
Don’t let Godly virtues be a drag, instead, turn to God expectantly and allow him to inspire you with his power
The importance of diligence in these areas - Verses 8 & 9
[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 2 Pe 1:3). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
He first reminds himself and others that he is a servant of Jesus Christ. He was servant first and apostle second.
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
This reminds me of (read the whole chapter)
The Pharisees knew these verses, they may have even memorized them.
Their mind knew the law, but their heart didn’t
Delight in the law of the Lord
Under the old covenant that God had with the Israelites, they had written word -the law
Today, under the new covenant, Jesus is the living Word -he is the way, the truth & the life
Our calling is to delight in our relationship with the living Word, and allow him through the Holy Spirit, conform us into his image
We then have confidence that our faith is real
The final reward for diligence -
It is important to always cloth yourself with this mindset. The greater the authority and responsibility, the greater the need to walk in humility because without it we will be easily be made to stumble in pride
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
[2] The Amplified Bible. (1987). (2 Pe 1:3). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
In Closing (worship team come)
Is God asking you to pursue him for grace in a particular area?
Is there an area in our life where we quit believing God for change?
Its not about trying harder on our own to do what is right, it is about receiving divine revelation & impartation that enables us to accomplish the impossible.
Are you looking at yourself, saying I am not sure I can do what I know God is asking?
[1] Gangel, K. O. (1985). 2 Peter. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 864). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
How many people include this in the summary of who they are?
[2] Chamblin, J. K. (1996). Godly, Godliness. In Evangelical dictionary of biblical theology (electronic ed., p. 300). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

“Received” is from the unusual verb lanchanō, “to obtain by lot” (cf. Luke 1:9; John 19:24)

“Like precious”

The word isotimon was used for foreigners who had been granted the privileges of citizenship which were equal to those of the native born.

Righteousness. Conformity to a certain set of expectations, which vary from role to role. Righteousness is fulfillment of the expectations in any relationship, whether with God or other people.
[3] Strong, J. (2009). A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Vol. 1, p. 36). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
Righteousness. Conformity to a certain set of expectations, which vary from role to role. Righteousness is fulfillment of the expectations in any relationship, whether with God or other people.
[VW1]This is past tense!
Verse 2

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

2 Peter 1:2 KJV 1900
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
“Grace” expresses God’s steadfast love toward man and “peace” shows the relational state as a result of that grace.
Hoehner, H. W. (1985). Ephesians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 615). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
a
Grace and peace are only available through Jesus Christ -through our intimate & personal relationship with him
“Be multiplied” -be in abundance
Are you willing to say, Lord I believe, help me overcome my unbelief! ?
Ephesians 3:14–21 KJV 1900
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Pure religion...
James 1:27 KJV 1900
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
2 Peter 3:14 KJV 1900
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Hebrews 12:13 KJV 1900
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Hebrews 12:14–15 KJV 1900
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
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