“Partakers of the Divine Nature”

1. “Partakers of the Divine Nature” 2 Peter 1:4

2. 2 Peter 1:4 • 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.

3. 2 Peter 1:4 • 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.

4. 2 Peter 1:1 • 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 • The writer is Simon Peter! • A servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ • Wrote to brethren of the like faith • He had obtained the “like precious faith” • Made possible by: • God’s love and the sacrifice of Jesus • Obedience to God & Jesus Christ

5. 2 Peter 1:2 • Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord • Through the knowledge of God and His Son, we obtain multiplied grace and peace! • Eph. 2:8; 2 Tim. 3:15; 1 Pet. 1:5 • Rom. 10:17; 5:1

6. 2 Peter 1:3 • 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 • God has given us allspiritual and physical blessings: • Eph. 1:3; Jas. 1:17; Heb 11:3; Rom. 1:19-20

7. 2 Peter 1:4 • 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. • The obedient are given exceeding promises: • Great & Precious • Forgiveness of sins – Eph. 1:7 • Hope of heaven – Col. 1:5; 1 Pet 1:3; Tit. 1:2; 2:13; 3:7 • Thereby partakers of the divine nature: • Having escaped the corruption (lust) of the world! • Evident that this corrupt nature is of those living of the world!

8. What is the “divine nature?” • Simply, the nature of divinity! • The Holy character of God • Divine -theios = godlike , divinity, divine, godhead. • Nature – phusis = c) a mode of feeling and acting which by long habit has become nature. d) the sum of innate properties and powers by which one person differs from others, distinctive native peculiarities, natural characteristics: the natural strength, ferocity, and intractability of beasts • “Partakers of” =or sharers or partners of • Source – Strong’s Concordance

9. 2 Peter 1:5-7 • But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. (NKJV)

10. “add to your faith” • “And beside this” • Pareisphero = to bear in alongside, i.e. introduce simultaneously… • Literally means to bring in by the side of • “Giving all diligence” • Spoude =meaning, to hasten, carefulness, earnestness. • Cf. Rom. 12:11; 2 Cor. 7:11, 12; 8:16; Jude 3

11. “add to your faith” • Faith is the foundation from which all duties come forth! • “add to” = supply or to keep in step or in tune. • These graces that adorn godly Christian character are to work together as a well tuned engine! • There are eight graces that should adorn our character!

12. “add to your faith” • Salvation is based on our obedience to God’s commands. • Heb. 11:6; Rom. 10:17; Jas. 2:24 • Salvation is conditionally received! • Heb. 5:9; 11:8; Acts 10:34-35 • “walk in the steps of the faith of Abraham” • Rom. 4:12 • Abraham obeyed God: • Gal. 3:6; Jas. 2:23; cf. Gen. 12:1-4; 22:1-18

13. “add….virtue” • Virtue: • Manliness, strength, courage. • Moral excellence to stand for and do what is right when pressured to do otherwise! • Having the fortitude to fight for what is right without fear or shame! • Character Examples: • Joseph fled advances of Potiphar’s wife • Gen. 39:1-12 • The virtuous woman • Prov. 31:10-31 • The Apostles • Acts 5:27-42

14. “add….knowledge” • Knowledge: • Of God’s word • Heb. 5:12-14; 1 Pet. 2:1-3; 1 Cor. 14:20 • Must grow in knowledge • 2 Pet. 3:18; Col. 1:9-10; Eph. 5:17; 1 Pet. 3:15 • Growth requires: • Constant study! • Application of Bible principles! • Putting into practice what the Bible teaches • Blessings of Study: • Food for our soul – 1 Pet. 2:1-2 • A guiding light – Ps. 119:105 • Follow the example of Jesus – ”It is written” – Matt. 4:1-11 • His word will build us up – Acts 20:32 • Provides all our spiritual needs – 2 Tim. 3:16, 17

15. “add….patience” • Patience = cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy:- enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting). • A trait of God – Rom. 15:5 • Had patience with the ungodly of Noah’s day • 1 Pet. 3:20 • Patient with Israelites • Ps. 78:12-22 • We must be patient: • In afflictions – 1 Pet. 2:19-21; 2 Thess. 1:1-4 • Unto death – Rev. 2:10b • With all men, especially brethren who sin – 1 Thess. 5:14 • In converting the lost – Gal. 6:9; 1 Cor. 15:58 • In waiting for the coming of Christ – Jas. 5:7-8; 2 Thess. 3:5

16. “add….godliness” • Godliness = God likeness, holiness • God is inherently Holy! • Define godliness by what it is NOT! • Works of the flesh describe ungodliness! • Gal. 5:19-20; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Col. 3:1-9 • Godliness = godly sincerity, holy, devout, devoting ones life to God, piety characterized by a Godward attitude. • Examples: • Enoch – Gen. 5:24 • Lot – 2 Pet. 2:6-9 • Cornelius – Acts 10:1-2 • Benefits: • Great gain when coupled with contentment – 1 Tim. 6:6 • Profitable in this life & the life to come – 1 Tim. 4:7-8

17. “add….temperance” • Temperance = self-control, self-discipline, restraint, control of temper, the tongue, bodily passions, to learn self-sacrifice. • We must have rule over our spirit! • Prov. 25:28; Lk. 9:23 • Must exercise self-discipline! • Rom. 6:18-19; Col. 3:1-5 • Heb. 12:6, 9-11 • Just say NO to sin! • Examples of temperance: • Paul: • 1 Cor. 9:27; Phil 4:11-13 • Daniel would not defile himself with the King’s meat or wine! • Dan. 1:3-8

18. “add….Brotherly Kindness” • Brotherly Kindness - Philadelphia =to love the brethren, love of the brethren. To feel fondness and affection for, with expression in acts of kindness. • Commanded to “let brotherly love continue” • Heb. 13:1; 1 Jn. 3:14, 17; 1 Jn. 4:20, 21 • Must prefer company of faithful brethren: • Rom. 12:10; Heb. 10:24-25; Acts 2:46 • Must show mercy and pity to our brethren: • Rom. 12:13-15; Acts 4:32-35; 2 Cor. 8:1-5 • Examples: • Ruth – 1:15-17; 4:14-17

19. “add….charity” • Charity – agape =love.“Does not always run with natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself upon those for whom a natural affinity is discovered - Love seeks welfare of all” – Vine. • Agape love defined by Paul – 1 Cor. 13:1-13 • Must have love for: • God – Matt. 22:37; 1 Pet. 3:15, 1 Jn. 5:3 • Man – Rom. 1:14; Matt. 22:39 • The Truth – 2 Thess. 2:10; 2 Tim. 4:4; 1 Tim. 2:4 • The Lord’s church – Matt. 6:33 • The greatest example of agape love is Jesus: • Rom. 5:9; 15:2-3; Phil. 2-3-8; 1 Jn. 4:19; Rev. 1:5

20. 2 Peter 1:8-10 • 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. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

21. Conclusion • Christians Must have all eight graces in our character! • If in us, we will not be barren or unfruitful and will be a partaker of the divine nature! • If they are NOT in us, we are blind and hath forgotten that Christ suffered for us and purged our sins! • Personal Question: Am I a partaker of the divine nature?