2 Peter 1:4: By Which He Has Granted To Us His Precious And Very Great Promises

2 Peter 1:4

[4] By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (ESV)

 

Those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ are sometimes unaware of just what they have become. Scripture describes us as being new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). We realize that some things have changed. We may have a new repulsion for sin, and a greater affection for the Lord Jesus Christ. We likely begin to realize that what the world continues to offer is simply not that exciting any more.

Notice that we have been granted precious and very great promises. Our salvation is based on the promise of God. We are not saved by our attempts in fulfilling God's Law. In fact, the Apostle Paul made quite a point to assure people that our justification is a work of God on our behalf, not a work of ours in order to satisfy God's holy requirements. Here is what he said to the churches in Galatia:

Galatians 2:16: "Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified." To be justified is to be declared righteous in our unrighteous state. This is a promise of God, and not by our works. Great and precious promises.

Because of these promises, we are partakers of God's nature. This does not mean that we are "little gods." It does mean that we are God's children, and he is making us more and more like himself. This, again, is a work that God is doing in us. We cannot will ourselves into partaking of the divine nature. Rather, we are reborn, by faith in Jesus Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit in us makes us more like our Lord.

There is something wonderful going on if you belong to the Lord. As a result of God's promises, not your works, you are partaking of God's holy nature. He is making you more like himself. Cooperate with him and celebrate his promises.