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Partakers of The Divine Nature - 2 Peter 1
Partakers of The Divine Nature - 2 Peter 1
2 Peter 1:5-7 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
We were created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). We ruined that by choosing to sin against Him, and thus the need for RENEWAL. In Jesus, we are being ‘renewed in the image of Christ’ who saved us (2 Cor. 3:18, Romans 8:29). Such renewal is a ‘renewing of our minds’ (Eph. 4:23). Our whole way of thinking about God, life, self, work, family; all of it needs to be changed!
In spite of such failing on our part, God had responded in grace and has provided for us everything pertaining to life and godliness (see vs. 3-4). He has provided what we need in order to make such a radical change in ourselves. YET, having so provided, Peter says there are things that WE MUST SUPPLY.
Peter lists seven ‘virtues’ or ‘character traits’. He pictures what we are to look like when we see ourselves in God’s mirror. Such is not about physical beauty but about CHARACTER; about what manner of persons we ought to be. Thus, he admonishes us to apply ALL Diligence to supply these character traits to ourselves:
· Moral excellence
· Knowledge
· Self-control
· Perseverance
· Godliness
· Brotherly kindness
· Brotherly love.
Such diligence is said to be ‘an idiom, literally ‘to bring every effort to’; to do one’s very best in attempting to do something – ‘to do one’s best, to make every effort to, to try as hard as possible.’ (Louw Nida). Such a radical change in our character won’t happen automatically nor will it be easy, but it can be done! What are you doing to provide knowledge of God and his ways? What are you doing to supply self-control in your life? What have you done to increase godliness in you way of living?
To NOT supply these things is to be short-sighted (about God and eternal life). Thus Peter repeats: 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you” (2 Peter 1:10-11).
How diligent are you about these things?
Hugh DeLong
