Believers are Fit to be Partakers in the Divine Nature
(II Pet 1:1-11)

Heshimu Colar

The Lord God has equipped believers for whatever comes upon us. Yet, He has NOT placed the power or remedy within us. We do not have the attitude of, "I can do anything." Instead, we say, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Phil 4:13)." We receive all spiritual strength through His grace and promises. We trust the One in whose righteousness we stand.

The Righteousness of Jesus Christ has merited the exceeding great and precious promises that have been given to us (II Pet 1:1-1). (Rom 3:21) "But now the Righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets." The Scriptures have always taught that our nakedness must be clothed by Another. Beginning with Adam's transgression in the garden, man has never been covered by something he did. Like Adam and Eve, we are clothed entirely by God's provision. This righteousness that God demands, He has performed for Himself in the Man Christ Jesus, "Even the righteousness of God which is by the faith of Jesus Christ… (Rom 3:22)." According to God's justice, One Man has legally represented His elect, and we stand before God in this One Man who is Righteous, the Man Christ Jesus. The entire scope of His obedience is reckoned to be our own, and nothing we do in these bodies can ever add to or subtract from Christ (Rom 5:15-21). "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin (Rom 3:20)." You try to make God a debtor whenever you seek to improve yourself to merit His favor. The Gospel declares that God, in the freeness of grace and richness of His love, is a gracious provider and bestower upon sinners. Dear reader, there is nothing to be done to obtain this righteousness. Believing is your evidence that Christ, in all of His meritorious glory, belongs to you. His righteousness is "…unto all and upon all them that believe…(Rom 3:22" And this blessed gift of righteousness is equally bestowed upon all that shall believe. The Cross places the most naturally worthless sinner and the most naturally zealous moralist on the exact same footing, "… for there is no difference."

Secondly, everyone who is born of God has been born whole. We have the Gospel, a new nature, and the spirit of Christ in us. "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 by glory and virtue. 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 in the world through lust (II Pet 1:3-4)." Through growth in the knowledge of the truth, we increasingly learn of who the Lord has already made us. We're no longer the old man; instead we "have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him (Col 3:9-10)." God's precious promises are ours, and they are the means whereby we partake of and enjoy the divine nature/new creature who we truly are.

God's promises provide for our growth in godliness (II Pet 1:5-7). Faith is the beginning of the Christian life, and we add Virtue to our faith. Virtue is the moral power whereby you turn your back on this world and join yourself with the people of God. Virtue is the power God gives you to esteem His presence, commandments, and glory – whereby you unite with the people of God and flee false religion. We add to our virtue Knowledge. The brother who comes out of the world will receive more Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. You will see His faithfulness to deliver you from the fears and temptations that would have destroyed your soul in hypocritical compromise and twisting of the Scripture. Temperance is added to this increased knowledge of Christ. While virtue is power to separate me from this world for my own good, Temperance is power to separate myself from the ease of life that causes complacency… and this is for the world's good. The temperate build their life around the advancement of the Gospel rather than choking spiritual vitality through a misuse of liberty. Temperance is not touch not, taste not, handle not. Temperance is seeking to use time and opportunity for the elect's sake (I Cor 7:29-31). The Apostle Paul enjoyed the great liberty of the Gospel, and He learned to use his Blood bought liberty to approach the Father for a selflessness that imitated Christ and sacrificed for the good of others. Paul wrote, "For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more (I Cor 9:19)." The Lord, increasingly manifesting His faithfulness to make the temperate soul a partaker in the mind of Christ, adds Godliness unto temperance (Phil 2:4-5), and Godliness is the natural result of seeking the good of others. Brotherly kindness is the affectionate love for the brethren that grows from being instrumental in their comfort. When brotherly kindness seeks an outlet to express itself, this service of love is the crown jewel of the indwelling Christ. "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently (I Pet 1:22)."

Our blessed Sovereign gives unto us according to the good pleasure of His own will. He sits in the heavens and does whatever He pleases. All of the times and the seasons of increased fruitfulness are in His hands. Yet, no man can say that the Father of mercies and the God of all grace is stingy with His promises. No man can say that He begrudges bestowing upon sinners the spoils of Christ's great victory. All that we can reasonably do is bow to His greatness and wait for the more clear revelation's of His love and faithfulness. Yet, we must be assured of this: The Lord will not tarry, and neither will He deny Christ's elect. Our frame is but dust, but through Him, we shall obtain every victory. While the pretended believer rejoices in the Gospel for a season, the true child of God whose heart has been taught to need grace will persevere according to Christ's promise. Tribulation and persecution arises because of the Word; Satan, false religion, and the deceitfulness of the world, all attack the believer in times of trial to remove you far from your sure hope in Christ Jesus. Yet, stand fast in the faith and remember the unchangeableness of Christ's perfect righteousness unto all that believe. Remember that your standing in grace has nothing to do with your own personal success or failures; instead, our hope for increased obedience rests in the finished work and intercessory life of the Risen Christ.

"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 (II Pet 1:8-10)." You, who diligently add unto your faith by the promises of God through the merit of Christ's righteousness, are manifested as God's elect and truly purged from all your sins.

Wednesday’s 5-6PM 90.5FM