2 Pet 1:3-4
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
The two key words are not hard to pick out:
- From the first phrase: “participate” (partake)
- From th esecond phrase: “escape”
1. You can participate in the divine nature
- NOT- “You can become divine in nature.”
- BUT- “You can become partakers of the divine nature.”
Koinonos – Greek word for a close and dear companion, a partner you yoked yourself with in sucha a tight relationship that you shared virtually everything, even yourselves…and in a real sense became one.
Peter: “Through the great and precious promises you have in Jesus Christ, YOU can actually become a koinonos with God! You can become related to Him, yoked together with Him, at one with Him…so that you actually partake of the same life and character He has.”
“The outside God gets himself inside.”
“All I really want in life is for the Word of God to take up residence inside of me and form me into Christlikeness.”
2. ”You can escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires;”
“Corruption”
The picture of something decompsing, decaying – not because of some external assaualt, but because of an internal rottenness…i.e. something rotting fromthe inside out.
Produces? A stench
The only world to describe that smell would be the word: Corruption” (Greek word phthora)
This world:
Rotten to the core!
Decaying from the inside out!
Has the stench of something decomposing
What causes the decay, the rottenness, the stench? Evil Desires (lust)
The battle against “corruption” is always fought on the field of my desires and passions
Sin will always make its attack by holding out the promise that if I follow my desires and passions, I will be happier!
How does the battle end if I give in to those desires and passions?
- MORE HAPPINESS? NO!!
- CORRUPTION! The slow disintegration and destruction of my character and personality from the inside out!
THERE IS AN ESCAPE!
Already prepared! Already provided! Already guaranteed!
The escape from the “corruption” in the world caused by evil desires” is exactly the same as the offer to “partake of the divine nature.” JESUS!
It’s through “our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness!”
“I never won the battle against temptation until I really got into Jesus.” -Dr. Stephen Manley
Jesus Christ is the person who can ride us of the fascination of the world’s lust and who can cleanse and pruify us by His presence and His power. To walk with Christ is to walk in the safety from the world’s taint.”
Peter: “This escape from the world’s corruption through Jesus can be so clear, so complete, so decisive…it’ll be like breaking away completely and turning your back on it forever.”
2 Pet 1:3-4
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
