The Personal Blog of Pastor Guy Glass

I have been studying 2 Peter 1:3-11, ...

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. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

What a wonderful passage on both Christian Responsibility and Divine provision. I am particularly encouraged by the word "participate". The word means far more than our common definition. When we think of participate, we think of working with someone, without thought concerning the nature of the relationship we have with the one we are working with. This word, "participate" literally means "partnership", and so it not only talks about our "working" together with Christ, but also looks at the extent of the relationship. Through our salvation in Christ, we partner with God (through godly living) to not only live our lives as new creatures in Christ, but at the same time avoiding the pitfalls of the world around us. WOW!