His divine power has given to us everything that we need for a godly life, through our knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, through which he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them we may participate in the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world caused by sinful desire. 2 Peter 1:3,4
Today we celebrate a new beginning, and that seems to be the theme in today’s verses. Everything we need to reflect God’s true nature has already been given to us (past tense), so we move out in God’s own nature.
Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm has already been lavished upon us as a love gift from Father God—all because he sees us wrapped in Jesus (Eph 1:3). So everything we could ever need for a life of godliness (the goodness of Jesus expressed in and through us), has already been given to us as a gift because He is powerful enough to do it. All this was lavished on us through our experience of knowing Him.
He called each of us by name, inviting us to experience His goodness for ourselves. That’s a new year resolution I think we can all live with: Experience God’s goodness for myself.
Through this amazing expression of God’s glory and goodness he has imparted to us these fantastic promises: 1) participation in Jesus’ own nature; 2) escape from the corruptive influences and desires that drive this world we live in.
1) We participate with Jesus. Not to get too theological here, but the Greek word for ‘participate’ koinonos means “to participate as a partner, to be a companion with, to have fellowship with”. This is one of the greatest teachings in the Christian faith, that God shares His nature with us. We are given new birth by the Holy Spirit to be God’s true sons and daughters, and that means that God imparts His “nature” to us, His children… Jesus lives in us and transforms us into his own likeness.
2) We escape from corruptive influences and desires. God acquits us of our guilt; but He goes further. In sharing His divine nature He provides the transformation that is needed to leave that life of corruption behind. Just like we leave 2017 behind, and embrace 2018, the old is gone, the new has arrived, we are new creations (2 Cor 5:17).