LEARNING DAILY

 

2 Peter 1:3-4, as His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that though these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

 

Bible authorities believe this to be the last writing of Peter. Much of the city of Rome had been destroyed by fire. Emperor Nero blamed the Christians and had them hunted down and either murdered or imprisoned. Peter had been thrown in prison during this time and was eventually killed by hanging on a cross. Tradition has said Peter requested to be crucified upside down believing he was not worthy to die in the same manner as the lord Jesus Christ.

 

At the very beginning of this letter, Peter encourages Believers to hold tight to the promises of God. He wants his readers to focus on the Scriptures, the Word of God rather than listening to interpretations of “self-appointed teachers; there was already problems in Peter’s lifetime with false teachers. Let me emphasize his words again. God “has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness”! What does that mean?

 

The notes in the LSSB tell us, “The love of our heavenly Father, salvation through Jesus Christ, intercession for us in heaven, the indwelling of and the baptism in the Holy Spirit, the communion of saints and God’s inspired Word are sufficient to meet all the Believer’s need for life and godliness.” What you and I have here is inexhaustible resources giving us everything we need to live a godly life. The Bible is our instruction manual, giving us the promises of God and is our guide to walking on the narrow way to His kingdom. But like any instruction manual, it’s benefits are only seen when we open it up and study it closely.

 

There are no additional human wisdom, techniques, or theories needed to complete the Word of God. There is a strict warning in Revelation 22:18, “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophesy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophesy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the Holy City, and from the things that are written in this book.” John is writing about The Revelation – I do wonder if this warning is to be applied so we are not careless with all of the Word of God! The words of Jesus and the words of the apostles were enough to meet the needs of the people of their day and they continue to be enough to meet our needs today. There is not one person who can add to or strengthen and help what Jesus proclaimed and provided for our salvation and walk with Him. The teachings of the apostles give firsthand testimony to what they saw and heard as Jesus Christ walked on the earth, His crucifixion and resurrection.

 

As Believers, we are to “be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”. When you and I, as Believers, live according to God’s promises we partake in the very nature of God. In other words, we begin to look more and more like our Savior; we share in His very nature. The more we know and believe in His promises, the stronger we become in resisting the worldly temptations and the temptations of Satan. We begin to look less and less like the world. Eternal life is not just something we have when we get to God’s kingdom in heaven. No, it begins the moment you place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ and continues right through eternity. Eternal life impacts us right now as we live each day. Peter is making sure, by encouraging you and me, that God has given us everything we need to deal with every situation we face each day – major or minor – and to grow into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

 

Let this be an encouraging word for each of us today to be diligent in seeking to know Him more deeply as He supplies every need for our life and godliness. Oh, how He loves you and me…!

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible