2 Peter 1:2-4 “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to 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 through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

 

The phrase, “partakers of the divine nature” can also be translated as, “companions of the divine kind.” It signifies a partnership, or having in common. How do we become sharers in this divine nature?

First we share in God’s grace. Before we can share in this divine nature we must have the grace of God. Notice Eph. 2:7-8, “that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Now read John 1:17, “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Notice the association of grace with truth. Our faith must be grounded in truth. Notice in our text that grace is multiplied through knowledge (1 Peter 1:2).

Second, when we share in God’s grace we share in peace (v. 4). As participants in this divine nature we experience a peace that is unknown by the world. Read Phil. 4:7 “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. This peace extends beyond human understanding because it is part of the divine nature. This peace will guard and will rule over your hearts” (Col. 3:15).

Next, when we share in the divine nature we share in knowledge, (v. 5). Knowledge which comes from God’s divine power and gives us all things as it pertains to life and godliness. The word life has to do with eternal life, or the God kind of life. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” John 10:10. Being the life, He came bringing life to mankind. John 14:6. When we share in knowledge we also learn of godliness or how to live a God-like existence. Paul wrote in Titus 2:12, “teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.”

Last when we have in common the divine nature, we enjoy the precious promises. Promises like, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” Hebrews 13:5 or Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” It is upon these promises we build our faith.

Once we have partaken of the divine nature we have escaped the corruption in the world through lust. We were once overcome by the world, but now through sharing the divine nature we have overcome the world. 1 John 5:4 “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”