Partakers of God’s Divine Nature

The world of sin and sinners operates with a lust for more of the world (1 Jn 2:15–17). The world system entices people to want more of what the world produces. All love for the world is a distraction away from the truth about man’s fleeting existence in the world (Jas 4:14). Many live in denial of sin leading to death (Rom 6:23), death to judgment (Heb 9:27), and judgment to eternal punishment in the fiery hell of the lake of fire (Mt 25:41, 46; Jude 7; Rev 20:14–15).

Sin is lawlessness (1 Jn 3:4); and sinners love the domain of darkness because their deeds are evil in this perverse generation (Jn 3:19; Col 1:13). They lust and covet what they can see and whatever their flesh craves (1 Jn 2:16; Eph 2:3; 4:22; Titus 3:3; Jas 1:14–15; 4:2). At the root of what motivates the natural man is the quest to be a god or goddess. This was the serpent’s temptation to Adam and Eve (Gen 3:5). They believed the lie of the father of lies; and it cost them. The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23).

Sinners are agitated, provoked, and become hostile toward anyone who preaches the Bible as the inspired, authoritative Word of God (Rom 8:7; Col 1:21) The Bible clearly delineates between sinners and saints. The only difference between them is God’s mercy and grace bestowed according to His will. Simply put, God has mercy and compassion upon whomever He chooses (Rom 9:15–16). God’s sovereignty in salvation is a delight to the saint. It is an affront to the sinner.

The Apostle Peter wrote to the churches of northern Asia Minor, to those who had received a faith common to all born again souls (Titus 1:4; Jude 3). Our God and Savior, Jesus Christ has done a wonderful work of redemption (Rom 3:24; Eph 1:7; 2 Pet 1:1), by His sacrificial substitutionary death upon the Roman cross at Calvary (Heb 7:27; 9:26; 1 Pet 2:9). By His sinless life and atoning death Jesus secured right standing before God (righteousness).

Christians, made alive to these spiritual realities, recognize they have peace with God (Rom 5:1; Eph 2:5; Col 2:13). Recognition comes by hearing and knowing the Word of God (Rom 10:17), which tells us of so great a salvation (Heb 2:3). The Holy Spirit testifies with the spirit of the saint that we are children of God (Rom 8:16). This testimony also offends those devoid of the Spirit (Jude 19). They accuse God of issuing grace unto salvation with partiality (Acts 10:34; Rom 2:11).

Whether it is the Spirit’s convicting them of sin (Jn 16:8), or their perverted version of righteousness; or their corrupt judgments — the fact is they think God is unjust to save whomever He does. The sinner is never happy with God, with Jesus, or with those who preach the true knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord.

But as many as receive Christ Jesus, by the will of God (Jn 1:12–13); they love Him even though they have never seen Him (1 Jn 4:12). They love to hear the Gospel preached again and again (2 Tim 4:2). The truth of God sets the sinner free from the lies of the devil (Jn 8:32–35, 44).

The knowledge of the truth, as it is in Jesus is more precious than silver and gold (Prv 20:15; Eph 4:21). For instance, the saint is taught that God’s divine power has granted to every believer, everything pertaining to life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3). Godliness is to be godly in the moral sense. Jesus walked among us as God enfleshed (Jn 1:14). As the sinless God-man (Heb 4:15), Jesus showed what it means to be godly.

The Christian life is about seeing Jesus and becoming like Him by fixing our eyes upon the beauty of His holiness (Heb 12:2). We see and learn Christ in the Bible (2 Pet 3:18), with the Spirit of Christ as our Teacher (Jn 14:26). We see His glory and excellence (2 Pet 1:3). We learn that our works are filthy rags (Is 64:6), achieving no glory for our own. Pride must be discarded (Prv 8:13; 11:2; 16:18); and boasting is out because “grace alone” means that everything is ours, only “in Christ,” by the merits of Christ, and for the glory of God, alone.

God calls us out of the domain and dominion of darkness (Acts 26:18; Col 1:13; 2 Pet 3:10). We are transferred from the kingdom of this world and into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son, in whom righteousness dwells (Is 33:5; 2 Pet 3:13). With His right standing, the children of God receive the indwelling Holy Spirit (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11), who lives and works within those who are being sanctified by the Spirit and in the truth (Is 26:13; Jn 17:17; Eph 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2).

God’s Word of truth is filled with precious and magnificent promises (2 Pet 1:3). They all become “yes” and “amen” for those who are in Christ, by God’s doing (1 Cor 1:20, 30).

The natural man operates from a sin nature that he or she inherited from Adam (Rom 5:12; 6:6; Eph 2:3), our federal head. Christ Jesus is the Head of His church (Col 1:18), His holy nation of chosen people (1 Pet 2:9). By baptizing the elect, redeemed with His Holy Spirit (Mt 3:11; Mk 1:8; Lk 3:16; Act 1:5), they receive the divine nature (Acts 17:29; Rom 1:20; 2 Pet 1:4), which is the grace nature (Rom 5:17, 21). This is the indwelling Spirit working grace upon grace in the regenerated soul (Jn 1:16; Acts 4:33; Rom 5:20; 2 Cor 9:8).

Christians will never become gods as the Mormons teach. The holy nature of grace is exactly what makes us become holy as God is holy (1 Pet 1:15–16). If we remain in the flesh, our flesh wars against the Spirit (Gal 5:17). The believer in Jesus is not perfect; but he or she is promised to be presented holy and blameless before God the Father (Eph 1:5; 5:27; Col 1:22; Jude 24), by Jesus, at the consummation of the ages.

Christian, your Christian life is not complicated. It is to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18). We must pray for God to grant us what He has promised to us, that is, everything we need to be conformed to the image of God’s one and only Son (Rom 8:29). God is willing and doing this very thing (Phil 2:13), according to His good pleasure and by His divine power at work within us. Thus, we pray, Holy Spirit have Your way and teach us more of the Word of life that is the Word of truth. Indeed, we would see Jesus, to the praise of His glory and grace.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

August 16, 2024

2 Peter 1:3–4