"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him, that hath called us to glory and virtue. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."
2 Peter 1:3-4
Part 3
Yesterday:
“All things that pertain unto life and godliness,” (b)
It is God’s power that enables us to live a godly life.
“Through the knowledge of him.”
Knowing God is the key to life and godliness.
“That hath called us to glory and virtue.”
It is Jesus that has called us to salvation by His glory and virtue.
Today:
“Whereby”
Literally, “through which.” It is His glory and virtue “through which” “are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises.”
“What good are the glory and virtue of God that called us? By them He gave us exceedingly great and precious promises. This means that the promises of God are based upon His glory and virtue, and therefore perfectly reliable. God would never compromise His glory and virtue” [1] (Guzik).
“Are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:”
A promise is only as good as the word of the one who gives it. In this case, these promises to believers are secure because they are provided by God Himself. And God cannot lie, or else He could not be God.
“Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Titus 1:1-2).
“Are given unto us.” Because God loves us, He gives terrific things to us…
“The promises themselves are a gift: for God’s promises are as sure as if they were fulfilled” [2] (JFB).
“Exceeding great and precious promises.” His promises are great as in enormous, and they are precious to us as in extremely valuable.
“By His glory and virtue: His glory making the ‘promises’ to be exceeding great; His virtue making them ‘precious’ [3] [Bengel].
In Peter’s letters, these things are considered “precious” to the believer.
“The trying of your faith, being more precious than gold.” 1 Peter 1:7
“The precious blood of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:19
“Like precious faith.” 2 Peter 1:1 (a different Greek word)
And God’s “great and precious promises.” 2 Peter 1:4
We trust His promises, His Word because we trust Him. And remember God’s attitude about His Word.
“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name” (Psalm 138:2).
God’s Word is always “authoritative and trustworthy!”
Why are God’s promises vital to us? Come back tomorrow, and let’s see what we can learn as we finish this verse.
[1] Guzik, David, David Guzik’s Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] Jamison, Fausset, and Brown. Jamison-Fausset-Brown’s Commentary, the electronic version in eSword…
[3] Bengel, as quoted in Jamison, Fausset, and Brown, ibid.