"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 2
Yesterday:
“According as his divine power hath given unto us.”
We are saved only by God’s power. His power in the Gospel changes us.
“All things that pertain unto life and godliness,” (a)
There is no “godliness” without “life.” God’s power gives us “life.” Then His power enables our godliness.
Today:
“All things that pertain unto life and godliness,” (b)
God’s power gives us salvation and everything we need for our spiritual life in Him. “Godliness” has to do with our true piety, the way we live our lives for God. The Greek word that Peter used when he wrote this verse means “reverence, respect…, piety towards God, godliness”[1] (Thayer). It has to do with how we live. Living godly or ungodly. Living a life pleasing to God or living for self. In his second letter, Peter encourages believers to be holy.
“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness” (2 Peter 1:5-6).
“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness” (2 Peter 3:11).
It is through God’s “divine power” that we can live a godly life.
“Through the knowledge of him.”
“Knowing God is the key to all things that pertain to life and godliness” [2] (Guzik).
To know Him is not a casual acquaintance, but it is “an exact, complete, and thorough knowledge,”[3] (Guzik), of Him. Knowing Him means this,
“It includes, of course, love, reverence, obedience, honor, gratitude, supreme affection. ‘To know God as he is’ is to know and regard him as a lawgiver, a sovereign, a parent, a friend. It is to yield the whole soul to him, and strive to obey his law”[4] (Barnes).
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Philippians 3:10).
“That hath called us to glory and virtue.”
Those whom the Father calls, He gives the knowledge of Himself to.
“Who called us by glory and virtue: It is Jesus’ glory and virtue that motivates Him to call us, and it is His glory and virtue that draw us to Him” [5] (Guzik).
How can we know that all of this happens as He said? Come back tomorrow, and we will look at His promises.
[1] J.H. Thayer, Thayer’s Greek Definitions, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] Guzik, David, David Guzik’s Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.
[3] Guzik, ibid.
[4] Albert Barnes, Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword. See Barnes notes on John 17:3.
[5] Guzik, ibid.