Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. (2 Peter 1:2-4)The Bible makes lots of claims, obviously, but some of them are of a grand, sweeping type. Like this one. Peter says that we should experience God's grace and peace in abundance. Why? Because God "has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness." Now, that He has granted us stuff is all well and good -- we buy that -- but this claim is much larger. He has granted us everything pertaining to life and godliness. Everything?
Paul makes the same claim.
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? (Rom 8:32)In this text, on the basis that God did not spare His own Son (which is an absolute certainty), we can be certain that God will "freely give us all things." What things? Paul lays them out in the subsequent verses (Rom 8:33-39) ("more than conquerors"). And Peter explains that "everything pertaining to life and godliness" is connected to making us "partakers of the divine nature" for the purpose of escaping "the corruption that is in the world by lust." The "all things" of Romans 8:32 and the "everything" of 2 Peter 1:3 have to do with forming believers into the image of His Son (Rom 8:39) in contrast to the world and its lusts.
The question, then, is pretty straightforward. You who have placed your faith in Christ, who call yourself "believers," whose only hope is in trusting Christ, who claim to believe God's Word -- do you? Do you believe the totality of that claim? Do you anticipate that God has granted you "everything pertaining to life and godliness." Do you count on God freely giving you all things? Or are you still scrabbling around, trying to scrape together what you need, to cobble together what's important, and stressing when it doesn't seem to come? Are you still muddling about in the world's lusts thinking you can get what you need? Or do you who believe ... actually believe? Because life is so sweet on the believing side of "everything."
4 comments:
Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.
I know these particular words from both Peter and Paul have fueled some fanciful assertions by many a false teacher (regarding supposed authority, powers, and worldly riches that Christians may claim). However, when interpreted properly, those verses present “great and precious promises” of those things granted to us through “knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” Indeed, the qualities that Peter lists in the following verses (vv. 5-7)--faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love--are more beneficial to me than anything the world can offer. I agree--life is “so sweet” for the believer!
I absolutely believe in these promises from YHWH. My question is whether or not the promise is that we'll have "everything" during our time on earth, or if part of "everything" will come after we're with YHWH. Any thoughts?
Yes, Craig, I have thoughts. Funny question. No, just kidding. I would argue that when that "everything" arrives, as it were, will be just when it is needed. Not a moment earlier; not a moment later. Some will be with YHWH ... right when we need it.
And, so true, Lorna. It's easy in our self-centered, sin-driven world to twist these promises to some positive-thinking, self-aggrandizing prosperity gospel. As you point out, that's not what He has in mind.
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