2 Peter 1:3-4
Divine Power Granted to Us
Have you ever felt that you could not resist temptation? Have you ever felt that you had to give in? Have you made excuses, such as, the devil made me do it, or I have an addiction and can’t help myself? Have you blamed your upbringing? Your parents? Your spouse? The stress of having children around? Your job? These are the answers you will often receive from today’s counselors, even those who claim to be Christians: It’s not your fault; you can’t help yourself; it’s okay, so go ahead and do it. After all, God loves us no matter what we do, no matter how wicked we are, no matter how far we stray—He will always be there to receive us back with open arms. That’s what unconditional love means!
I wish I could call this “Facebook theology,” but it predates social media and has often been the bane of evangelical preaching. These are lies we tell ourselves which make us feel good for the moment but only tempt us to return to our vomit (2 Peter 2:22). Well, to all of this bad theology, the Apostle Peter offers us the truth as it is in Christ Jesus and, boy, is it good news! Hearken to this Christian: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence by which He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”
So we read here the following truths: 1) God has granted to us His own divine power; 2) so that we may each live a life of godliness; 3) and this has been achieved for us through the regenerating event of the Holy Spirit whereby we are being saved (the knowledge of Him) and called to that glory and excellence He has by nature and wishes to share with us by grace; 4) who has also provided us with promises which cannot lie but which upon God’s integrity must accomplish their due; and, most amazingly, 5) which due is to make us “partakers of the divine nature” whereby we are made more and more like His Son, less like ourselves, and thereby escaping the temptations and snares that are in the world which call out to our passions and desires. In short, the man who becomes more like God finds freedom from temptation as his sinful desires cool to bare embers.
Jesus came to save you from your sin, not in it. He’s given you all you need to conquer your sinful desires. We’ve no one to blame but ourselves.
