Partaking of the Divine Nature

Sunday Sermons

Mark Dunagan
09/04/05 - Sunday Morning

“For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises”

(2 Peter 1:4).

There are many promises in the Bible but one of the most magnificent promises, and one that people often overlook is the promise that the faithful Christian can actually, “become partakers of the divine nature” (1:4). Religious people are often so obsessed with seeing prophecies fulfilled in their lifetime that they forget that one of the most meaningful prophecies the opportunity to is becoming conformed to the image of God’s Son (Romans 8:29). This chapter in Peter is not merely talking about personal growth or some kind of spiritual growth; it is describing something far higher. We are to add these virtues to our lives because this is how one becomes like Jesus. What an amazing promise! The Father actually says that we can become like Him and His Son (Ephesians 5:1 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children”; 4:15 “We are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ”). “When we do inquire about God’s will, we fail to ask the most important question. We ask what we should do (which is important) but not what we should be. We ask how we should change our circumstances but not how we should change characters” (How to build your Christian Character, Stanley C. Baldwin, p. 16). There are many earthly goals that are completely unrealistic and impossible that so many people pursue, yet becoming like Christ is actually a goal that is attainable. “We Christians are told to become like Jesus. If God puts this uppermost, surely we should be seeking the same thing. I mean, really working at it” (Baldwin p. 16). No wonder Peter said, “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence” (1:5).

Won’t we be perfect in heaven anyway?

At this point many people might say something like, “What difference does it make anyhow? When we leave this earth, won’t we become just like Jesus instantly? Won’t we, therefore, become all we could possibly be? Why struggle and sacrifice to make slow progress toward a goal that God will accomplish for us all at once when we get to glory?” (p. 16). First, we should note that Peter makes it clear that unless we add these virtues to our lives, we will not make it to heaven (2 Peter 1:10 “for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble”); which of course means that if one does not practice such things they will stumble. One religious myth in our culture is that death instantly transforms a person’s character. Often at a funeral of someone who was selfish, bitter, and mean, people will say something like, “Well, they are now at rest”. As if death has transformed them into a very kind, peaceful, and gentle person. In Luke16:19-31 we have the example of a man who experienced death but is basically unchanged by the experience. The rich man was selfish (16:19). While it looks like he might have changed because he is concerned about his brothers (16:28), Jesus reminds us that being concerned about family is no great moral accomplishment, even sinners do that much (Matthew 5:47). The real rest for the deceased rich man is when God does not cooperate with his idea (16:30). This man is suffering in torment and talking directly to Abraham yet he is arguing with and contradicting Abraham! Death did not instantly transform the rich man. This is why spiritual growth in this life is so essential, because if we do not grow here, there will be no growth! Hell is not a place of growth and learning, rather it is simply a place of punishment.

2 Corinthians 5:10

“For we must all appear before the judgment set of Christ”. The word “appear” in this verse means; to appear in our true characters, to appear without disguise. “Appear is not strong enough, since it implies only presence at the judgment-seat. The important fact is our being revealed as we are” (Vincent p. 319). “Laid bare, stripped of every outward façade our respectability, and openly revealed in the full and true reality of one’s character. All our hypocrisies and concealments, all our secret, intimate sins of thought and deed, will be open to the scrutiny of Christ” (Hughes p. 180). What this means is that death is not some experience that instantly transforms people into someone that that they never were. What we are at the judgment is what we were in this life. For the Christian this is very meaningful because this means that all the maturity, character, and integrity that we developed in this life will not be lost in the next! We exit this life with our patience, steadfastness, loyalty to Christ, love, diligence, joy, peace and wisdom. Yet it is equally true that the wicked exit with their bitterness, selfishness, bad attitude, corrupted mind, and so on. In the book of Revelation John noted observed that in heaven, “nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall never come into it” (21:27). If one is not converted in this life, then they are never converted. The unclean remain unclean, and the liars remain liars. So if a person wants to change, then the only time that exists to change is now in this life. “Does this begin to give you a hint as to why it’s important to develop Christian character? The exact degree to which you have or have not done so will be revealed at the judgment seat of Christ. That could be embarrassing” (Baldwin p. 17).

Titus 1:15

“To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled”

The reason I bring up this verse is because among the reasons why the rebellious will not be allowed to enter heaven, one reason could be that unless one is converted in this life, they would not be able to enjoy heaven. Apart from conversion, a person does not have the right attitude toward blessings, spiritual things and humility towards God.

2 Peter 1:5-7

One of the common male solutions to a problem is the “get a bigger hammer” principle, that is, if something does not yield; just hit it harder with a bigger hammer. May I suggest that this section of Scripture is a “bigger hammer” that God is giving us to handle ups and downs of this life. “If you are having difficulty, bring greater resources to bear on the undertaking. Get help” (Baldwin p. 27). The necessity of such qualities as self-control, moral courage, and perseverance reveals that no one is promised a trouble-free life. Baldwin notes that one of the problems with most self-help books is that solving one problem never exhausts the supply of problems that we encounter. “Life deals out new difficulties as fast as we can resolve old ones. God’s program is not designed to minimize our difficulties but to maximize our character development. He is not trying to make the way smooth so much as to make the wayfarer sturdy. His first question is not, ‘Will this contribute to an easier life for My child?’ but, ‘Will this make his character more Christlike?’” (p. 24). Centuries ago, Eliphaz one of the friends of Job, observed “For man is born for trouble, as sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). Baldwin noted that this is the ancient forerunner of Murphy’s Law: “If something can go wrong, it will”. The reason that we need to develop the character of this section is because we will be tested, not once, but many times. Most tasks that we will undertake will involve unexpected difficulties. “It is important to keep in mind, when difficulties arise, that no matter what we are attempting to accomplish, another and more important project is going forward at the same time” (Baldwin p. 28). This is an often overlooked and missed observation. Thus, when I am putting together this sermon, I am developing patience and knowledge at the same time. When I travel, attempt some construction work, and so on, the real important task at hand is the building of my character. Embrace therefore the unexpected as a chance to grow (James 1:2-4).

“Supply” (1:5)

The word “supply” that is found in this passage originally meant to bear the expenses of. “This admonition to add to faith, goodness, and so on, can be compared to a musical chord. The character traits are more like different notes in a full harmonic chord than like rungs on a ladder. The point is that we are to develop all these traits at the same time, because each one augments all the others. We don’t wait until our goodness is complete and then start working on knowledge. It is thus we avoid the trap of which G.G. Findlay writes, ‘We are apt to become specialists in virtue as in other departments of life. Men will endeavor even to compensate by extreme efforts in one direction for deficiencies in some other direction. So they grow out of shape, into oddities and moral malformations. We have sweetness without strength, and strength without gentleness, and truth spoken without love, and words of passionate zeal without accuracy and heedfulness. Let us never imagine that our defects in one kind will be atoned for by excellencies in another’” (Baldwin pp. 29-30).

Threats to Perseverance

The slow and deadly drift (Hebrews 2:1). “There is nothing dramatic here, no great collapse. People fail to persevere simply because they lose interest. It’s shocking to think that something as dynamic as Christ in you can become ho-hum” (Baldwin p. 71).

Baldwin makes a good point when he observes that the secret to perseverance is motivate yourself to keep going by frequently reviewing the reasons you began. Thus if being a Christian begins to seem ho-hum, and one is finding other interests, and one is becoming somewhat disillusioned with following Christ and or God’s people, one needs to stop and ask, “Why did I become Christian in the first place?” The answer is that I was disillusioned with the world, tired of sin, bound for hell, making a mess of my life, and so on. Peter notes that a person will stop growing when they forget the purification from their former sins (1:9). The devil often tries to convince the Christian that they can now go back into the world and not suffer the consequences, that now they can dabble in sin and not become its slave. People often will say something like, “If I only knew then what I know now”, and they think that this would make a big difference. The truth of the matter is that without Christ, all the knowledge in the world will not keep one from making a mess of their life! Apart from Christ, knowledge only makes a person arrogant (1 Corinthians 8:1).

God’s people will test your character

The very existence of “love” and “brotherly love” in this section reveals that at times our brothers (and ourselves) are not always easy to love.

Thoughts on “godliness”

The word means devotion to God, respect for God, and a deep humility for before God. Baldwin lists three minimum requirements that are part of godliness: Recognition of God. An Awareness of God. Devotion to God. In addition, this term reminds us that modern self-help psychology, with its doctrines of self-love and helping others, falls far short of godliness. This section has a wonderful balance. We must be morally pure. We must be knowledgeable and have a faith that is intelligent. We must love others. We must have self-control in all things. We must love others and love God as well.

Mark Dunagan/Beaverton Church of Christ/503-644-9017