His divine power has given us everything we need
2 Peter 1:3 - He chose you and me to be saved as a statement of His perfect and unending love for us!
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“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
2 Peter 1:3 NIV
The second epistle of Peter is fascinating to me. While Biblical scholars are not certain that it was actually written by Simon (Simeon) Peter, the disciple of Jesus, it provides us with a concise description of the relationship between Christology (“the study of the nature (person) and work (role in salvation) of Jesus Christ”, which is covered in 2 Peter 1), ethics (2 Peter 2), and Eschatology (studies concerning the End Times, found in 2 Peter 3).
Peter was close to being martyred at the time the words were written or captured; he would be crucified in Rome by the Emperor Nero. He’s painfully aware of his mortality as seen in 2 Peter 1:13-14 (“I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.”), so the epistle is a final reminder to his audience (the Christians in Asia Minor - current-day western Tũrkiye) of some very important theological facts.
This verse is part of a personal greeting from Peter, which begins in 2 Peter 1:2 (“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”) and then segues into a statement about just how valuable it is to know God. Beginning with the words “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life”, he reminds believers that everything we need comes from God’s sovereignty and omnipotence. Everything was created by God, and He is the source of our strength.
The Prince of Preachers Charles H. Spurgeon said this about “His divine power”:
“Divine power! What stupendous issues are grasped in that term, divine power! It was this which digged the deep foundations of the earth and sea! Divine power, it is this which guides the marches of the stars of heaven! Divine power! it is this which holds up the pillars of the universe, and which one day shall shake them, and hurry all things back to their native nothingness.”
God’s power begins the Bible in Genesis 1:1 (“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”), is manifested in the resurrection of Christ as described in Romans 1:4 (“and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.”, and is personally experienced by each believer in his or her transformation.
God has given us “everything we need for a godly life.” I always like to point out the difference between “wants” and “needs” — I need food on a regular basis in order to survive, but going to a nice restaurant to get that food is a want that enhances my quality of life, but isn’t essential. God, through His Word, has given us a comprehensive and complete provision of everything we need in our spiritual and physical lives.
That gift from God comes “through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness,” that is, through our profound personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We are transformed through that knowledge; recall the prayer of Jesus to the Father in John 17:3, where He says “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
Our knowledge of the divine must be more than just an acknowledgment; the Greek word translated here as “knowledge” — ἐπίγνωσις or epignōsis — is defined as “precise and correct knowledge” and “full discernment”. There is only one way to acquire that knowledge; through the continual study of His Word.
What about that statement that He “called us”? It shows that God is active in the act of salvation and that He intends this calling to happen. Romans 8:30 explains that God predestines who He will call, justifying and glorifying them: “And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
God made that call “by his own glory and goodness.” This phrase refers to God’s divine nature and His majesty, His moral virtue and perfection. He chose you and me to be saved as a statement of His perfect and unending love for us!
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Today’s prayer comes from Knowing Jesus:
Heavenly Father, How I praise and thank You that I have been called out of darkness into Your glorious light. By Your divine power I have been called, chosen, redeemed, accepted, and equipped to live the godly life that You desire of me. I have been imputed with Christ’s righteousness, in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit, identified with all His goodness and grace, and accepted by the Father, in the Beloved. May I live a life that is worthy of my high calling and in everything give You all honour and praise. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.
Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.
Commentary quotations from Enduring Word are used with the written permission of the author and reproduced here in their original format. © 1996-present The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik – enduringword.com
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