In previous letters, we have demonstrated that God takes words seriously. As a result, He chose to reveal Himself to us through His Word, the Bible. Because the Bible is God’s revelation to us, it is to be central to worship and the Christian life. It is also why it is essential that we, as Christians, not only listen to the sermon but also apply it. Over the next few weeks, we will look at some passages that help us in this area.
The first text we will examine is found in 2 Peter 1:3-4. As Peter writes to the church to combat some heresy that was invading it, he began his second epistle with the reminder that God has given us everything that we need for life and godliness in His Word. The heretics that Peter was combating claimed that Christ would not return and that no future judgement awaited all people. As a result, Peter opens his second epistle with these vital words:
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 (2 Pet 1:3-4, English Standard Version).
Peter reveals that God, through Christ’s divine power, has granted us everything we need for life change. At the outset, Peter reminds us that life change does not come through personal will but through God’s divine power. Most importantly, the believer must recognize that this divine power cannot be defeated or frustrated. God accomplishes what He purposes to do.
Peter notes that God grants us everything needed for life. Through this statement, Peter points to eternal life and mortal life. As the heretics of Peter’s day denied the reality of eternal life and judgment, Peter points to God’s sovereignty as a reminder that eternity awaits. Further, God grants us this eternal life even now while we await Christ’s second coming and eternal life in the future. Today’s life impacts every individual’s eternal destiny.
Further, because an eternal destiny awaits all, so too, eternal judgment awaits. As a result, God also grants us everything needed for godliness. Jesus Christ tells us what life is and then enables us to live it as it ought to be lived. Further, it is important that we recognize that this godliness cannot be sourced in our power or will but in Christ’s divine power. Actual change originates only through the knowledge of Christ.