All we need to flourish in life is given to us through the promises of God, the power of God and the person of God made known to us in the person of Jesus Christ. Through Him we have all we need. Verses 3 and 4 need to be read together. They are joined at the hip. There is this extraordinary claim made by Peter that we might participate in the divine nature. In fact, the idea of ‘being like the gods’ was a contemporary thought in Paul’s day held by pagan philosophers and followers of ‘the gods’. But their idea was that you ‘escaped’ the corruption of the world by being taken up to the gods. Even becoming a ‘god’. It was your ending, your destination.

Here, Paul’s point is radically different. Participating in the divine nature is not just your end, it’s your beginning. It’s your life now. You escape the corruption in the world not by exiting the world, but by remaining in it and transforming it now by the power of Christ living in you. You can’t become God (!) but you can behave like Him - according to His nature. His power has already given you everything you need ‘for life and goodness’. He equips you now for everything he has called you into.

How? Well, different authors of the Bible put it in slightly different ways. Jesus speaks about being ‘born from above’ (John 3:3); Paul refers to us as ‘the temple of the Holy Spirit’ (1 Cor 6:19) or ‘being in Christ’ (Rom 8:1). John in his Gospel speaks about the Father and the Son coming to make (their) home in us (John 14:23). All of this language points us to the indwelling presence of the Spirit being poured out into our lives – like streams of living water – to make Christ known.

Let’s hold onto the promises of God. Let’s press in towards ‘knowing Christ’ as Paul encourages us to do in Philippians 3. Let’s be asking the Father in Jesus name for more of the Holy Spirit to be present and active in our lives (Luke 11:13).

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Application:

The light shines brightest in the darkest place. Where do you see ‘corruption in the world’ around you, in your sphere of influence? All that you need for life and godliness in that place has been given to you. Shine confident that His presence in you can transform the darkest culture.

Prayer:

Pray for an area of the world outside of the UK where you see corruption and evil desires evidenced. Pray for His Kingdom of power and glory to come in that place.