“By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
By which
“By which” refers to the things God gives us in the previous verse. God’s power gives us “exceedingly great and precious promises.” “Which” is in the plural. The plural may indicate knowledge of our glory and virtue makes known God’s promises to us.
have been given to us
The word “given” is the same word used in the previous verse meaning to bestow or endow. God makes a gift of His promises. “Given” is not the usual word for “give” and carries the idea of grace by the giver. God gives His promises with no strings attached.
The Greek indicates God gave us these promises in the past with the result continuing to the present. All along our spiritual journey, God gives us spiritual equipment for the pilgrim pathway.
Note the word “us.” God discriminates to whom He gives His promises. The “us” is not just anyone, it is only those who embrace his Son. Not everyone is a child of God.
Principle:
God puts at the disposal of every Christian divine operating assets whether or not we use them, whether or not we are aware of them.
Application:
Are you discouraged because people reject you for some sin you committed? You sing the blues that the bird with the broken wing will never fly so high again. You heard in a sermon somewhere that you become a second-class Christian after you “blew it.” People ostracized you from certain Christian circles. You feel you do not belong anymore. You sense God has completely set you aside.
How do you know God still has a plan for you after you have blown it? If you still breath, God has a plan for you. It makes no difference how you feel because your feelings do not determine your spiritual status.
Our fellowship with God does not depend on who we are but on who Jesus is. There are many Horatio Alger stories out there. Someone was flat on his back financially and now he is a millionaire. People say, “That sounds like a good deal, I think I will try God.” These people are not truly interested in God, they are interested in making money. They think that if they tithe ten per cent of their income then they will become millionaires. They think they have found a way to rub the genie. They kick in their ten per cent because they want something from God. “I’ll go along with His routine so I can get something from God.”
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