“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.”
exceedingly
This use of the superlative “exceedingly” is the only occurrence in the New Testament. This term speaks of the magnitude of God’s promises. God describes His promises with three outstanding qualifications: “exceedingly,” “great,” and “precious.”
First, God’s promises exceed any promise you ever heard. We know what it means to “exceed” the speed limit; it signifies going beyond. God’s promises go farther than man’s promises. His promises are bigger and better than anything a man can do. Note how the New Testament uses other Greek terms for exceeding:
2 Co 4:17, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
Eph 1:18-19, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.”
Eph 2:7, “That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
Eph 3:20-21, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
great
The second description of God’s promise is that they are “great.” We abuse this word today. Everything is “great.” We have great automobiles and great hotdogs! When everything is great, nothing is great. However, when the Bible uses the word “great,” it carries an impact.
Lu 1:32, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.”
Eph 2:4, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us.”
He 2:3, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him?”
He 13:20, “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.”
PRINCIPLE:
God’s promises exceed anything we might face.
APPLICATION:
Whatever problem we might face as a child of God, we can come to the Bible and find God made remarkable commitments to our welfare. We will find a promise that will exceed any problem we might face. God’s promises go beyond our issues. Whether we have physical, mental, domestic, or financial problems, we will find that God’s promises exceed any situation we face.
