Lesson 4

Second Peter

Warning against dangers facing the Church

1:3 Because of His divine power (inherent operational power - OmPo) has granted to us (for our advantage) all things pertaining to life and godliness through the means of full knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and virtue (essence manifested).

He continues this thought in verse 4

For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises,

For by these We must ask what is the antecedent referred to here by these?

The relative pronoun (o[j) goes back to His own glory and virtue that is of Christ.

He has granted to us - same verb, noting we are the recipients of a gift and the to us reminds us that it is to our advantage to receive these precious and magnificent promises

- first these promises are precious (ti,mioj) honorable, precious, valuable

- second they are magnificent (me,gistoj) very great, exceedingly great, magnificent

- This word (evpa,ggelma) is used for promises I believe to make the point that these promises in view here flow from His glory/essence and therefore are guaranteed

More important the emphasis of the context here is on the promises that are specifically related to our unique position as Church age saints, the mystery doctrines or truths.

so that by them (the promises) you may become partakers of the divine nature,

of the divine nature (qei/oj fu,sij) we have already noted the word for divine in vs:3 as that which comes from God

- Here divine modifies phusis which refers to the natural regulated order of something or someone; here it speaks of God's essential character His nature.

This becoming a partaker of the divine nature becomes a reality at salvation:

First through regeneration, the new birth,

Second through the ministry of the Holy Spirit placing us into union with Christ

Third through the imputation of divine +R of Christ,

Fourth we now possess eternal life, His life.

At the time of the rapture this divine nature becomes manifested when we receive our resurrection bodies.

We are able to realize the transformation that comes with this divine nature in time because of the next phrase.

So what is Peter saying we were freed from or escaped from?

- the corruption that is in the world by lust

- the corruption (fqora,) literally, as it affects nature of something corruptibility, subjection to decay (Rom 8.21 of creation being subject to corruption)

- This corruption is in the world, the kosmos, and it is so because of the next clause which defines the corruption for us.

- by lust (evn evpiqumi,a|) dative instrumental which describes for us the instrument from which this corruption is derived, the sin nature

- But for the believer we know that the sin nature does not have to rule because of RAPT.

1:4 For by means of these (His glory & virtue) He has granted to us (for our benefit) the valuable and exceedingly great promises in order by means of these you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust (sin nature).

Summary 1:4

1. As a result of Jesus Christ's strategic victory on the cross and the veil in the Temple was rent from top to bottom we now are a part of new dispensation, the Church age which began on the day of Pentecost.

- The cross was a convergence in time or as Paul refers to it as the fullness of time when all came together for God to provide in Christ the basis for salvation and an eternal relationship with God. Gal 4:4

God sent forth His Son evxaposte,llw [aor.act.ind] to send someone as an authoritative representative with a specific mission/purpose.

I came that they might have life (E.L.) John 10:10b

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

2. It is during this Church age that these valuable and exceedingly great promises are available to the one who responds and believes in Him.

3. These promises are greater than those promises made to Israel, they are qualitatively greater.

4. The promises in view here include the "mystery doctrines" that are unique to the Church age.

a. Ministry of the Holy Spirit

1. Baptizing - enters each believer into union with Christ 1 Cor 12:13

2. Indwelling each believer from the point of salvation Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 3:16

3. Filling or empowering ministry of the Spirit in the life of the believer so that we're able to understand the word taught and walk by the Spirit reflecting the character of Christ.

b. The indwelling of Jesus Christ - Gal 4:19 until Christ is formed in you

- The verb formed is morfo,w and illustrates the use of aorist; here its culminative; this then looks at the end result of many decisions to take in the Word and to learn who Christ is and His thinking.

- Basic idea of the word is to cause something to have a certain form or nature; in the passive to take on a form, be formed, here Christ be formed in you;

- Ultimately what Paul is anguished over is that they should be reflecting the character of Christ in their life; That Christ's life and nature be seen in them.

- Also must ask with the passive, since it places an emphasis on something external what is it? What's the mechanic? The how!

- The answer is the Word! Word of Christ richly dwelling within Col. 3:15 parallel to Eph 5:18 where we're commanded to be filled by means of the Holy Spirit, which describes the Holy Spirit filling us with Christ, that is the Word and does so through faith. Eph 3:17

- Verb is in the Subjunctive mood which points out that this is potential therefore tells us what Paul is referring to happens or occurs, this Christ being formed in us, during our life after salvation.

This capacity for Christ being formed in us flows from what is ours in Christ positionally.

- Paul is saying much the same thing as he did earlier in 2:20.

c. Being in union with Christ we become royalty 1 Pet 2:9 "a royal priesthood"

d. Heirship/inheritance which is unique Rom 8:17

- As a believer, as a son, you are an heir of God, not only that, you are also fellow heirs with Christ!

What belongs to Him belongs to you! How much is that?

Look at Heb 1:2 Christ's inheritance is awesome!

- This is what adoption is all about; God has placed us as sons, with all the rights privileges and benefits and blessings that comes from being God's son; this includes an inheritance;

present [Eph 1:3; and future [1 Pet. 1:3-4]

e. The Rapture of the Church, that is the believers of the Church age 1 Cor 15:51

5. What's a mystery?? Need to go to Eph 3:1-4 to gain some insight on this.

- "mystery" musth,rion; this is another major word for Paul [6 in Eph.; 4 in Col.] all with the def. article. so is specific not a generalized use stressing character.

Four aspects

1. It refers to something previously concealed but now revealed.

2. It was concealed in the past but is revealed in the present.

3. It speaks of a part, an aspect of God's will, His purpose, His plan, that was concealed from man in the past but is now revealed through Paul.

4. Very important: It is something undiscoverable by human reason; it was only known by divine revelation.