Greeting all the Faithful Brothers and Sisters 'in Christ' Part 2
2 Peter 1:3 According as His Divine Power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: KJV Note: NKJV=New King 👑 James Version
This like precious faith that we have obtained through our union with our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ is not just a gift 🎁 that is lackluster, lame, or lifeless as may be some earthly human 🎁 gifts. The gift 🎁 of faith from God to us through Christ produces something. It produces much, for the Apostle Peter now says in 2 Peter 1:3 that "His Divine Power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness." First of all our redemption took the Divine Power of God. The little English word 'power' is translated by the Greek word dunamis which actually means (as used here) specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself). The salvation of every sinful soul is performed by the miraculous Power of God the Holy Spirit whereby He reaches down 👇into the inner man ♂️ and inner woman ♀️ and places Himself there and causes them/us to come to life out of their/our spiritual death to God and now we are alive to God for the first time ever and this union with God through Christ can never be severed or broken (John 10:27-30). Here is what the annotation in the Amplified Bible has to say of God's Divine Power, "This power is identified as the 'power of His resurrection' (Philippians 3:10; 4:13). This power is the third resource for godly living that Peter lists in this letter 💌. glory and excellence. These words suggest the qualities of Jesus that attract believers to Him. The glory that John saw in Jesus (John 1:14) was His Authority and power." Here also is what the annotation of Ezekiel 37:6 in the Amplified Bible says, "You may come alive. This passage is not about resurrection from physical death, but rebirth from spiritual death brought about by Divine Power. Psalm 87 is another text that speaks of spiritual rebirth. The point of Jesus' words to Nicodemus in John 3 was that he should have known and understood the concept of the second birth." The spiritual life of God is what gives us strength to walk or live a life of godliness. The goal of the Gospel of Christ/Grace can be summed up best by these words the Apostle Paul wrote to Brother Titus, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age," (Titus 2:11-12) (NKJV). As I said earlier, God's Divine Power produces something and this is the something produced. The Expositor's Bible Commentary says this, "There is a free gift 🎁 of Divine Power for all our needs, everything to foster the spiritual life and to guide into the way of holiness. Wisdom will be given that we may understand God's will and choose aright, strength to persevere in the midst of trial, boldness to make confession of the Lord before men, and watchfulness lest we, as did the teachers of error, wax overconfident. All things are granted; all things may be ours."
In the second half of 2 Peter 1:3, the Apostle reiterates part of what he declared in verse 2 speaking 🗣️ of the Knowledge of God, whereas he says it with these words this time, "through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:" We expounded on the word knowledge in Volume 1 and declared it to be full discernment. Peter wants to make us see and know that God's knowledge is all encompassing and we are to allow His gift 🎁 of grace to give us discernment in all things to give us the power to live a godly life in this world 🌎 as the Apostle Paul declared in this manner to the Philippians, "That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world 🌍," (Philippians 2:15) (NKJV). Light 🕯️ exposes and dispels darkness and this is what our life should be as we have been made new creatures 'in Christ', the walking, that is, living in newness of life (Romans 6:4). This newness of life did not originate with us or come from us, for it was given to us freely by Jesus Christ our Lord who bid us or called us from the darkness, but it is our responsibility to live in it (by His grace and by yielding to the Holy Spirit) and cultivate this life of virtue. This little English word 'virtue' is translated by the Greek word arete which properly means manliness (valor), that is, excellence which has been graciously imputed to us by God. God woke us up from our spiritual sleep 💤😴/slumber and made us real men and real women through His very own glory and virtue. Amen!!! Here also is what the Expositor's Bible Commentary had to say of God's glory and virtue, "Here the same full knowledge (epignosis) of which the Apostle has just been speaking 🗣️ is to become the channel of all our blessings: to know God, who has made Himself to be known through Christ Jesus. God's glory and virtue - that is, His Divine Power - have been manifested in Him. The disciples beheld them in Christ's miracles. 'This beginning of His signs did Jesus, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed on Him,' (John 2:2) and of His whole life St. John says, 'We beheld His glory, glory as of the only-begotten from the Father. He dwelt among us full of grace and truth.' (John 1:14) This is what St. Peter means by 'virtue.' And still in the hearts of men through the Spirit the same manifestation is given. He illumines them, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray 🙏 this from your heart ❤️ to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking 🗣️ directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn 🛞 from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart ❤️ and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen!!!
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