Freedom House Church and Healing Centre

Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master. 2 Peter 1:2 MSG

One morning last week I was spending time with Jesus and heard, “You have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness.”  So I have been studying and meditating on 2 Peter 1:2-4 since then and WOW!  Let’s go through this powerful scripture in detail together.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 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. (1 Peter 1:2-4 NKJ).  I encourage you to also read these scriptures in The Message version.

It is His divine power that has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.  The word power (dunamis) means energy, might, great force, great ability or strength.

What have we been given?  EVERYTHING PERTAINING TO LIFE AND GODLINESS!  We have been given everything belonging to or having to do with:

• LIFE (zoe) = not only physical but spiritual life, which one can possess only through faith in Jesus Christ.  Eternal life refers not only to duration of life, but to quality of life.  It is a present life of grace and a future life of glory.

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. (1 Jn 1:20)

• GODLINESS = the quality or practice of conforming to the laws and wishes of God; devoutness and moral uprightness:  To be wise is to live in godliness, reflecting the nature of the kingdom of God in the course of everyday life.

We have been called (Kaleo = invited) by God, through knowing Jesus, to participate in the blessings of the kingdom such as justified (declared righteous; not guilty), glorified and belonging to God. (Ro 8:30; 9:24-25)

• GLORY = doxa = splendor, radiance, and majesty centred in Jesus.  The majestic absolute perfection residing in Christ & evidenced by the miracles He performed. (Jn 2:11)
• VIRTUE = arête = intrinsic value, moral excellency and goodness. 

In knowing Jesus we have been given His exceedingly great and precious promises.  These promises include the Lord’s second coming, the establishment of a new heaven and earth, and entrance into Christ’s kingdom (2 Peter 1:11; 3:1-13).  “In Christ” we have been given “all the promises of God”. 

• PROMISE = epangelia = both a promise and the thing promised, an announcement with the special sense of promise, pledge, and offer.  Epangelia tells what the promise from God is and then gives the assurance that the things promised will be done.

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 2 Co 1:20 NKJ

The purpose of the promises is that we may be sharers of a deep spiritual union with Christ, and thereby of the blessings and benefits of that relationship.  The promises are also an incentive to godliness, because to share in His fullness now, as well as future glory, we must renounce the corruption that is in the world.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 Jn 2:15-17

My response to all this is to write a prayer to Jesus! 

Thank you Jesus that because of what You have done for us, in Your power, we have been given all things that have to do with life both present and for all eternity! Thank you Jesus that, with You, we can reflect the nature of the kingdom of God in our everyday lives.  All of this is given to us because we know You Jesus.  Thank you for inviting us to participate in the blessings of the kingdom.  Thank you for making available to us Your exceedingly great and precious present and future promises.  We desire to grow in godliness so that we can share in a deep, intimate relationship with You Jesus and all the blessings of that relationship.  We declare that we do not love the world, that we have turned our backs on everything the world has to offer and love and follow You with all our heart, soul, strength and mind.  Amen!

So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”  And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” Lk 10: 27-28

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches...” Rev 2:7