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:”
It is such a blessing to be a child of God! We are all a
child of God by grace, having been given life in the life and sacrifice of His
own Son Jesus, His glorious blood cleanses us from all our sins against our
Father. And please don’t forget to thank God for the power of the Holy Spirit
who quickened our spirits and called us to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
sealing that salvation. God hath before the foundation of the world chosen us
to be His children, our salvation was not based on our merits, on our turning
our own sinful thinking, nor on any personal commitment from us, but of God who
graciously gave it to us. John 1:12 - 13
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons
of God, even to them that believe on his name: (13) Which were born, not of
blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Oh, what a glorious gift of divine power that was given to us to have eternal
life. However, here Peter wrote, “…his divine power hath given unto us all
things that pertain unto life…” This is not just the breathing life into
our nostrils, nor is it only talking about God causing us to be born from
above, God’s divine power has given to us, all life. God gave us life in the
womb of our mothers, God gave us eternal life in Jesus Christ, and in every
aspect of our life is a gift from God. God said this divine gift was “…all
things that pertain unto life and godliness…” This covers our entire life
and not just a certain section or advent of our life. God added the words “and
godliness”, this word means – pity – but it also means – holiness – and
this Greek word comes from the Greek word “eusebes” which means – devout – which
covers our life as Christians, yes it too is also a gift. As Christians our
entire life from conception thru eternity is a gift from God, even our belief
in biblical truth, to our church membership, to our work for the Lord, to our
doctrinal stance, to our daily life, and thru our death. Our entire life and
what it is, is a divine gift from God. Any goodness we do in this life is a
gift from God and powered by the Holy Spirit and thru the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul
wrote these words, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 12:4 “Therefore, we do not all have the same divine gifts in
life but the variety of gifts God gives us, even the gifts of godliness. Look
what Paul wrote to the church at Rome, "For as we have many members in one
body, and all members have not the same office: (5) So we, being many, are one
body in Christ, and every one members one of another. (6) Having then gifts
differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us
prophesy according to the proportion of faith;" Romans 12:4 – 6 While
this is talking mostly about our position in the church he ends with “let us
prophesy according to the proportion of faith;" meaning, the
proportion that God by divine grace has given, or their proportion of the
individual degree of faith given. The Holy Spirit does not give the same gifts
to every saved soul, we are all given grace by measure that God has elected to gift
us with. Paul also wrote in Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given
unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly
than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to
every man the measure of faith.” Meaning that God thru the power of the
Holy Spirit has given a certain amount of grace to each if us, “…but the
variety of gifts God gives us, even the gifts of godliness.” And this is
all we are in Christ or all that we will ever be in Christ, we cannot advance
beyond the divine gifts of God or the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, Paul
wrote that we “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think;” We
are simply nothing outside of God’s divine grace, but inside of the divine
gifts of God we can move mountains. Men, some of our brothers in faith, even
some Ministers and Pastors can kind of look beyond God’s grace and think they
are above others, but we must walk carefully because the same divine grace that
brought us a godly life can also take it. Paul wrote of himself these words, “But
by the grace of God I am what I am…” 1Co 15:10 while Paul was being
very gracious toward the power that brought his godly life, he was also being very
truthful. God had called Paul to “…to glory and virtue:” this is the
life God chose for him before the foundation of the world, but not only for him
but also for us, we are all what God has made us. “Finally, brethren,
whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are
just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever
things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,
think on these things. (9) Those things, which ye have both learned, and
received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
Philippians 4:8 – 9 All of these things are divinely given by God’s Holy Spirit
to us to accomplish what God has ordained for each of us. “For in him we live,
and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For
we are also his offspring.” Acts 17:28
