Plainly Speaking Bible Study
Title: Partakers of the Divine Nature - Part 1
by Pastor Karl Forehand
Partakers of the Divine Nature - Part 1
On September 11, Osama bin Laden brought to the world an
urgency. Bible study, church attendance, praying, and sharing our faith
became urgent. We suddenly discovered a unity in the need to solve big
problems we didn’t see before. Truthfully, these things have always been
urgent. Terrorism was wrong before the WTC bombing. We needed to do something
about it before this. We need to be working together before. Prayer,
Bible study, church attendance and working in unity have been urgent since
Christ’s resurrection. Osama bin Laden just woke up a sleep giant that
had been slumbering too long.
We long for a silver bullet that will wipe out terrorism, save innocent
lives and do it for a reasonable amount of money. We want someone to put
it all back together. When we look to the Word, we see that we must look
to OUR hearts; and when we do, we see sinfulness in us. It is not just
the evil of the terrorists, but it is the evil within all of us. When we
examine ourselves we see our human nature which is deceitfully wicked.
In Christ, we have a new life and a new nature that we seldom access – the
divine nature. It is God’s spiritual life, power and function that often
goes untapped. Read what Peter says about it.
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness
through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that
through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption
in the world caused by evil desires. (2 Peter 1:3-4)
Salvation is not the end – it is the beginning. God supplies His nature
abundantly and we must apply ourselves diligently. Spiritual growth is
not automatic. The qualities of the divine nature are not beads on a string
that we accumulate. They are not badges we gain as we DO certain things.
They ARE qualities that grow out of a vital relationship with the Lord.
This passage speaks of the relationship a choral director had with his chorus
members. The director was responsible for paying for the training and equipping
of the students. Similarly God has orchestrated and supplied us with the
divine. We must apply ourselves, much as a music student would, to growing
in that relationship. He has supplied – we must apply.
If we are to
access these qualities, we have to recognize them. The other day, I was
admiring my friends lawn. I said, “Is that the fescue type of grass?”
He said, “No, that is that crab type of grass.” When people say “Look at
that maple,” I don’t have a clue which tree they are talking about. I don’t
know how to recognize vegetation. In the same way, we must learn to recognize,
so that we can nurture these divine attributes.
What is the result?
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither
useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten
his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the
more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as
long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; (2 Peter 1:8-10)
If these qualities are increasing in our lives,
We will be useful and
fruitful
Without them,
We will be blind, short-sighted and forgetful
By them (or to the extent they are present),
We will never stumble (fall )
Elements of the Divine Nature
Notice that this list begins with Faith. Hebrews 11:6 tells us “without
faith it is impossible to please Him.” It all begins with faith. It always
has and it always will. But, what are we to add to this faith?
1. Moral excellence (virtue)
To the Greeks, this thought meant to “fulfill a thing.” Life teaches
us that it not how we start that matters as much as how we finish. We have
to be about fulfilling God’s purpose. These attributes are not just about
polishing human qualities, but are about producing Godly ones. It is not
enough to be positioned and purposed – we must also be producing. How should
we produce? We have to produce with moral excellence (to the end). Our
service doesn’t end when the World Trade Center gets resurrected. We can’t
relax – we have to perform until the end.
Virtue, or moral excellence is doing that God says in a way that pleases
Him for as long as He says to do it. It is doing some things – it is not
doing other things – and it is doing them the right way. We have to pursue
excellence in everything. Very often we allow Christianity to be what
we can get by with (what the minimum requires. Understand: God’s standard
is very simply moral excellence.
2. Knowledge
This type of knowledge is a practical knowledge. We learn practical knowledge
by doing. Jesus said, “If any man is willing to do His will, he shall know
of the teaching” (John 7:17). We have a pervasive spirit of ignorance
today. Ignorance is not a lack of intelligence, but it is a failure to
learn the lessons God teaches. Here are some ignorant statements (in my
opinion)
“God is mad at me” or “God is punishing me” -- While there are consequences
to sin, God still loves us and gave His life for us. He still longs for
us and wants to fellowship with us even when we sin.
“I’m just that way.” -- God is in the people changing business. We don’t
have to stay the same. God can work mightily in our lives.
“I can’t make a difference.” -- Most of us can make a difference in ways
we would never imagine. God’s power can do extraordinary things through
us; but we also must realize that the little things are the significant
things anyway.
“I can’t understand the Bible.” -- You CAN understand it if you apply yourself
in prayer. God speaks through His Word. You may not know who Moses’ second
cousin was, but God can speak to your life through His Word, you have to
be smart enough to let Him.
While intelligence may be predetermined, understanding is a choice. It
won’t happen overnight; but it is available to us in limitless amounts.
How do we access it?
I believe understanding is like layers of an onion. As we allow God to
change us, He helps us understand further and peels back another layer of
the onion. How do we get it?
James 1:5 says we have to ask for it. Jesus said we have to jump in and
get busy. As we are doing God’s will and letting Him change us, then we
will develop understanding.
3. Self-control
Self-control is how we handle the pleasures of life, not the pressures.
Sin is initially enjoyable, but ultimately leads to destruction. We have
to look beyond initial gratification and exercise self-control. When we
are tempted to indulge, we have to abstain. When we want to spend, sometimes
we have to save. When we want revenge, sometimes we have to wait for justice.
Self-control is not acting on impulse or feelings or ravings; but self-control
is acting on God’s direction and doing what is best for the “long haul.”
Edmund Burke said it this way:
Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition
to put moral chains on their own appetites. Society cannot exist unless
a controlling power upon will and appetite be placed somewhere…it is ordained
in the eternal constitution of things that men of intemerate minds cannot
be free. Their passions forge their fetters.
In these days we live in, the human nature leaves us blind, short-sighted
and forgetful. The divine nature can produce usefulness, fruitfulness and
keep us from stumbling if w access it. The choice is up to you.
Karl J. Forehand, 2001
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