Partakers of the Divine Nature

(#811, Imperial, 1959)

Read 2 Peter 1:1-4.

Many of us do not realize what a wonderful position we have as Christians.  Even fewer of us apply this position to our every day living as we should.

The word "Partaker" expresses a great deal concerning this position and is found often in the New Testament.

To Partake is to share - to have in common.  "To become part of and to have become part of us."  And when it is used in our relation to God it has a tremendous impact.

How one becomes a Partaker of the Divine Nature.

w     Not by our own power.

w     Not by church membership.

w     Not even by the promises of God (v4).

    1.  By Divine power (v3).  Becoming a partaker of the Divine Nature is and must be an act of God.

    2.  Through Knowledge of Him (v3). 

Partakers of Christ - Hebrews 3:14.

To be saved means to become a partaker of Christ.  Christ becomes a part of us and we a part of Him.  This truth is mentioned often in Scripture.

ƒ      John 15:5: the Vine and the Branches.  "Ye in Me - I in you."

ƒ      Col. 1:27: Christ in You.

Herein lies the secret of living the Christian life.

Partakers of His holiness - Hebrews 12:10.

God's purpose in every Christian is that we be conformed to His image - that we be Holy.  God's holiness has been made available to us.  But first, we must be partakers of His chastening (Heb. 12:8).  The purpose of chastening is to cure and correct the sinful disorders of our lives that make us unlike God - and to improve and increase the graces which are the image of Christ in us.

We are to live as heavenly citizens for we are partakers of the Heavenly calling.  (Heb. 3:1)