"Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue; whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world ..." (II Peter 1:2-10)
Throughout the scriptures, our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ is bringing us increasingly and forever into the knowledge of Him. Indeed, in both the old and the new, the scripture, "Lo, behold, the volume of the book is written of Me" comes to mind. In the beginning, the Lord God created the earth. In the New Testament, the same Lord God is calling us to glory and virtue, partakers of the inheritance of the saints.
The knowledge of the same Lord God whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, so that we who believe in the Lord's prophesied Christ by faith, and are water baptized into His Name -- the precious Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, can be partakers of the divine nature, insomuch as we have now escaped the corruption that is in the world. (Acts 2:36-47)
To offer clarity on this latter point, Peter (standing with the eleven on the day of Pentecost) told the people that this same Jesus whom ye have crucified is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) This caused them to be pricked in their hearts, asking the apostles, "What must we do?" Responding, Peter said, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38-41)
As an aside, when we are water baptized (which "follows" repentance and not the other way around), "know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore, we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4) And that, as a consequence, "even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (I Peter 3:21)
How? "By one Spirit are we all baptized into One body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into One Spirit" which is the gift of the Holy Ghost. (I Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:38; Acts 1:5, 8; Acts 2:4)
Throughout the scriptures, our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ is bringing us increasingly and forever into the knowledge of Him. Indeed, in both the old and the new, the scripture, "Lo, behold, the volume of the book is written of Me" comes to mind. In the beginning, the Lord God created the earth. In the New Testament, the same Lord God is calling us to glory and virtue, partakers of the inheritance of the saints.
The knowledge of the same Lord God whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, so that we who believe in the Lord's prophesied Christ by faith, and are water baptized into His Name -- the precious Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, can be partakers of the divine nature, insomuch as we have now escaped the corruption that is in the world. (Acts 2:36-47)
To offer clarity on this latter point, Peter (standing with the eleven on the day of Pentecost) told the people that this same Jesus whom ye have crucified is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) This caused them to be pricked in their hearts, asking the apostles, "What must we do?" Responding, Peter said, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38-41)
As an aside, when we are water baptized (which "follows" repentance and not the other way around), "know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore, we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4) And that, as a consequence, "even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (I Peter 3:21)
How? "By one Spirit are we all baptized into One body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into One Spirit" which is the gift of the Holy Ghost. (I Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:38; Acts 1:5, 8; Acts 2:4)
"Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear ..." (Acts 2:33)
"... that we might be partakers of His holiness ..." (Hebrews 12:10)
"... that we might be partakers of His holiness ..." (Hebrews 12:10)
"For by ONE offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that He had said before, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days," saith the Lord, "I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised) .." (Hebrews:10:14-23)
And He has promised that we will be partakers of the divine nature -- partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; while it is said, "To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts," as in the provocation." (Hebrews 3:7, 14-15) For this reason, we who believe in Jesus by faith can "rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." (I Peter 4:13) Because we have understood His Majesty and Glory and Honour that He displayed on the cross for one and all in the world to behold. His kindness and love -- the mercy of God our Saviour toward man appeared. (Titus 3:4-7; Titus 2:13; I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:10-11)
"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of His dear Son: in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.
For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." (Colossians 1:13-20)
"Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father" (Galatians 1:4 )
Meditate upon these spiritual matters in your day to day. Remain steadfast in the apostles' doctrine. Stand in the offering plate.
And He has promised that we will be partakers of the divine nature -- partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; while it is said, "To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts," as in the provocation." (Hebrews 3:7, 14-15) For this reason, we who believe in Jesus by faith can "rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." (I Peter 4:13) Because we have understood His Majesty and Glory and Honour that He displayed on the cross for one and all in the world to behold. His kindness and love -- the mercy of God our Saviour toward man appeared. (Titus 3:4-7; Titus 2:13; I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:10-11)
"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of His dear Son: in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.
For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." (Colossians 1:13-20)
Therefore, as the scriptures state, we are partakers of the heavenly calling, partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, because we consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus ... giving thanks unto the Father. (Hebrews 3:1; Colossians 1:12)
Meditate upon these spiritual matters in your day to day. Remain steadfast in the apostles' doctrine. Stand in the offering plate.
No comments:
Post a Comment