The Application of the Body of Christ #2
II Peter 1:3 “His Divine Power has given to us ALL THINGS that pertain to LIFE AND GODLINESS.
Remember: #1 We are dead in trespasses & sins. Eternal Life is the only “definition” of Life that God acknowledges for that is His Life. And the only source of that Life for fallen humans is His Beloved Son, God made flesh. (John 14:6, 6:25, 10:10) This Life is only through Him. (John 14:6b; Hebrews 7:15-16, 24-25)
#2 And the foundational “THING” given to sinners, according to I Timothy 3:16, is the Mystery of Godliness, that which is only manifested through this grand and glorious revelation of the Christ, the God revealed in the flesh, crucified, risen, and ascended to the Father’s Right Hand. The only application of the benefit of this mystery is by believing in this Jesus, and that continually! (John 1:12, 6:29; I John 3:22-23, I John 5:13) Only through Him can sinners become godly!!!
#3 The second “THING” given to sinners is the Gift of the Son, the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit is in the Incarnate Son without measure (John 3:34), Jesus prays the Father that He may give His Spirit to His people.(John 14:16-17) It is only through the Holy Spirit Who proceeds continually from the Father of Life (John 15:26) that the benefits of salvation through the Incarnate Son may be applied to His people. Remember Romans 6:11! He is the Spirit of the Father Who raised our Jesus from the dead and because of that resurrection of the God/Man, He (the Father) will give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you!!!”
I. The Holy Spirits Ministry
A. Notice the description that our Lord gives to the Holy Spirit’s Work:
John 14:17 He is the “Spirit of Truth”. He not merely tells the Truth, He is the Very Nature of truth!! If I may say, Truth flows from the very Core of His Being. He is Truth! (I John 2:27)
John 14:26 “He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
John 15:26 “He will Testify of Me.”
John 16:8-10 He will convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and judgement–not always pleasant truth, but essential truth.
John 8:13 Again, He is the Spirit of Truth, and His “job” is to guide sinners into all Truth, no matter how painful that may be to our flesh! And the Truth He guides us into is from the Father from Whom He proceeds, and is embodied in the Son, Jesus Christ.
John 8:14-15 He will Glorify the Son, that is He will show forth the Son in all His Perfections and Ministry. I think this is what Paul is referring to in II Corinthians 4:6. He doesn’t just shine on the Glory of Christ to us, but more importantly, in us!!
The Benefit of the “Shining forth” (See Numbers 6:24-26 ;Psalm 80:3,7,19; Isaiah 9:2; Daniel 9:17), is the bringing us into the inheritance we have as the adopted children of God, heirs with the Son. (Romans 8:15-17)
II. The Holy Spirits’ “means”: II Peter 1:1-4 How does the Holy Spirit “guide us into all Truth, this Truth that IS Jesus?
A. II Peter 1:1 Peter is writing to those who have obtained/received ths same faith that he and the Apostles had, that is Jesus–the embodiment of I Timothy 3:16. Do not confuse his audience with “people of faith” of today. Note their genuineness–I Peter 1:6-8.
1. And how did they received this faith? “By the Righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ”. The entire focus, the entire operation of this faith, from start to completion, became theirs only because of the imputed Righteousness of the God/Man, Jesus Christ. Note that Peter here declares that Jesus is God and the implication is that this belief is essential to the “like precious faith.”
B. II Peter 1:2a Note the “benefit” of this faith.
1. “Grace and Peace be multiplied to you”. This is the common greeting of the Apostles. See Rom 1:7; I Cor 1:3; II Cor 1:2; Gal 1:3; Eph 1:2; Phil 1:3; Col 1:2; I Thess. 1:1; II Thess 1:2; I Tim 1:2, II Tim 1:2; Titus 1:4 (Here Paul adds “mercy”); Philemon 3; II John 1:3, Rev 1:4.
a. But this greeting is anything but common! This Grace is our “standing”, we don’t just stand upon grace, we stand in it! (Romans 5:2; I Pet 5:12)
b. And with this gracious gift comes peace. This peace is to “rule in our hearts! (Col 3:15) Foundationaly, peace with God is the first fruit of our justification! (Rom 5:1) Therefore, the way of the Gospel is the “way of peace”. (Rom 3:17)
c. This “grace and peace” is not a one time quantity. Peter is expecting the “multiplication” of these gifts to his readers!
C. II Peter 1:2b-3 But where does Peter say this grace and peace and its continual increase come from? This source is crucial to our growth!
1. “In the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord.” And again in Vs 3, “through the knowledge of Him Who has called us to glory and virtue.”
2. And notice the Source of this Knowledge–“as His Divine Power has give to us ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN (are necessary for) unto LIFE AND GODLINESS.” This is the same Truth as we find in John 17:3. “This is Life Eternal, that they may know You, the Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom You have sent.” Everything that is necessary for Eternal Life, and Godliness is the essential to it, is given to us in the knowledge of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. And this is not an informational knowledge, but a relational knowledge!
a. And what is this Divine Power that Peter is speaking of? Surely He is speaking of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Resurrection, the Divine Enablement of the Incarnation, the Life, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of our Lord and Savior. He has been given to us!!!
He will lead us into all Truth and the Truth is in Jesus! All glory and virtue reside in and flow from Him!
D. II Peter 1:4 What does the “by which” refer to? The closest possibility is “through the knowledge of Him”.
1. Here again are wonderful benefits!
a. “Exceedingly great and precious promises” The more we learn of and fellowship with our Jesus, the more we learn of our inheritance that we have in Him. And in learning that, we increasingly learn how “rich” our Heavenly Father is. This is how Peace is multiplied! We are increasingly lifted above this fallen earth, less swayed by it’s chaos. Our affections are shifted from the things of this earth to the things that “pertain unto Life and Godliness.” (Col 3:1-4)
b. “That through these (the promises) you may be partakers of the Divine nature.” Colossians 2:9-10 comes to mind, “For in Him (the Christ) dwells ALL the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and power.” This benefit, this promise is way beyond my comprehension. I cannot grasp how it can be or even what it means, but I know that this is the completeness I so long for!!!
c. “Having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” The depravity of this world no longer defines us. While we have escaped the depravity and the judgment due it, we still have the lusts to deal with. And that process is accomplished only through the knowing our God and Savior Jesus Christ more completely. That will be our next study, II Peter 1:5-11.
“That I may know HIM and the power of HIS resurrection, and the fellowship of HIS sufferings, being conformed to HIS death.” (Col 3:10) This is the path of transformation that is through the intimate knowing the perfection of the Body of Christ.
II Peter 1:3 “His Divine Power has given to us ALL THINGS that pertain to LIFE AND GODLINESS.
Remember: #1 We are dead in trespasses & sins. Eternal Life is the only “definition” of Life that God acknowledges for that is His Life. And the only source of that Life for fallen humans is His Beloved Son, God made flesh. (John 14:6, 6:25, 10:10) This Life is only through Him. (John 14:6b; Hebrews 7:15-16, 24-25)
#2 And the foundational “THING” given to sinners, according to I Timothy 3:16, is the Mystery of Godliness, that which is only manifested through this grand and glorious revelation of the Christ, the God revealed in the flesh, crucified, risen, and ascended to the Father’s Right Hand. The only application of the benefit of this mystery is by believing in this Jesus, and that continually! (John 1:12, 6:29; I John 3:22-23, I John 5:13) Only through Him can sinners become godly!!!
#3 The second “THING” given to sinners is the Gift of the Son, the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit is in the Incarnate Son without measure (John 3:34), Jesus prays the Father that He may give His Spirit to His people.(John 14:16-17) It is only through the Holy Spirit Who proceeds continually from the Father of Life (John 15:26) that the benefits of salvation through the Incarnate Son may be applied to His people. Remember Romans 6:11! He is the Spirit of the Father Who raised our Jesus from the dead and because of that resurrection of the God/Man, He (the Father) will give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you!!!”
I. The Holy Spirits Ministry
A. Notice the description that our Lord gives to the Holy Spirit’s Work:
John 14:17 He is the “Spirit of Truth”. He not merely tells the Truth, He is the Very Nature of truth!! If I may say, Truth flows from the very Core of His Being. He is Truth! (I John 2:27)
John 14:26 “He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
John 15:26 “He will Testify of Me.”
John 16:8-10 He will convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and judgement–not always pleasant truth, but essential truth.
John 8:13 Again, He is the Spirit of Truth, and His “job” is to guide sinners into all Truth, no matter how painful that may be to our flesh! And the Truth He guides us into is from the Father from Whom He proceeds, and is embodied in the Son, Jesus Christ.
John 8:14-15 He will Glorify the Son, that is He will show forth the Son in all His Perfections and Ministry. I think this is what Paul is referring to in II Corinthians 4:6. He doesn’t just shine on the Glory of Christ to us, but more importantly, in us!!
The Benefit of the “Shining forth” (See Numbers 6:24-26 ;Psalm 80:3,7,19; Isaiah 9:2; Daniel 9:17), is the bringing us into the inheritance we have as the adopted children of God, heirs with the Son. (Romans 8:15-17)
II. The Holy Spirits’ “means”: II Peter 1:1-4 How does the Holy Spirit “guide us into all Truth, this Truth that IS Jesus?
A. II Peter 1:1 Peter is writing to those who have obtained/received ths same faith that he and the Apostles had, that is Jesus–the embodiment of I Timothy 3:16. Do not confuse his audience with “people of faith” of today. Note their genuineness–I Peter 1:6-8.
1. And how did they received this faith? “By the Righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ”. The entire focus, the entire operation of this faith, from start to completion, became theirs only because of the imputed Righteousness of the God/Man, Jesus Christ. Note that Peter here declares that Jesus is God and the implication is that this belief is essential to the “like precious faith.”
B. II Peter 1:2a Note the “benefit” of this faith.
1. “Grace and Peace be multiplied to you”. This is the common greeting of the Apostles. See Rom 1:7; I Cor 1:3; II Cor 1:2; Gal 1:3; Eph 1:2; Phil 1:3; Col 1:2; I Thess. 1:1; II Thess 1:2; I Tim 1:2, II Tim 1:2; Titus 1:4 (Here Paul adds “mercy”); Philemon 3; II John 1:3, Rev 1:4.
a. But this greeting is anything but common! This Grace is our “standing”, we don’t just stand upon grace, we stand in it! (Romans 5:2; I Pet 5:12)
b. And with this gracious gift comes peace. This peace is to “rule in our hearts! (Col 3:15) Foundationaly, peace with God is the first fruit of our justification! (Rom 5:1) Therefore, the way of the Gospel is the “way of peace”. (Rom 3:17)
c. This “grace and peace” is not a one time quantity. Peter is expecting the “multiplication” of these gifts to his readers!
C. II Peter 1:2b-3 But where does Peter say this grace and peace and its continual increase come from? This source is crucial to our growth!
1. “In the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord.” And again in Vs 3, “through the knowledge of Him Who has called us to glory and virtue.”
2. And notice the Source of this Knowledge–“as His Divine Power has give to us ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN (are necessary for) unto LIFE AND GODLINESS.” This is the same Truth as we find in John 17:3. “This is Life Eternal, that they may know You, the Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom You have sent.” Everything that is necessary for Eternal Life, and Godliness is the essential to it, is given to us in the knowledge of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. And this is not an informational knowledge, but a relational knowledge!
a. And what is this Divine Power that Peter is speaking of? Surely He is speaking of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Resurrection, the Divine Enablement of the Incarnation, the Life, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of our Lord and Savior. He has been given to us!!!
He will lead us into all Truth and the Truth is in Jesus! All glory and virtue reside in and flow from Him!
D. II Peter 1:4 What does the “by which” refer to? The closest possibility is “through the knowledge of Him”.
1. Here again are wonderful benefits!
a. “Exceedingly great and precious promises” The more we learn of and fellowship with our Jesus, the more we learn of our inheritance that we have in Him. And in learning that, we increasingly learn how “rich” our Heavenly Father is. This is how Peace is multiplied! We are increasingly lifted above this fallen earth, less swayed by it’s chaos. Our affections are shifted from the things of this earth to the things that “pertain unto Life and Godliness.” (Col 3:1-4)
b. “That through these (the promises) you may be partakers of the Divine nature.” Colossians 2:9-10 comes to mind, “For in Him (the Christ) dwells ALL the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and power.” This benefit, this promise is way beyond my comprehension. I cannot grasp how it can be or even what it means, but I know that this is the completeness I so long for!!!
c. “Having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” The depravity of this world no longer defines us. While we have escaped the depravity and the judgment due it, we still have the lusts to deal with. And that process is accomplished only through the knowing our God and Savior Jesus Christ more completely. That will be our next study, II Peter 1:5-11.
“That I may know HIM and the power of HIS resurrection, and the fellowship of HIS sufferings, being conformed to HIS death.” (Col 3:10) This is the path of transformation that is through the intimate knowing the perfection of the Body of Christ.