| Partakers of the Divine Nature By Joseph Prescia From the time we are born we are taught that unless we can see, hear, smell, taste or touch something it cannot be real. Yet the following verse says: 2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (KJV) Someone who is not yet born again wouldn’t understand this verse. Why? Because it takes holy spirit to understand spiritual matters. Holy spirit is something that is not seen and is born in an individual at the time of the new birth. 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (KJV) The natural man can only go as far as the written Word on the pages of the Bible. He can not see any deeper than this because it takes spirit to gain the greater understanding of life according to God who is Spirit. The natural man has physical limitations. That’s why the things of the spirit of God are foolishness to him. The best that man has to offer is religion and politics. And yet they are two of the cruelest systems that man has devised. They continue to give us new ideas that don’t work. It’s guaranteed that in this next election we will hear of new ideas designed to make life better for all. Yet every time something new is tried according to man’s way, it’s never the success that it was thought to be in it’s beginning. This is the best man has to offer. The Living Oracles has an insightful translation of this verse: Now, an animal man receives not the thing of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually examined. God is Spirit. He designed life to be lived for Him. As long as mankind denies the existence of spiritual power which is greater than himself, there will not be a lasting solution to the problems he faces. Man’s way continues to get worse and worse. 2 Peter 1:4 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 through lust. (KJV) “Corruption” is “moral decay.” The world keeps getting worseand worse. When the world takes it’s nature to the extreme, it goes the route of lust. God has given us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these promises we “might be partakers of the divine nature.” Those who are born again of the spirit of God, are partakers of a divine nature. “Divine” is the Greek word “theios” which transliterated into English means- divine, pertaining to God, what is God’s, what proceeds from Him (E. W. Bullinger). When we are born again we have a new nature; one belonging to God. It comes from Him. It’s a divine nature! “Nature” is an “inborn quality, a genus” (E. W. Bullinger). We have a divine inborn quality, a divine genus. What we have received no religion or politics can touch. We have something born in us that is not seen because holy spiirt is invisible. Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (KJV) God made known “the glorious wealth of this sacred secret” (Rotherham). He didn’t hold back this information for the Jews only. That new, divine nature is Christ in you, the hope of glory. God did it for us through Christ. He made us adequate to receive this. God did it for me. So, when I know who I am in Christ, then I can walk with spiritual power the way God intended me to walk. Colossians 1:11-12 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet (adequate) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (KJV) God made us “meet” (adequate) to receive this inheritance. One translation says He, “qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints” (RSV). Isn’t it sad when someone is disqualified from competing in an event? God turned it around the other way by qualifying us through Christ’s accomplishments to receive an inheritance. Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (KJV) God “rescued us” (Rotherham) from the “dominion of darkness.” It was no work of our own. God did it for us. When we realize this spiritual potential we have, then we can renew our minds to His written Word and walk with power. We’ve got the spiritual potential to succeed in every situation (Philippians 4:13). 1 John 3:1-2 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (KJV) Abraham was known as the friend of God and look at what he did. We are sons! What can we do with and for God? This son and daughter relationship is more real than the first birth. The first birth is corruptible. It will soon cease. This spiritual sonship from God is eternal. Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (KJV) How could all this be true if our sins were still remembered by God? He’s a just and honest God. He’d have to bring it up if we were still guilty. Justice demands that we be properly charged with wrong-doing. However, Jesus Christ paid the price and we were found not guilty. Romans 6:11-14 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (KJV) We don’t have to let sin have dominion (lordship or mastery) over us because we have a new nature, a divine nature! It also says here that we are “righteousness unto God.” Righteousness is spiritual perfection. That’s why it’s called “holy” spirit. It couldn’t be called “holy” if it had any impurities in it. We have a direct access line to God Almighty. Isn’t it great to be able to tenderly talk things over with God, to just lovingly tell him what’s on your heart and to trust He will help you succeed in every situation? The sin nature holds you back, but the divine nature says, “Talk to Him. Fellowship with Him. He will supply my every need. God is eternal and so am I” This is where religion fails. Religion fails to see our perfect standing as sons and daughters before God and wants us to do something because we are not good enough for God. Man can spend a lifetime in this mode of patting himself on the back because of his works and never arrive at the door of God. God has given us a divine nature, He qualified us as His sons and daughters and has given us an inheritance with Christ. He has given us dignity and hope. We have a life that is satisfying and worth something. The world at it’s highest hour has religion and politics to offer with guaranteed failure and disappointments. Romans 8:28-32 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (KJV) God thought so highly of His son that verse 28 says He “marked out copies of the likeness of the son (Diaglot Version).” That’s us! The Greek word summorphos translated “conformed” is only used two times in the Bible. The other usage is in Philippians 3. Philippians 3:20-21 For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto (summorphos) his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (KJV) We are going to have a body fashioned like Christ’s glorious body, a “marked out copy.” We cannot see that body yet, but we know that we are to look at the things not seen because things not seen are eternal. This new body will last forever and will be the completion of that divine nature we have today. We have a new divine nature freely given by Christ. That's where we are to focus our attention and not on the physical, temporal things in life. God has given us exceeding great and precious promises from His Word that are eternal. We can believe them now. When we remember that we are partakers of a divine nature, the challnge to believe God at His Word is made easier. |
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