Through the Knowledge Of HIM – Divine Nature / Escape Corruption

Escaping the corruption of the world is possible through our knowledge of HIM. When we become students of His promises, we begin to understand how we should live because we now know who we are in HIM. Amongst many promises on identity, the Word tells us

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Emphasis Mine

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Emphasis Mine

These knowledge changes our thinking, our views and more. As a result, our desires change. We start longing for the things he longs for, thereby escaping corruption. In order to maintain this position of the divine nature, we need to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18 (NIV)).

2 Peter 3:17-18 (NIV)

Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Emphasis Mine

In this state, we are not held bound by the standards of society. True freedom is experienced from the inside – out. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed (John 8:36 (NKJV)).

Through the Knowledge Of HIM – Promises

Through the Word, we get to know the promises of God to us. We also get to know the heart of God towards us. The promises of God are too numerous to count, however, required to reign in life. The beauty about God’s promises to us is that they never fail. He will do His part to fulfill His promises to us. However, most of us may live through life and never get to place where we experience the full benefits of these promises to us.

Some of the reasons why we do not get to be participants of these great promises is because

·       We may not know that these promises exist

·       We may know they exist, yet think we are not qualified to be participants. We allow unbelieve to rob us.

Ignorance of these promises will keep us in bondage, slavery, poverty, mediocrity, etc.

Spend time in the Word educating yourselves about the promises of God to you. An example of God’s promise to us is Salvation. Salvation has been made available to “whosoever” yet not everyone has accepted this gift of Salvation.

John 3:16 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Emphasis Mine

Romans 10:9 (NIV)

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Emphasis Mine

God’s promises of Eternal life, abundant life, freedom from bondage and of sin, protection, guidance, wealth, prosperity, etc. 

Through the Knowledge Of HIM – Abundant Life

We commonly refer to John 10:10 when we talk about abundant life.

John 10:10 (NIV)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

In the context of “Through the Knowledge of HIM”, this verse tells us two things.

·       The purpose of the thief.

·       The purpose of Jesus Christ.

However, the question remains? How can you experience the more abundant life? If indeed His coming is the access through which we have abundant life; it therefore means when we understand the purpose of “His coming” we can then enjoy abundant life. Amen.

Through the knowledge of the Word, we are given details of the reason for His coming. Several scriptures tells us about His coming. Let’s examine a few below.

John 3:16 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Emphasis Mine

John 3:17 (NIV)

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Emphasis Mine

Experiencing an abundance of peace and grace is part of the abundant life according to 2 Peter1:2 (NIV). 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Emphasis Mine

This is only possible, through the knowledge of HIM (God and Jesus our LORD).

Through the Knowledge Of HIM – Eternal Life

Through the Knowledge Of HIM, we can experience Eternal Life.

After speaking with His disciples, Jesus prayed to the Father for His disciples. In His prayers he mentioned Eternal life – John 17:3 (NIV)

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

Emphasis Mine

We are looking at the benefits we experience through the knowledge of God and Jesus our LORD or benefits we experience as a result of our knowledge of God and Jesus our LORD.

Jesus is praying for His disciples (we can choose to be His disciples) that they should know God as the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. Therefore, we experience eternal life through our knowledge of God and Jesus our LORD. And because we have the ability and access to that knowledge while still living on earth, we can begin experiencing eternal life on earth.

Eternal life is not reserved only for the death in Christ. It can be experienced and lived by the living in Christ. Amen.

The disconnect with eternal Life occurs when

a)     We do not believe there is God (…that they know you…)

b)     We believe in many gods (…the only true God…)

c)     We believe there is God, however, he is not the only one and true God (…the only true God…)

d)     We do not understand why Jesus was sent (agreeing that God the Father gave Him to die on the cross for our sins) – (…and Jesus Christ whom you have sent).

e)     We do not believe in God the Father and God the Son (…that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ…).

How else can these truths be made known to us if we are void of HIS knowledge?

Through the Knowledge of HIM – Godly Life

2 Peter 1:3 (NIV)

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Emphasis Mine

What is a godly life? A godly life is a Spirit – led life.

To live a godly life will mean to live a Spirit-led life. God is Spirit according to John 4:24a (NIV).  We are His offspring, therefore, we are Spirit beings. So, in order to be “godly” – we need to be led by the Holy Spirit.

Our knowledge of Him is the permission/access through which we can experience a godly life. Living a godly life will therefore mean living a life that God will live if in our position. Therefore, we have the responsibility to live like Him (represent HIM) through a godly life and through godly actions.

How can you know that an act is godly without the knowledge of HIM?

Only the Word of God tells us what is godly. So without the knowledge of Him, how can you possibly know that an act is godly?

A “goodly life” is not a “godly life”. God is most pleased when we are Spirit – led.

Through the knowledge of HIM, we get to understand that there are certain actions/behaviors that when we engage in, increases ungodliness. A knowledge of these actions will propel us in the right directions, to start engaging in godly actions.

2 Timothy 2:16 (NIV)

Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.

                                                            Emphasis Mine

Through the Knowledge Of HIM – Introduction

The book of 2 Peter was written by Peter. Peter was one of the disciples of Jesus Christ. The purpose of the book is to warn Christians everywhere and the church about false teachers; also to exhort Christians to grow in their faith in the knowledge of Christ.

The foundational scriptures for this teaching will be based on 2 Peter 1:1-11 (NIV)

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Confirming One’s Calling and Election

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life 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, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,   and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Through the knowledge of HIM – the HIM being referred to in this context is God and Jesus our LORD”. Can you picture a life, better still, your life, governed, directed, influenced totally by the knowledge of God and Jesus our LORD? Beautiful right?

There are many benefits of knowing God and Jesus our LORD. This knowledge is only obtained through studying the WORD of God for yourself and doing the Word. The enemy will do everything in his power to rob you of spending time with the Word and by this relentless effort of his, we are placed in positions to make excuses - giving reasons why we cannot study the word. Guess what? Whether or not we agree, we will never function at our full potential because we have cooperated with the enemy to live at a level in life whereby we are perpetually being shortchanged.

·       What will it take for you to re-structure your schedule such that you spend some time of your day studying the WORD?

·       What will it take for you to identify that where you are right now is not God’s best for you? There is more to be discovered through the knowledge of HIM.

·       What will it take to say “NO” to the tricks of the enemy and “Yes” to God?

·       What will it take to say goodbye to living a “good life” and welcome a “godly life”?

Let’s delve deeper into this series and rediscover the benefits of living through the knowledge of God and Jesus our LORD. Amen.