3 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. 4 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.
-2 Peter 1:3-4
Reading this chapter, God highlighted this passage to me. At salvation, God has already given us all of Himself - all of His power and presence. However, according to this, we only receive it through knowledge - yet, not just knowing it. Knowing it in your head and knowing it in your heart are totally different. Knowing it in your heart actually births into faith and without faith, nothing is impossible (Matthew 17:20 [A]).
It is the same with salvation. We are saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8 [B]). Just believing (head knowledge) doesn't save you. Even the demons believe and tremble (James 2:19[C]).
Believing in your heart produces action - a desire to know Him and submit to Him - to serve and love Him b/c we believe He loved us first ( James 2:14 [D], 1 John 4:19 [E]). It's what changes everything.
It is easy to get frustrated when we don't understand what He is doing or when our prayers seem to go unanswered, but it is faith that pleases Him because it shows that we trust Him (Hebrews 11:6 [F]).
The key to this knowledge is the Word of God. It is God's voice and it tells us everything we need to know for what He expects, what we can do, and who we are. It also reveals His heart and love for us. It takes Holy Spirit to make it come alive (Hebrews 4:12 [G], 2 Timothy 3:16-17 [H]).
Doubt has no place when we trust this. He is faithful and His love NEVER fails! (2 Timothy 2:13 [I]).
Verses Used Throughout Passage:
A. Matthew 17:20 - "
B. Ephesians 2:8 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—"
C. James 2:19 - "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder."
D. James 2:14 - "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?"
E. 1 John 4:19 - "We love because He first loved us."
F. Hebrews 11:6 - "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
G. Hebrews 4:12 - "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."H. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - " All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
I. 2 Timothy 2:13 - "if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown himself."
No comments:
Post a Comment