Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness 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 and escape 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…(2 Peter 1:2-6).

In his letter to Jewish believers that had been scattered throughout the Mediterranean world, Peter declared that something amazing is available to all those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He says that we can actually participate or share in the divine nature. That is another way of saying that we can participate or take part in the very nature of God. Someone’s nature is who that person is at his or her core, who that individual is inherently.

Peter’s writing suggests that our participation in God’s nature is for the here and now, not just when we join him in heaven. That is why Jesus can call on us to be perfect (complete, mature) just as our Heavenly Father is perfect (Mt.5:48). This promise underlines, once again, the fact that those in Christ are not simply poor sinners who are no different from the unsaved except that their sins have been forgiven by grace. Peter says that something so significant has changed us that we can not only be forgiven but holy and, as time passes, we can take on the very nature and character of our Father.

Peter says that we have everything for life and godliness available to us though our knowledge of the Father and the Son. The word for knowledge here is epignosis, which goes far beyond the possession of information. This is a word that means a firm understanding and comprehension of a person or thing through experience, reflection, and repeated encounters. This is the difference in knowing God versus simply knowing about God.

For many, knowing Jesus is simply knowing facts about him, what he said, and who he was historically. That information is important but we are called to much more. We are called to experience the Lord and to develop a working knowledge of who he is and who we are in him. We experience him by faith – by risking obedience when our flesh and rational mind is pushing back hard against our decision. We experience him through personal encounters in prayer and worship, by hearing his voice, and by being part of his miracles. Through that and more we gain knowledge of him and through that knowledge we begin to reflect and take on his very nature.

Paul points us in the same direction when he says, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18). Paul was reflecting on the transformation of Moses when his faced glowed as he came down from Sinai because he had been in the presence of the Lord beholding his goodness. As we spend time in his presence, beholding his nature – his love, his goodness, his holiness, etc. those very things will be imparted to us by the Spirit. The adage is that we become what we behold.

Peter tells us that through this personal knowledge of the Father and the Lord Jesus, grace and peace can be ours in abundance. Not only that, but everything we need for life and godliness can be ours. These great and precious promises are available to every believer but do not come automatically. Notice that Peter emphasizes that since these amazing promises are available, we should make every effort to add to our spiritual inventory. “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, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love” (2 Pet.1:5-7).

So many things are available to us in Christ, but they don’t come to us without effort. This is not earning our salvation because that does come to us wholly by the grace of God. However, gaining growth and rewards is something God does with us, not for us. We were chosen for the team simply by his grace, but we advance on the team and do great things by our effort coupled with the coach’s wisdom. So how do we add these things? We add them through the spiritual disciplines of prayer, confession, and declaration. We add them by saying “no” to the flesh and asking the Spirit to bear his fruit in us. We spend time with the Father and the Son beholding them and increasing our knowledge of who they are and how they work in us. We take risks in obedience and we get the word of God in our hearts. If you think about, that is how Jesus grew as a man to be who we know him to be.

I doubt if we spend enough time thinking about the promises of God that are available to us. Peter framed them as great and precious. He also said that in those promises is everything we need for life and godliness. The key to the vault is an increasing knowledge of the Lord – not just facts and figures, but personal experiences that transform us into his image. Those are promises we should pursue! Blessings in him as you pursue his promises.