2 Peter 1:1-4 says that believers may participate in the divine nature by means of the exceedingly great and precious promises of God.It does not teach that somehow human believers will become demigods (half god/half manDivine Nature) like that of the Greek and Roman myths.
The Scriptures say that human believers are new creatures NOT new gods.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old
things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
(NASB)
The nature of God is spiritualGreek word ( John 4:24).It means that it does not have parts and hence, it is indivisible.
John 4:24 (NIV)
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in
truth.”
Nature is the whole set of innate attributes that inherently belongs to someone. God’s nature is all that he is.
To participate in something isphysis refers to become partthe natural characteristic of ita thing.
Example:
I have participated in a group. It means that I am part of that group.
Therefore, to participate in the divine nature is to belong to it.
The divine nature is an abstract set of innate attributestherefore the inherent qualities that inherently belongs toexist in God.
To belong or to become part of something is to be joined or united to it.
Hence In Romans 1:20, to belong to the divinewe see that God's nature is to become joinedevident in ithis creation.
The This verse clearly tells us that the divine nature of God is the glory of Godvisible in various forms and shapes.
Romans 1:18-2320 (NASBESV)
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness
and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in
unrighteousness,because that which is known about God is evident
]within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation
of of the world HisGod's invisible attributes, His eternalqualities--his
eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being
natureunderstood from what has been made, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has
been made, so that theypeople are without excuse. For even though they knew
God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became
futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory
of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man
and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creaturesexcuse.
The Father and the Son naturally share the same glory beforeGeneric Participation
Generically, each person is participating in the world was (John 17:5)divine nature. ChristThe reason why is giving that glory to believers so that they might become like (not identical) the Fatherbecause collectively as humans we are God's offspring and the Son:thus, share in his nature.
JohnActs 17:2228 (NASBESV) The glory which You
for “‘In him we live and move and have given Meour being’; as even some of
your own poets have said, “‘For I have given to
themwe are indeed his offspring, that they may be one, just as We are one;.’
To become joined with the nature of God isThe biological metaphor serves to be unitedexplain our relationship with the glory of God in our natural state.
The glory of God is Christ ( Ephesians 5:14 In Genesis, 2 Corinthians 4:6)we read that God created man in his own image and likeness.
Christ It is "the exact imprint of God’s nature" ( Hebrews 1:3 ESV)written that God made the body alive by giving it a spirit.
To have Christ The living soul is to havetherefore what the divine nature because in Christ lives "the whole fullnessimage of God’s nature" (Colossians 2:9 HCSB)God corresponds to.
Our relationship with Christ This simply means that human existence is described as a marital unionvisible picture of the invisible God. ChristWhen man speaks, reasons and his followers are “one spirit” because his followers are “joined in him” ( 1 Corinthians 6:17)creates, he shows what God is like.
According to the immediate context, Christians may participate in the divine nature by means of the exceedingly great and precious promises.Special Participation
InOn the Scripturesother hand, therethe saints participates in it in a special way. The Scriptures tells us why. It is because they are sevenfold promisesnot only children of God: by creation but also by regeneration. Their spirits are being renewed every day by the Holy Spirit.
- God’s faithfulness
The LORD always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he
does.Psalm 145:15 (NLT)
- Christ
Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does
not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one,
“And to your offspring,” who is Christ. Galatians 3:16 (ESV)
- Holy Spirit
And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God
saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his
own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.
Ephesians 1:13 (NLT)
- Second Coming of Christ
2 Peter 3Corinthians 4:416 (ESV)
They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the
fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the
beginning of creation.”
- Eternal life
And in this fellowshipSo we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.1
John 2:25 (NLT)
- Kingdom
Listen, my beloved brothers, hasdo not God chosen those who are poor in
the world to be rich in faith and heirs oflose heart. the kingdomThough our outer self is wasting away, which he has
promised to those who love him? James 2:5 (ESV)
- New heaven and new earth
But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he hasour
promisedinner self is being renewed day by day., a world filled with God's righteousness.2 Peter 3:13 (NLT)
Believers may share in the divine nature meansThis biological metaphor helps us understand that they may become like God in termswe need to reflect the behavior of nature (attributes).
By God’s faithfulness,God because we may share inare his natureoffspring.God said that he will make us holy and because his words We are truth, we will surely become holy. Hence, his command to us to become holy because he is holy (1 Peter 1:16). The outcome of his promise is that we share inimitate God like a son imitating his holiness (Hebrews 12:10)father. Holiness is oneThis fellowship evinces a bond of God’s attributeslove, closeness that composed his natureis inseparable.
By means of Christ's obedience, we have may receive the promise of eternal life by the promise of the Holy Spirit through faith alone:
so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the
Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through
faith. Galatians 3Ephesians 5:141 (ESV)
Those who are born of God had in them the seed of God ( 1 John 3:9).They are being transformed from glory to glory into the same , the image of the Son, to become like God in holiness and righteousness ( Romans 8:29).
and put on the new self, whichTherefore in the likenessbe imitators of God has been created
in righteousness and holiness of the truth, as beloved children. Ephesians 4:24 (NASB)
In the rapture or resurrection, Christians will be immortalized.They will become like God who is naturally immortal (1 Corinthians 15:53;1 Timothy 6:16).
We imitate Adam in doing sin because we share his nature (Romans 5:12).Conclusion
In the same wayUpon further research, we imitate God (Ephesians 5:1) because we sharei have come to a conclusion that the saints participating in histhe divine nature (2in 2 Peter 1:4) refers to the saints being engaged in a character and behavior that pleases God. The text in question basically shows ''like father, like son'' as its core message.
Satan taught us that by disobeying God we may become like Him but Christ taught us that by obeying Him we may become like God.
