2 Peter 1

Sensing that he was in his final days -

"Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle..." (New Testament | 2 Peter 1:14)

...and remembering the prophecy of the Savior that he would experience a similar death, Peter feared the apostasy or falling away of the saints. I sense that Peter now is appealing and teaching the purest of doctrine where he reminds Christ followers -

"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature..." (New Testament | 2 Peter 1:3 - 4)

Not only does Peter speak of the divine power or atonement that provides eternal life and godliness, he even speaks of actual partaking of "divine nature". Knowing that we are offspring of God, does not this promise of "godliness" and "divine nature" suggest that, as children, we have the capacity, by virture of His grace, to become god like?

Peter teaches the process of the promise of becoming more like Christ or partaking of Divine nature wherein we begin with -

"...giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue..." (New Testament | 2 Peter 1:5)

Obviously, faith is the beginning that grows as we add virtue, then -

"..to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." (New Testament | 2 Peter 1:5 - 7)

Can you sense as you acquire these principles and characters, we partake more in His divine nature -

"For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (New Testament | 2 Peter 1:8)

A few blogs ago, I talked of the meaning of "election". As we make sacred covenants, promises are sealed upon our heads, in my mind, we are now elected. And depending upon our faithfulness, eventually those promises will become sure. Now, as we continue to partake of His divine nature, Peter pleads -

"...brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (New Testament | 2 Peter 1:10 - 11)

For even at this time, as we strive with diligence -

"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (New Testament | 2 Peter 1:19 - 21)