How Do We Receive All Things in Jesus? (2 Peter 1:3-4)
Understanding the Gift
Peter begins by declaring, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3). Before we explore how we receive these gifts, it is helpful to clarify what exactly we receive.
Peter is not speaking about temporal blessings such as life, breath, health, or material provisions. While these are good gifts from God, the focus here is on spiritual blessings. The phrase “life and godliness” refers not to earthly matters but to spiritual vitality and holiness.
William Ames, a 17th-century Puritan minister, points out that when Peter speaks of “things that pertain to life and godliness,” he is referring to the grace and peace multiplied to believers. These gifts sustain and deepen our spiritual lives. Christ, the author and sustainer of our faith, grants us His righteousness, forgiveness of sins, eternal life, wisdom, humility, peace, and the power to live in a manner pleasing to Him. These blessings are not limited to the life to come but are also essential for our present walk with God.
The Order Matters
Peter emphasizes the sequence: God grants us all things that pertain to life and godliness. This order is significant because new life in Christ precedes a life lived for Christ. Godliness is not the reason for our calling but the result. God does not call us because of our cooperation or merit. Instead, He regenerates us, granting spiritual life so we can believe in Christ and live in obedience to Him. This process is entirely by grace. Even as believers, our spiritual growth and perseverance remain dependent on God’s sustaining grace.
A Gift from God
Peter’s statement, “He has granted to us,” underscores that everything we have is a gift from God. We do not earn or contribute to this gift; it is freely given by His grace. Furthermore, God’s grace continues to supply everything we need for spiritual life and godliness. This grace is “Grace upon grace,” given through Christ and empowering us to live lives that glorify God.
Refuting False Teachings
Peter’s assertion challenges the false teachers who separate grace from godliness. These teachers claim that one can receive grace without pursuing a holy life. However, Peter firmly refutes this notion. Grace and godliness are inseparable; God’s grace equips us for a life of holiness. This serves as both a comfort and a warning. It encourages us to live in a manner consistent with our new nature in Christ and to seek God’s help in pursuing godliness.
How Do We Receive This Gift?
Peter answers this question clearly: “By His divine power” (2 Peter 1:3). The spiritual life and godliness within us do not originate from human effort but from God’s supernatural power. This divine power is “exhaustless,” as John Calvin describes it, and it works within us to bring about salvation and sanctification.
The Role of Effectual Calling
This divine power is displayed in our effectual calling. Peter describes this as God calling us to His glory and excellence through the knowledge of Him. This is not merely an outward call through the preaching of the Gospel, but an inward, effectual call by the Holy Spirit. This call draws us to Christ irresistibly, opening our hearts and minds to believe and receive the Gospel.
For instance, in Acts 16:14, Lydia’s heart was opened by the Lord so she could respond to Paul’s message. Similarly, Jesus declares in John 6:44, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” This inward work of the Spirit is essential for our salvation and is accomplished entirely by God’s power.
The Knowledge of Christ
Peter also emphasizes that this gift is granted through “the knowledge of Him who called us.” However, this knowledge is not merely intellectual. It is a spiritual understanding given by God through the Gospel and the Holy Spirit. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:12, “We have received… the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given to us by God.” This spiritual enlightenment enables us to comprehend and embrace the blessings found in Christ.
Comfort for Believers
Peter’s teaching is meant to comfort believers. He assures them that the same divine power that saved them will also sustain them. God, who began this work, is faithful to bring it to completion. This promise provides confidence and hope, especially in the face of trials and doubts.
Leave a Reply