Our true nature is  often revealed through our words and our actions. You can remove a pig from the mud and clean it up, but after you wash the pig and release it, it promptly returns to wallow in the mire (2 Peter 2:22). What is your true nature? Who are you when no one is around? The Apostle Peter revealed the true nature of a Christian:

for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. Through these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world on account of lust. (2 Peter 1:3-4)

Peters informs us that we have everything we need to experience life as it was meant to be. The word for life pertains to the fullness of life that Jesus provides for His followers. If this is true, why are so few people experiencing an abundant life? Could it be that we are neglecting the promises of God and seeking to find fulfillment from broken cisterns that hold no water (Jeremiah 2:13). 

God has provided the means for us to gain the true knowledge of God. Peter reveals how we may obtain this true knowledge. The answer is through God’s precious and magnificent promises. There are several ways that we can learn about His promises. We may discover His promises as we are diligent to listen, read, study, memorize, and meditate on His word.

The great preacher, Charles Spurgeon, wrote a devotional entitled, Faith’s Checkbook. This book treats God’s promises as money in the bank of heaven to be withdrawn by His children so they might live an abundant life. Far too many Christians are getting by on breadcrumbs when God has promised them a sumptuous banquet.

We must realize that God has enabled us to become partakers of the divine nature. The word nature refers to our basic essence at the core of our being. Believers in Christ have been changed on the inside and are new creations in Christ!

We must bring our outward behavior into conformity with our divine nature. The immediate context indicates that we are to apply all diligence in our faith to pursue the character qualities of moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. These qualities reflect your true nature as a child of God.

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they do not make you useless nor unproductive in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:8)

John Bunyan reminds us, “The pathway of life is strewn so thickly with the promises of God that it is impossible to take one step without treading upon one of them.” May our lives reflect our true nature as we trust in God’s precious and magnificent promises.

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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