God’s Exceeding Great Promises

II Peter 1:1-11

GOLDEN TEXT: “He hath granted unto us His precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature.”—II Peter 1:4 R.V.

IN OUR lesson for today we have one of the most comprehensive lists in the Bible of character qualities which will be developed by every true Christian as he follows in the footsteps of his Master. The first part of our lesson tells of the exceeding great and precious promises given unto us as followers of the Lord, and clearly states that the purpose of God in giving us these promises is that by them we might become partakers of His own (divine) nature.

In the final verses of the lesson, we are told that if we do these things, that is, if we add to our faith the various character qualities described, we shall never fall, but so an entrance shall be ministered unto us abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is impossible, therefore, to over-estimate the importance of these qualities and of giving diligence in order that we may possess them in full measure by the time we have finished our course here in the flesh.

The writer addresses those who already have faith. Faith, the Apostle Paul tells us, comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Recognition of our undone condition as members of Adam’s race, and a knowledge of God’s provision in Jesus for our justification, the covering with His robe of righteousness of our unintentional imperfections is the bases on which we offer ourselves in full consecration.

No righteousness of our own without the foundation of faith can avail to commend us to God. All our works of righteousness must be built upon this faith.

The first addition (virtue) is fortitude or strength of character in righteousness. This implies the cultivation of the strictest integrity in our dealings, both with God and with our fellow men, scrupulous honesty, justice and truth being the only standard.

The second addition is knowledge—the knowledge of God and of His righteous will concerning us, revealed through His Word by the Holy Spirit. Neglect of this divinely appointed means of knowledge is equivalent to putting up our own imperfect standard of righteousness and ignoring the divine standard. It is, therefore, important that we give all diligence to the study of the divine Word, that we may be fortified in faith and works accordingly.

The third addition, self-control, is one of the most important elements of good character. Self-control has to do with all our sentiments, thoughts, tastes, appetites, labors, pleasures, sorrows and hones. The cultivation of self-control, therefore, means a high order of character development.

The fourth addition is patience. Time is a necessary element in the process of perfecting every good thing. God’s great design has worked out slowly, not only in His great universal government, but also in the hearts and minds of His intelligent creatures. “Let patience have her perfecting work,” the Apostle James exhorts. Jesus instructed His disciples, “In your patience possess ye your souls.” The Apostle James tells us that “God waitheth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it.” And he uses this illustration of God’s patience as a basis for His exhortation to the church, “Be ye also patient: establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”

The fifth addition is godliness, God-likeness, piety—that devout controlling reverence for God which results in cheerful and loving conformity to His will—fervency of spirit in serving the Lord, cooperating in the carrying out of His will in every respect to the best of our ability. Piety, godliness, springs spontaneously from an appreciative and grateful heart, whose delight is in the law of the Lord, in meditation upon His precepts and promises, and in secret communion with Him in prayer.

The sixth addition is brotherly-kindness, which of necessity grows out of godliness. As God-likeness presupposes the other graces mentioned, so its development implies an appreciation of divine justice and benevolence and will broaden and deepen our sentiments toward all the well-disposed, however imperfect, and especially will it enlarge our hearts to all who are of the household of faith.

The seventh addition is charity, love—the bond of perfectness which unites all the other graces, and as a name stands for them all. Love to God alone is not the full manifestation of this grace; nor can there be, according to the teachings of God’s Word, a sincere love for God, without a corresponding love for man. “If a man say, I love God,” says the Apostle John, “and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (I John 4:20) And Jesus said, “By this shall all man know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.”—John 13:35

QUESTIONS:

What should be the effect of God’s promises in the Christian life?

What are “these things,” which, when the Christian does them, assures an abundant entrance into the Kingdom?

What is the sum of all Christian graces?

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