Partakers of the Divine Nature (2 Pet. 1:1-15)

There's a striking statement in verse 4: we become partakers of the divine nature.

This is at the heart of Peter's teaching here in 2 Peter, so let's get straight to it!

How can we – who are sinful – and for that matter – how can we – who are creatures – partake of the divine nature?

It's a very simple concept – though one that takes a lifetime to understand! – and will only be fully understood at the resurrection at the final day!

But here it is: God is one. We will never participate in his essence. We will never become the being that is the Triune God.

But Peter does not say that we will become the being of God. Rather, he says that we become partakers of the divine nature. We are granted communion with the divine nature. We share in his energies – his divine power – referred to in verse 3.

Think of how Athanasius put it: God became man, so that man might become God.

Because in the incarnation God joined himself to man.

Jesus is fully God and fully man in one person.

We call that the hypostatic union – God and man united in one person (in Jesus). But there is also a mystical union between Christ and his bride, the church.

We are united to Christ – he lives in us – his Spirit has united us to himself – really and personally – so that we become partakers of the divine nature

No, we will never become one person with him. We will always remain distinct entities. But, in the incarnation, God became all that we are by nature, so that we might become all that he is by grace.