All things that pertain to life and godliness....

This week I have been mulling over 2 Peter chapter 2. The context of this book was written to highlight the importance of living in holiness and godliness. This letter shows how holiness and godliness will come naturally to us simply from believing in the salvation that came from Christ.

Chapter 1:3 of 2 Peter even says, “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.”

Knowledge and understanding are connected to belief. You can know the truth but to believe in it, you must receive it for your life. Jesus’ “divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.” Selah. All believers have been granted EVERYTHING that pertains to life and godliness. Not only am I given the gift of salvation but also access to everything that pertains to life and godliness. What is life: peace, joy, hope, love, health, freedom. Godliness- being like God- Holy, righteous, pure, powerful, free, whole, satisfied. Therefore if “Christ (lives) in me, my hope of glory,” I now have His divine nature in my very being, anything that does not align with life and godliness is not coming from the Lord. To know and understand this in my life, I have to believe that this is true. Some examples of areas that do not agree with life and godliness are: depression, anxiety, fear, worry, bondage, anger, unforgiveness etc... Shouldn’t we look at the body of Christ (His church) and see only life and godliness then; free of the above elements? I believe ultimately this is the desire and heart of the Father, otherwise He would not have made the way for us to do so.

So how do I begin even to receive the things “pertain(ing) to life and godliness”? I can know that Jesus died for the sins of the world, but I have to believe that His death pertains to me, and therefore I really am set free because of his sacrifice. This verse provides us a great evaluation tool to use in our lives, and to see if we really are walking in the freedom that comes from Jesus’ divine power, (which overcame death and enabled us to live no longer according to our flesh but by the Spirit.) Are our lives full of life and godliness? If not, what knowledge are we lacking or not believing about Jesus that is keeping us from experiencing his glory and excellence? For example, if I feel really insecure all of the time, what am I not believing about Jesus? Maybe I am agreeing with the lie that I was not created with value and purpose. This reminds me of Jesus words in Mark 9:23, “If you can! All things are possible for those who believe!”

And also in John 16:7- “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away the Helper will not come to you. But if I go I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not BELIEVE in ME.”

Our BELIEF in Jesus sets us free from the guilt of sin. Our knowledge of truth and belief in Him who is true creates access to freedom. “I am the way, the truth and the life- he who believes in me will not perish but have eternal life,”- a quote from JESUS regarding himself.” The Helper, the Holy Spirit, enables us to believe the truth about Jesus and overcome the guilt we would face because of our unbelief. We will be convicted of sin because we do not believe in Jesus. If we believe that Jesus made a way and cancelled the debt of our sin (because all sin costs something, there is a penalty for every sin), life is restored and we have connection again with the Lord. In the same way that Adam and Eve knew God in the garden; talking to Him, communing, loving, laughing, enjoying Him... so are we able to know and live with God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Jesus’ death of the cross was so incredibly powerful that it destroyed all of the power that sin, people, hurt, Satan, could ever have over your life. All of that junk that once had power over our souls is rendered powerless by the blood of the Lamb. The way it remains powerless is through our belief in the blood’s power. When I agree with something that isn’t full of “life and godliness,” like previously mentioned in 2 Peter, I am not really believing that Jesus blood, the blood shed on the cross, was enough to bring me freedom and abundant life.

I cannot read the word and accept anything less for my life, the full satisfaction and abundant living. Does this mean that the world around me is going to experience these things...no. The world is full of sin and corruption. My heart however is made new when I believe. The kingdom Has come, and the King- Jesus sits enthroned in my heart. The Kingdom lives inside of you. Believe this truth today my friend and live a life of victory and freedom!