8 Steps to Build Our Divine Nature

These tools are divided into three categories.

The Armor of God

Belt of Truth

Breastplate of Righteousness

Shoes of the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace

Shield of Faith

Helmet of Salvation

Sword of the Spirit = Word of God

The Fruits of the Spirit

Love

Joy

Peace

Patience

Kindness

Goodness

Faithfulness

Gentleness

Self-Control

Here is where they begin to look different.

The Gifts of the Spirit.

The Word of Wisdom

Word of Knowledge

Faith

Gifts of Healing

Prophecy

Working of Miracles

Gift of Tongues

Discerning of Spirits

2 Peter 1:3–11 ESV

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, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Introduction:

There is an 8 stair step plan according to the apostle Peter that is guaranteed 100% to get you and anyone else to heaven. It may sound strange but is true. We are going to build these stair steps together over the next four weeks as we discover this fool-proof plan.

We have to develop what we are given. It is not just automatic. When we come to Christ, we are given all pertaining to life and godliness through His divine power. It is not automatic. It needs to be exercised and developed. When Gabe was born he had a form of dys-ar-thria. He could not use his tongue and was not even aware of it. It seems strange but it was true. He did not talk, but screamed to communicate. We were finally able to get him to a speech therapist and he learned how to use his tongue and he has not stopped talking since.

1. Faith

The first step we build is faith. According to Strong’s, this word for faith is moral conviction of the truthfulness of God especially reliance upon Christ for salvation. We must all walk the Roman’s road to start our journey to developing our divine nature.

Romans 3:23 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 10:10 ESV

For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Romans 10:13 ESV

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

This is the first building step on our way to developing our divine nature. It all starts here. We can not jump to godliness or brotherly kindness without a faith in Jesus Christ to begin with. This is where we are a new creation. All things are passed away and behold all things become new. Praise God!!!

2. Virtue

The next step that we take is virtue. According to Strong’s, this word for virtue means excellence (intrinsic or attributed) praise. This word is used 4 times in the new testament. Three times it is translated virtue and one time it is translated praise.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

This is something we do as a reaction to the grace of God we have experienced. It can not be scripted or rehearsed. If it could, then it would not be real. The choices we make, our reaction to a dying world around us come from an excellence that is developing on the inside as we are on step 2. Our virtue stems from a change on the inside as it is making its way to the outside. We have been translated from a citizen of Satan’s kingdom to a citizen in God’s kingdom. This changes everything.

Conclusion:

We can not start developing our divine nature without coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We must walk this road to the cross. We must trade our allegiance from this world to a better world. This is where we start to build these stairs we want to climb. Do you have to build these stairs to go to heaven? No. You only have to walk the Roman’s road to the cross. The apostle Peter goes on to say that if you do not develop your divine nature, you could easily forget the sins the Lord purged you of at one time and could fall away from the Lord.

As we start to build these stairs, we see virtue is the next step. Where are you at in your virtue? Do you live out the praises of Him who has called you out of sin? Does your life demonstrate the excellence of our Lord Jesus Christ? We need to develop what we have been given. As we exercise and develop this divine nature that the Lord has given us, we will see that it is easier and easier to live a godly life and know that our blessed hope is coming. Jesus is preparing a place for us and He is making that entrance to the everlasting kingdom abundantly clear.