D.N.A. Devine Nature Access Virtue

2 Peter 1:1–8 NKJV

1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Recently, on our trip to Washington D.C., I had the conversation with my girls about Ulysses S Grant. According to my grandmother, we are descendants from her side of the family. I told this to our girls and as soon as we walked into the Rotunda in the U.S. capital we were met with a statue of Grant. Somehow Molly has adopted a name for him as Grunkle. I’m not exactly sure what that means, but it’s her name. I tried to explain to her what it meant to be a descendant and DNA, but not sure if she understood.

Last week, out of the blue, Molly asked me how much of his DNA she got from Grunkle.

The truth is, its hard to tell how much of our characteristics come from a particular person in our family lineage. But, we can be sure that we have full access the the character traits of Jesus. The Bible tells us that we can be partakers of the divine nature.

2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV

18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Peter uses the word partakes (Qunonos) and means to share, participate, or companion.

We share the DNA of our father.

Faith

VIRTUE

I. The Essence of Virtue

Some will say that it does not represent a singular characteristic, but rather a collection of traits.

The term "virtue" in the biblical context refers to moral excellence and righteousness. It is derived from the Latin word "virtus," which means strength or manliness, and is often associated with moral strength and integrity. In the Greek New Testament, the word "arete" is used, which signifies excellence of character, goodness, excellence in battle, or praise.

It carries the thought of being victorious.

At the heart of virtue is victory over sin.

Romans 12:21 NKJV

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

1 John 4:4 NKJV

4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

To partake of the divine nature, the Holy Spirit must dwell within us.

Ephesians 6:10 NKJV

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

We must be string in the Lord, and in His power and might.

II. The Access of Virtue

The word for giving in verse five is Epichoregeo and is in the aorist tense, which although there is no English equivalent, usually is a reference to a past tense.

The word for diligence means with earnestness (intense conviction) or haste.

Thus, the phrase giving all diligence can be rephrased as Have intense conviction on what you have been given.

This aligns with what we have seen in verse 4. we are partakers of the divine nature.

We receive the divine nature at salvation.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

III. The Outcome of Virtue

We become like Christ.

We live in peace.

We forgo the guilt of sin.