Empowered by God

The last two posts on our EYC theme, 'a distinctive generation modelling righteousness in the nations' dealt with 'holding fast the Word of life' and being 'dedicated and renewed to do God's will.' Both of these posts imply action. We are to be doers of the word, not mere hearers (Jas 1:22). Talk is cheap, but action is required. While holding fast the Word of life and experiencing the renewing work of the Word and the Spirit are curical factors that enable us to do God's will, there is more that God has to offer. If we understand the wealth of what God has given us, what our inheritance in Christ is, and how God empowers us today, we will not be unfruitful like the vineyard of God Isaiah lamented about (see Is 5). Let's hear it from the apostle Peter:

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 

--2 Peter 1:2-4 NASB

These are remarkable truths. First of all, God's divine power has granted us EVERYTHING for life and godliness - yes, EVERYTHING! There is nothing we lack in that new creation existence once we are born-again by the Spirit of God (Jn 3:3-5; Tit 3:4-7). All things have become new (2 Cor 5:17) through the incorruptible seed of God (1 Pet 1:22-25). The Spirit is God's very presence in us! By giving Christ for us, God has given us all things freely (Rom 8:32). 

Here's the problem: we don't always experience this fullness and start to doubt God's word. The appropriate response, however, is to abide in His Word and understand the truth that will set us free (Jn 8:21-32). Once deception is exposed, we can embrace the truth that we love and it empowers us to live in these 'new-creation realities,' as Dr Jonathan David calls is so well. Only by this 'divine power' Peter speaks about, can we live the God-life. Only as we learn to live empowered by His Spirit can we experience the fruit of the Spirit. It is no longer the self life but the divine life that controls us, the life in the Spirit that sets us free from the life of the flesh and sin (see Rom 8:1-4). This is life in the new creation!

But Peter rightly stresses the importance of the 'true knowledge' of Christ. At that time there was a powerful movement called Gnosticism distorting the true Gospel. Today, too, we are up against all kinds of heresy and false teaching, and we better know the true knowledge of God. This is not some mysterious strange stuff given to a few select only; no, it is the plain truth of Scripture, available to us all. That's why it is crucial to study and meditate on the word day and night (Ps 1). That kind of study must be guided by the Spirit who reveals His truth to us, which is the light on our path (2 Pet 1:19-21; cf. Ps 119:105).

Peter also exhorts us to add certain values to our faith (2 Pet 1:5-7), for with such we will not stumble, nor be unfruitful: moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. These beautiful attributes or qualities enable the God-life to express itself fully. Note the parallels to the fruit of the Spirit Paul lists in Galatians (5:22-23). The Spirit empower us to life this divine life. God has given us His divine nature and His precious and magnificent promises - this is the way to escape the corruption in this world. That's why, to refer back to the previous articles, we need to hold fast to the Word of life and be renewed in our mind to understand God and His will properly and fully.

Take a look at Paul, the great apostle. The secret to His fruit in God's kingdom was his dependency on God's Spirit and life as a new creation. Two sets of Scriptures stand out: Colossians 1:29 and Eph 3:20, and 2 Cor 5:17 and Gal 2:20. In the first set of Scriptures Paul emphasises that his work is done according to the power of God working within him. In the second et of Scriptures, Paul shows that he truly knew the life of being crucified with God; he no longer lived, but Christ live in him (Gal 2:20). He understood that Christianity was about Christ and His enabling power based on His imputed righteousness (the righteousness given in Christ) and the new creation (2 Cor 5:17).  All of this great salvation is 'by grace through faith' (Eph 2:8) and towards the purpose of doing God's will (Eph 2:10). 

We are not called to do good things in our own strength and than take credit for it, we are called to do God's will in His power and give glory to God. In two words, we are to glorify and testify. Our lives must reflect God and glorify Him, and then we are able to testify of Him to others. The light that we shine before men must be such that it draws people to God and to glorify Him (Mt 5:16). This is possible by living in His divine power that has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness. Learning to abide in the Vine (Christ) as branches (disciples) by abiding in His word and presence, is the key to bearing fruit (see Jn 15:1-16). And please note, we are called and chosen to bear lasting fruit, not quick fruit that looks good but then soon fades away and comes to nothing. Only what the everlasting Word of God establishes will last into eternity. Only that which is done in the will of God endures forever. All else will fade and vanish (see 1 Jn 2:15-17). Let us therefore seek to live in His divine power and bear fruit for His glory and according to His purpose!