Living a Godly Life
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3
As you probably already know by experience, Satan wages a spiritual war for your soul. Consider Ephesians 6:11-12: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
The apostle Peter knew this by experience too, and perhaps that’s what he was thinking about when he was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the words of the verse above and the verses that follow it. Here’s what he writes: “Through these (i.e., Christ’s own glory and goodness) he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:4)
That’s insanely great news! By His divine power He has defeated Satan and made it possible for us to “participate in the divine nature.” Prayerfully let that sink in for a moment, for it is the key to escaping the corruption in the world and living a godly life.
“For this very reason,” Peter writes in verses 5-8, “make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Follow this action plan and it will make you effective and productive in your pursuit of a godly life.
Do you want to live a godly life?
Having begun as a guest speaker in 2005, Dan was appointed Interim Pastor in 2008 and has been serving Maple Root Baptist ever since. As a small group leader and Chaplin for the Connecticut Tigers, Dan has a heart for the lost and the God that saves them.