PARTAKERS and PROMISES -- Monday:
"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature . . . " (2 Peter 1:4)
Peter confirms that spiritual maturity, or participating in the Divine image, comes by means of the promises of God, not His commandments (2 Pet 1:4). Those who come into affiliation with God through the new birth are "partakers of His promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel" (Eph 3:6). So marvelous is this New Covenant, it is associated with eternity – something not addressed by the Old Covenant. Here is an arresting thought: the words "eternal life" are not mentioned in Genesis through Malachi (KJV, NASB, and NIV). The term "everlasting life" is mentioned once in Daniel 12:2 – and that is in reference to a coming time (KJV, NASB, and NIV). "Life forevermore" is mentioned once in Psalms 133:3, a prophetic Psalm (KJV, NASB, NIV).
It must be remembered that "eternal life" is the summation of Divine commitment. In words that the Holy Spirit teaches, "And this is THE PROMISE that He hath promised us, even eternal life" (1 John 2:25). The promise is not prosperity, but "eternal life!" It is not the health of our present bodies, but "eternal life!" That is the summary of all promises – the bottom-line total of what we realize in Christ Jesus. Further, it is something that transfers into "the world to come." The New Covenant provides a basis for the conferment of "eternal life."
THE MEANS IS NOT OF THE LAW! Whatever may be said of Law, it is not the means of appropriating eternal life. That ought to be clear by the entire body of Scripture that administrated the First Covenant. This is not to be construed as a criticism or rejection of Law. God forbid! Rather, it shows that the law-principle is not sufficient to justify us, or qualify us for the promise of eternal life. "Promise" emphases Divine commitment. Law emphasized human responsibility. That is a marvelous distinction that every child of God does well to learn.
At the peak of its glory, the Law was a "ministration of death" and a "ministration of condemnation" (2 Cor 3:7,9). It did not bring life, but brought death to those under its administration. It did not justify sinners, but condemned them. The law was powerless to remove the past or strengthen the present. It could not cause the star of hope to shine, nor could it produce confidence in the heart. It was "weak through the flesh," and therefore unsuitable to form a basis for fellowship with God (Rom 8:3).
The Law did not point to the future, but to the present. Because it could do nothing but define sin and defilement, and then condemn it, the law shut the door to heaven, forbidding men to approach the living God in a state of defilement. The only sense in which it could point to the future was by developing in honest hearts the keen awareness of the need for a Savior.
A GLORIOUS NEW COVENANT. How gloriously different the New Covenant! It brings life, not death, and ministers righteousness rather than condemnation (2 Cor 3:6,9). How are these marvelous effects produced? They come by promise! The New Covenant brings an anchor that is "within the veil" (Heb 6:19) – in the throne room of heaven! The New Covenant has a forward posture – one of promise. It primarily secures the future of its constituents – it is a covenant of promise. It is a covenant that was promised of old time, and it is a covenant that brings promises of good things in the future. It is established upon "better promises" (Heb 8:6). These promises do not hinge upon human accomplishment, but upon the acceptance of Divine accomplishments! It is a covenant of promise. How about you? Are you focusing upon God's promises, desiring to obtain them?
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the exceeding great and precious promises that Your Son has brought within our reach.