In What Ways Are Believers Partakers of the Divine Nature?
The Bible teaches that when someone believes in Jesus Christ, they become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Through faith in Christ, believers are regenerated, justified, adopted into God’s family, and begin the process of being conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). In these ways, believers become partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). Let’s explore this incredible biblical truth further.
Regeneration
When someone repents and believes in Jesus, they experience spiritual rebirth. Though we were once dead in our sins, God makes us alive together with Christ (Ephesians 2:5). We are born again by the power of the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-8). Our hearts of stone are replaced with hearts of flesh as God’s Spirit comes to indwell us (Ezekiel 36:26-27). Regeneration is entirely a work of God’s grace, not dependent on human effort (John 1:12-13). As new creations in Christ, we partake of God’s divine life and holy nature.
Justification
In justification, God legally declares believers righteous based on the atoning work of Christ (Romans 3:21-26). Though we are sinful, Christ’s perfect righteousness is credited to us. The Father sees us as He sees Jesus – clothed in His Son’s perfect righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). Justification brings reconciliation with God and peace with Him (Romans 5:1). No longer condemned and separated from God due to sin, we have bold access to Him through Christ (Ephesians 2:18). As the recipients of God’s justification, we partake of His holy nature.
Adoption
When someone believes in Christ, they are adopted into God’s family as His child (John 1:12-13). Though once alienated from God, we become full heirs with Christ, intimately connected to the Father as His beloved sons and daughters (Galatians 4:4-7). The Spirit of adoption in our hearts assures us that we belong to God and are joint heirs with Christ of His glory (Romans 8:14-17). As God’s adopted children, we partake of His family as well as His righteous character.
Conformity to Christ’s Image
From the moment of salvation, God begins a lifelong process of conforming believers to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). As we walk in obedience and communion with God, we are transformed to be more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18). The Spirit works in us to produce increasing spiritual fruit of Christlike character (Galatians 5:22-23). Our old self is in the process of being renewed in the likeness of our Creator (Colossians 3:10). As we grow in godliness, we manifest more of God’s holy nature.
Indwelling of the Spirit
At conversion, the Holy Spirit comes to permanently indwell believers (1 Corinthians 6:19). God takes up residence in us by His Spirit who works to help us in our weakness and intercedes for us (Romans 8:26-27). The presence of the Spirit guarantees our future inheritance in God’s kingdom (Ephesians 1:13-14). The Spirit works to illumine God’s truth to us, guide us into righteousness, and empower us to obey Christ’s commands (John 16:13, Galatians 5:16, Acts 1:8). The indwelling Spirit sanctifies us to be holy as God is holy.
Part of Christ’s Body
Believers are joined together with Christ as parts of His body, the church (1 Corinthians 12:27). We are united to Him as a head is to the body. Christ is the source of life, growth and direction for the church, His body (Colossians 1:18). As members of Christ’s body, believers are mutually connected and interdependent, each contributing to the growth of the whole (Ephesians 4:15-16). Belonging to Christ’s body identifies believers with Him. As His body, we take on His holy nature.
Access to Divine Resources
In Christ, believers gain access to powerful spiritual resources which enable us to live godly lives. We receive the full armor of God to protect us from the Enemy (Ephesians 6:10-18). We have access to the power of Christ and His strength to live for Him (Philippians 4:13). God supplies all our needs to equip us for every good work He calls us to do (2 Peter 1:3). We can come boldly before God’s throne to receive grace and mercy in times of need (Hebrews 4:16). Access to divine resources allows believers to live out God’s righteous character.
Promise of Glorification
When Christ appears, believers will become fully like Him, being glorified with immortal resurrection bodies (1 John 3:2, 1 Corinthians 15:49). The completion of our salvation is the promise that one day we will perfectly bear God’s moral image, completely free from sin. Having the hope of future glorification motivates us to purify ourselves now as He is pure (1 John 3:3). The certainty of being fully transformed into Christ’s likeness inspires reverence for God’s holy nature which we will one day perfectly reflect.
In summary, through spiritual rebirth, right legal standing before God, adoption into His family, sanctifying transformation, the Spirit’s indwelling, union with Christ’s body, access to divine resources, and the promise of future glorification – believers truly become partakers of the holy, righteous nature of God Himself. This is an incredibly profound truth with amazing implications. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we are joined to Him in the most intimate way imaginable. His divine life becomes our life. We take part in who God is. The Christian life is truly about manifesting the very character of God Himself through the work of Christ and the Spirit. As we grow in faith, we grow in partaking of the moral excellencies of God’s nature. What an awesome privilege! Let this truth move us to live in greater reverence for God’s holiness which we have come to share through Christ our Savior.