Chapter XIII

You Partaking of God’s Divine Nature
i.e. Your Having His Spiritual DNA.

There are other really interesting God imputed spiritual characteristics that immediately indwell YOU as a NEW SPIRITUAL CREATURE in Christ! Only those who are truly “Born Again” will partake in the “Divine Nature {of the Almighty” i.e. having God’s spiritual supernatural DNA.} – the very spiritual character of God. The following different translations of the same verse express this thought.

2 Peter 1:4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises {some 37,000}, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature {of God} and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. NIV

2 Peter 1:4 And by that same mighty power he has given us all the other rich and wonderful blessings he promised {some 37,000 promises}; for instance, the promise to save us from the lust and rottenness all around us, and to give us {His now adopted children of God} his {God’s} own {spiritual} character. TLB

I have used the following Scripture numerous times to help us get started to understand just who we are and what our ministries are in Christ our Savior:

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new {spiritual} creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and {demonic} spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new {moral and spiritual condition} has come!” AMP

What “old” demonic spiritual characteristics were replaced by what “fresh and new” Godly spiritual characteristics? The Bible states that your old “spiritual condition” has passed away.
Colossians 3:8-10 But now you {as a new creation} must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new {spiritual} self, which is being renewed in {spiritual} knowledge in the {spiritual} image of its Creator. NIV

1 Corinthians 2:12 We have not received the {demonic} spirit of the {god of this} world {Satan} but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. NIV

Your new spiritual “STANDARD”/Kingdom of God Spiritual Profile is the spiritual foundation upon which God will build ALL of your new Godly spiritual traits. You’re partaking of God’s spiritual “divine nature” {DNA} will enable you to circumvent the sins that we used to enjoy in the kingdoms of the world.

2 Peter 1:4 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. NKJV

1 John 2:15-17 Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father [love of the Father – KJV, NKJV, NIV, NASU] is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things]–these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself]. 17 And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever. AMP
Genesis 6:11-12 The earth was depraved and putrid in God’s sight, and the land was filled with violence (desecration, infringement, outrage, assault, and lust for power) {This period of time [Genesis 6:12] was not too long after the creation of man when God said that His creation was “very good.” – Genesis 1:31}. 12 And God looked upon the world and saw how degenerate, debased, and vicious it was, for all humanity had corrupted their way upon the earth and lost their true direction. AMP

Romans 1:18-32 For God’s [holy] wrath and indignation are revealed from heaven {from the beginning of man’s creation} against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who in their wickedness repress and hinder the truth and make it inoperative. 19 For that which is known about God is evident to them and made plain in their inner consciousness, because God [Himself] has shown it to them. 20 For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification], [Ps 19:1-4.]

21 Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools [professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves].
23 And by them the glory and majesty and excellence of the immortal God were exchanged for and represented by images, resembling mortal man and birds and beasts and reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their [own] hearts to sexual impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves [abandoning them to the degrading power of sin], 25 Because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever! Amen (so be it). [Jer 2:11.]
26 For this reason God gave them over and abandoned them to vile affections and degrading passions. For their women exchanged their natural function for an unnatural and abnormal one, 27 And the men also turned from natural relations with women and were set ablaze (burning out, consumed) with lust for one another — men committing shameful acts with men and suffering in their own bodies and personalities the inevitable consequences and penalty of their wrong-doing and going astray {their homosexual lifestyle}, which was [their] fitting retribution.

28 And so, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God or approve of Him or consider Him worth the knowing, God gave them over to a base and condemned mind to do things not proper or decent but loathsome, 29 Until they were filled (permeated and saturated) with every kind of unrighteousness, iniquity, grasping and covetous greed, and malice. [They were] full of envy and jealousy, murder, strife, deceit and treachery, ill will and cruel ways. [They were] secret backbiters and gossipers, 30 Slanderers, hateful to and hating God, full of insolence, arrogance, [and] boasting; inventors of new forms of evil, disobedient and undutiful to parents. 31 [They were] without understanding, conscienceless and faithless, heartless and loveless [and] merciless.

32 Though they are fully aware of God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them themselves but approve and applaud others who practice them. AMP

The preceding texts share with us the sinful nature of man’s mindset and spiritual heart after Adam and Eve sinned. The following texts reveal the imputed spiritual characteristics of God’s “divine nature” with His new characteristics which will enable you to live your daily life using your new characteristics of the “Fruit of the Spirit!”
2 Peter 1:5-11 Fruitful Growth in the Faith. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence{not giving up}, add to your faith virtue {moral excellence}, 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 {agape}. 8For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. NKJV

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the {spiritual} work which His presence within accomplishes] is love {Agape – unconditional love for God and others}, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence{/giving to others}), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence {abstinence from sexual sin}). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. AMP

Your new divine spiritual nature helps you to partake of the “Fruit of the Spirit.” This also has “works” which must be implemented and reflected in your life according to the Golden Rule and the Royal Law of Christ. The proper implementing of the “Fruit of the Spirit” will bring to fruition in your life a shield of faith that will extinguish all of the flaming darts of the enemy.

Luke 6:31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. NKJV

Galatians 6:2 Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it]. AMP

James 2:8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; NKJV

Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” NKJV

Ephesians 6:13, 16 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. NKJV