Partakers of the Divine Nature
Many people today are stuck in the thinking that the only difference between a believer and a non-believer is where they will spend eternity. Of course eternity is a topic that we all should thoughtfully consider however, it should not be the only thing that distinguishes a believer.
The Bible says in 2 Peter 1:4, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these (promises) you might be partakers of the DIVINE NATURE, having ESCAPED THE CORRUPTION THAT IS IN THE WORLD through lust.” The Bible is clear: Every believer has a mandate on their life to live the same life as Jesus lives. That is what Jesus said to us in John 10:10 when He said, “The thief comes not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have LIFE and have it MORE ABUNDANTLY.” The word “life” in the original Greek of which the New Testament was written is “Zoe” or “The God kind of life” or “Life as God has it.” He wants us to live as God lives, with His Nature, and without the corruption that is upon the world.
Unfortunately many believers are living far below the standards that God provided for them. Many Christians are dominated by the corruption of stress, fear, poverty, sickness, depression, and sinful living. Typically we focus more on what we were rather than what we are. I am all for preaching a holy lifestyle but constantly telling a Christian that they are still a sinner is going to keep them in the trap of sin. Jesus handled the sin problem. He destroyed all the works of the devil in the life of a believer. (1 John 3:8) If you keep telling them that they are just “sinners saved by grace” they will always live as sinners. We are saved by grace but if you are a believer then you are not a sinner. Jesus WASHED YOUR SIN AWAY and you are now living a new life as though sin never once occurred in your life. Sin would not be so enticing if we realized that God is living on the inside of us.
If we are going to see revival then what do we need to be teaching people? We need to teach them about the God-Nature that is available to them. People need to see LIFE as God has it walking in their midst. This power in a believer should attract attention to the Gospel. Jesus said in Mark 16:17-18, “And these SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE; in My Name they shall cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues, they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands upon the sick and the sick shall recover.” This is what a believer’s life looks like when they have been taught who they truly are in Christ.
Pastor Tim
Family Church Jamestown is a non-denominational church located in Chautauqua County in Jamestown between Lakewood and Busti, NY. The senior pastor of Family Church is Pastor Tim Stahlman a native to the Jamestown, NY area.
