Partakers of the Divine Nature

Roughly a month and a half ago on the Feast of Pentecost, I spoke about the temple of God, and the fact that we are the temple of God, and that God's Holy Spirit dwells in us as an indwelling presence. And by that Spirit, we have God the Father and Jesus Christ who dwell in us. And we walked through a number of scriptures there on Pentecost as it pertained to that topic. I'm not going to go back and revisit that, but today what I'd like to do is take the concept of God's Spirit in us another step further. I'd like us to consider not only that we have God's Spirit, if you've been baptized, if you've had the laying on of hands, and you've received God's Spirit, we have it. We know we have it, but it's not just enough to know. It's not enough to just say, I've got God's Holy Spirit, and have a nice day. No, the point is we need to be yielding to the Spirit. We need to be embracing God's Spirit in us, embracing His presence if we're going to grow into the children that God desires us to be. You know, baptism isn't the end goal. It's the beginning step of the next stage, and we receive God's Spirit literally as an indwelling presence. The title for my message today is the partakers of the divine nature. Partakers of the divine nature. It's literally what we become, and what we're moving towards as we not only receive God's Spirit, but we embrace it and yield ourselves to God's work in our life. We are partakers of the divine nature. In Genesis chapter 1 and verse 26, God said, God created the first man Adam on the earth, and he brought him forth into physical existence. But what we have to understand is that the creation that God had planned wasn't complete in Adam as he stood on his feet in that physical existence. You know, it was the first step. But it was not the completion of let us make man in our image. As he was created in the flesh, Adam, and by extension you and I are incomplete when you hold it up against that standard of the image of God, the likeness of God. We are incomplete. There's still a creation process that must take place. The physical creation is not what God desires to have in his kingdom for eternity. You know, it's where his children start, but his children for all eternity are not intended to be physical with their humanity, with their frailties, with their, frankly, carnal nature that they must overcome. And so it is where we start, but it is not to be where we end, and it is not the end result of what God is creating. Again, from the beginning, let us make man in our image according to our likeness. Indeed, the creation that God began in us at our conception will not be completed in the flesh alone, but rather the completion of that creation will come in the spirit and by the spirit of God, and as it continues today, by the spirit of God in us, working with us, bringing us along in this creation process. God's ultimate creation, as Genesis 1.26 says, again, is according to the image and the likeness of God. And by that spirit, he continues to mold us into fashion us, just as God fashioned Adam out of the dust of the ground and actually brought a form into being, breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and he became a living being. He is forming and molding and shaping us today by his spirit. He is the potter and we are the clay. And this is the continuing extension of the creation process that God is bringing us through.

And as God's people, it's not enough to know we possess God's spirit. We must also act on that knowledge. We must respond to God's work. This is an interactive process. We don't just sit back and say, all right, God, finish what you started and just leave it at that. This is a process where we engage with God actively through our prayers, through our studies, fasting, meditation, those spiritual disciplines. It is a relationship, a covenant relationship whereby God has set the terms, but we reach towards him as our Father, as Stuart was saying, and he responds towards us as well, creating in his children the very likeness of what his family will be. The Bible shows us that we have two options set before us once we receive God's spirit. We can either stir it up in our lives, you know, ignite that fire into a blaze and maintain it, or we can quench it to sort of say, well, you know, this really isn't me. This isn't my focus. It's not what I'm doing today. Kind of push it off into a corner. We could stir it up or we can quench it. Those are our two options. The question is, which is it we will choose? The choice is ours.

As the spiritual temple of God, brethren, we've not become partakers of something that is merely physical or temporary. That's what we are in the flesh apart from God. We're temporary beings that have a limited span. We're corruptible and then we're done. All right? We go back to the dust from which we came. But what God is doing in us is not temporary. His spirit in us is not physical or temporary. It is divine. And frankly, brethren, the work that God does in us as His children is divine as well. When something is divine, it has eternal consequences. I want to begin today in 2 Peter chapter 1.

Second Peter chapter 1. Again, what God is doing and what it is we must yield ourselves to.

Second Peter chapter 1 and beginning in verse 1, says, Simon Peter, a bond servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. Verse 2, grace and peace be multiplied to you in knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. Now, God's Spirit is a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind. And by God's Spirit, He does works of power. And it says here, by the divine power of God is given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. As in, nothing's lacking. As in, if you have here the Word of God, as it is before you, and you have the Spirit of God dwelling in you, and you are yielding to it, you don't need to go searching for something else. Something else to be added to this to then bring about salvation and what God has called us to, says He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue. Verse 4, by which you have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that it is in the world through lust. The Holy Spirit that we have as an indwelling isn't just some random power that we receive at our baptism, brethren. It is the very presence of the Almighty God in you. Again, like was mentioned in the first message, the fact is we have essentially God's DNA in us and we're being formed into His likeness, being brought into birth in this spiritual process whereby we are literally the children of God.

If we're going to be the children of He who is divine and of the divine nature and by the Spirit He's given us, it is that extension by then we can become partakers of the divine nature ourselves. And so if God lives in you and you embrace that presence in your life and you respond to it, you literally become, as Peter said, partakers of the divine nature. Is God's nature in you? It's His literal presence. He's working with you. He's molding you. He's bringing you along in this creation process, brethren. That is continuous. So ultimately we reach the fulfillment of what God intended from the beginning in His form, in His likeness. And that includes the full spiritual essence of what it is that we will be one day. A few questions for us to consider as we start the message today. How much are we yielding ourselves to the process that God is doing? How much are we yielding ourselves to this process, to the work, to the creation that God is doing within us? How much are we allowing God to fashion and to mold us into the image He desires?

He's the potter. We're the clay. And sometimes, you know, because that clay doesn't just start out in the finished form, you have a lump. Sometimes that clay has to be pounded, has to be molded. It has to be molded. Sometimes it's not coming together in the shape right, right? Maybe it's got to be pounded back into that ball again. But the master potter knows what the product in the end is to be. And He is the master. We are the clay. How much do we submit to that process? And finally, how much do we resist that process, actually, through the carnal nature that we hang on to? We like to think that at baptism, that man is gone. That is the symbolism. That is the goal. But I think we understand in reality the carnal nature seeks to reassert itself in our life. If we allow it, what are we holding on to? That could be actually living in active resistance to the work God is doing. We have to assess ourselves for those things. We have to overcome those things. Again, this is important for us to consider today, brethren, because this is not a remodeling project that God is doing. It's not like He found an old house on the street corner that He said, I can fix that up. You know, new roof, new windows, new carpet, and it's good to go. It's not a remodeling project where you kind of just spruce up the carnal nature into something that's acceptable. You know, the carnal nature has to be bulldozed, leveled, removed.

They're doing road construction about a mile from where we live, and all the streets or all the houses on that street that front that road, they've gone through there and they've torn out the fences. They've torn out, in many cases, as well, trees that are bordering the road there in front of those houses. And in one case, there was a house that had been vacant for a number of years. It was foreclosed on. The grass all grown up. Big locust tree in the front yard. And I drove by there one day and the tree crew is out there. Again, they're widening this strip. Looks like they're putting in sidewalks and a bike lane, but the tree crew is out there. And in my mind, this is a tree crew's dream. They get to get out there with this massive tree and they got to drop it right on the house.

But later, the bulldozer was there and they knocked the house down. They leveled it. There were trucks. They were loading it up and hauling it away. And 48 hours later, there was nothing but a hole in the ground where the foundation had been. Everything else was cleared. Now it's ready for the new construction that will take place. And that's what God does in us if we submit to it. Through our baptism, the carnal nature needs to be cleared, completely removed for the construction that God is doing, the creation, and to righteousness. Verse 5, continuing on, still in 2 Peter chapter 1, verse 5, it says, But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. These are added one on top of the other. It's part of the forming of the new nature that God is doing in us. Verse 8, For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Again, this is a transformation from the carnal to the spiritual mind of God to become now partakers of the divine nature. For partaking in it, in part, is a process. The ultimate fulfillment will be at our change, but God in us is what allows us to partake of it today.

Again, we can't be walking through this, considering that a partial transformation is fine. As partakers of the divine nature and embracing it with all of our being and yielding to God's work in us, our conduct must then come to reflect God, our character, the words that we speak, how we live.

And that's not a partial transformation. We can't say, you know what, I used to be a bad boy, used to be a bad girl, and you know, I like that thing about my nature. I'd like that. I think I'm going to hang on to that. We'll just kind of bring it in and incorporate it with what God's doing.

I like those things about me. That doesn't work. It doesn't work. Leads to trouble. God says, I'm recreating. It's part of the creation process, but from the carnal to the spiritual, a complete transformation. Notice Romans 8. We were here in the Sermonet, Romans chapter 8 and verse 5. It says, For those who live according to the flesh, they set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

What is your focus? What is your attention truly set on? Verse 6, for to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, because the carnal mind is enmity against God. It's not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Again, complete transformation from the carnal nature to the divine nature of God in us. Verse 9, But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. If indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now, if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, which dwells in you.

These aren't conflicting scriptures. God dwells in us through the Spirit. Christ dwells in us through the Spirit. It's not differing spirits. It's the Spirit of God. And through that Spirit, they live in us. Verse 12, Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if by the Spirit you put the death, the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. So it begins at our baptism. It begins at the laying on of hands and the receiving of God's Holy Spirit.

But the question is, as that process continues, are we going to yield to it? Are we going to allow God's divine nature to be formed in us? Or are we going to be resisting with whatever carnality may still be hanging on in our own spirit? It says, again, that was verse 14. It says, as many as are led by the Spirit of God.

You have a choice. You can stir it up and allow it to lead you, or you can quench it. Push it aside. But those that are led by it, these, it says, are the sons of God. Verse 15, you do not receive the Spirit of bondage again to fear, but you receive the Spirit of adoption or sonship by which we cry out, Abba, Father.

The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And if children then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, and if indeed we suffer with Him, then we may also be glorified together.

This is a family relationship that's talking about, and it's talking about a nature that will belong to that family and will identify that family. It's the nature of Christ. It must be the nature of us, going to be children of God, and joint heirs with Christ. Again, a complete transformation that must take place. We'll look at a couple more scriptures just briefly about the total transformation process, because I think our struggle in the flesh oftentimes is we hang on to a piece of this and a piece of that.

And the biggest hang-up, I would say in many cases, to not actually making this transformation fully as God would intend, is the things that we desire to hang on to. And I think that's why God would bring us time after time, year after year, back to the days of 11 bread.

Why do we put the leavening out? Why do we search for sin? Why do we have that self-examination coming up to the Passover? Again, it's to look for those things that are enmity against God and are resistant to the divine nature. 2 Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 17.

2 Corinthians 5 verse 17, the Apostle Paul writing, he says, therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. All things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. Again, the conversion process is a complete transformation by which we go from the carnal to the spiritual. But you're never going to fully come to the one if you don't overcome the other. There's a scientific term that probably most of you have heard. It says, nature abhors a vacuum. Nature abhors a vacuum. As in, if you take something out of a space, then something else is going to move in and replace it. And the point is, you need to control what it is that replaces the carnal nature in your life. You could have a glass that's full of air. And, you know, that air could represent the carnal nature. And you can conduct an experiment. How do you get the air out of that glass? Well, it's quite simple, actually. You don't have to overthink it. Take a gallon jug of water and fill that glass with water. And the air will be displaced, pushed out. But what about the carnal nature, then, that is displaced by God's Holy Spirit? The living water that flows into us. Again, through this conversion and creation process. Nature abhors a vacuum. If you're going to clear out that space, something else is going to be moved in. We need to displace the carnal nature by filling our life with the divine nature in the Spirit of God, by yielding to Him and responding, allowing Him to work in us. Romans chapter 12 verse 1.

Romans 12 verse 1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. It's a reasonable response given the sacrifice Christ made for us. Verse 2. And do not be conformed to this world, to the carnal nature and the ways of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Again, it's a complete transformation. If you want to come to know the mind of God and the will of God, you need to be filled with the nature of God, be responding to His Spirit. Again, this isn't just a sit-back and wait for God to do His thing. This is an interactive process. This is a covenant, and there are two parties in a covenant that have entered into agreement with each other. And the terms of the covenant must be upheld by both parties. And we respond to God in obedience, in seeking after Him, in seeking to build this relationship. And in doing so, in His response, His Spirit fills us and gives us His nature more and more. Jesus Christ is the perfect example, right? He's the perfect example of one who was filled with and lived according to the divine nature. Christ never sinned, and it wasn't that He never had opportunity. No, He was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin. The opportunity was always there, and yet why didn't He sin? Well, because it wasn't His nature. It wasn't in His character to sin. He was filled with the divine nature. He lived according to the divine nature of God. Let's notice John chapter 1 in verse 14. Let's take a moment and look at the nature that filled Jesus Christ when He walked the earth. John chapter 1 in verse 14 says, and the Word became flesh. The Word that being the one who had God with God from the beginning, it says, the Word became flesh dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. What was Christ full of? It says He was full of grace and truth, two important elements of the divine nature. God's nature is directed in grace and truth. Colossians chapter 1 verse 13. Colossians 1 verse 13 in the nature of Christ. Verse 13 says, this is speaking of the Father, it says, He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He, Jesus Christ, is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

And so there is a God who is the invisible God, and then there is Jesus Christ who is the image of Him. He is the image of Him. In the Greek, the term invisible is aritos, aritos, it's spelled A-O-R-A-T-O-S. And don't hold me to my Greek translation, but aritos, the word from which we get invisible, and according to the Greek, Thayer's Greek lexicon, it says it means either not seen or unseen, or that cannot be seen, invisible. So what we have here is that Christ is the image, the visible image of the unseen God, the invisible God. That term image in the Greek is icon.

You probably heard a similar word in the English, icon. Icon, you fire up your computer and what's on the desktop screen, you click on an icon, right, on an image that is representative there of that program behind it. Well, this icon in the Greek is spelled E-I-K-O-M. Jesus Christ is the icon of the invisible God. And Thayer's lexicon says this about icon. It says it's an image, a figure, a likeness, one in whom the likeness of anyone is seen. It denotes not only mere similarity, but likeness. So what Colossians chapter 1 verse 15 is saying is that Jesus Christ is the image or the likeness of the God who is unseen or the invisible God.

That's why Christ could say to Philip, well, if you've seen me, you've seen the Father. He walked as He walked. He spoke. You know, if the Father were in Christ's place walking the earth, it would have been the same outcome. It would have been the same expression of words and mercy and love, the same expression of that, because Christ lived in the same divine nature and character as His Father. He was the icon, the likeness of God. And as such, He was filled with God's Spirit, right? And He walked by the Spirit. And that divine nature was a part of who and what He was. Verse 16 says, For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions, principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him, is before all things. In Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. Verse 19, For it please the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell. Please the Father that in Christ all the fullness should dwell. All the fullness of what? What was the fullness that dwelled in Jesus Christ?

Well, in Christ it was the fullness of the likeness of the divine nature of God. It's that nature that dwelled in Him through the Spirit.

Again, it wasn't like His way of thinking was different than the Father's. It wasn't like He had His own plan that He was going to take care of. Now, God was with Him. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. He re-yielded to it in His life. He responded to it and He lived His life according to the divine nature.

It pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell. You see this confirmed further in Hebrews chapter 1. Let's go there. Hebrews chapter 1 verse 1.

It says, God, who at various times, in various ways, spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds. Verse 3, who being the brightness of His glory, in the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. Verse 3 is interesting. There's a bit contained here. So I'm going to read it to you again, but I want to read it from the New Living Translation, because I think the wording just adds a little bit further clarity to the meeting. Again, Hebrews 1 verse 3. This is the New Living Translation. It says, the Son radiates God's own glory, and He expresses the very character of God, and He sustains everything by the power, mighty power of His command. When He had cleansed us from our sins, He sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. And so the term that we have here, the express image, at least it's in my new King James, and I think it's in the King James as well. I didn't go look, but the express image in verse 3, it's a different Greek word than the word we had translated image back in Colossians. Remember, that was icon, alright, a likeness. The express image here, that phrase, is translated from the Greek word character, or a character. You can guess, again, what would be the English word we get from this express image. It's spelled C-H-A-R-A-K-T-E-R, character, right? And the definition references, if you go and look at it, actually the instruments that were used for engraving or stamping an impression. It was like a coin that was being reproduced, you know, you kind of had, maybe you have this mince where they're punching out coins, and you have this blank coming across, and you have this die that comes down, and it stamps. And it's an exact replica of that which has stamped it, of the die. It's essentially what the term express image means. Jesus Christ is the express image of the Father. He bears the exact impression of the divine nature and the divine character that the Father possesses. So when Jesus Christ walked the earth, he didn't, again, walk to the beat of his own drum. He was in tune with the Father. His works were what the works that his Father wanted him to do. He was pleasing to his Father, and all that he did, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and yielded himself to it. And he was the express image of God, filled with the divine nature of God. Again, you can understand Christ's frustration of Philip's lack of understanding. When Philip said, you know, just show us the Father, it'll be sufficient. And Christ essentially said, really, Philip? Really, you've been with me so long, haven't you seen? Don't you get it? If you've seen me, you've seen the Father. Again, the express image, the representation, not that he was literally the Father, but if you've seen me, you've seen him. If you've heard me, you've heard him. That divine nature and that essence is the essence of who and what he was and his character. Colossians chapter 2 and verse 6.

The reason I'm going through this, brethren, is because Christ is our example. Right? He's the one we're looking to imitate as we walk in this flesh. He walked in the flesh, filled with the divine nature. His character was according to the divine nature. And we look to him and God has given us a portion. He's given us a down payment on eternal life in the fullness of what we will one day be by his spirit in us. Are we walking according to it? Are we yielding to it? Again, there's an example that we're reaching for. Colossians chapter 2 and verse 6 says, As you therefore have received Jesus Christ the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Verse 8, But beware lest any one cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, or as could be translated, the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form. And you are complete in him who is the head of all who is the head of all principality and power.

So what does the apostle Paul mean here when he says about Christ that in him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily? Again, he's our example. He's the one we look to.

Well, again, this is a reference to the divine nature that filled Jesus Christ as he walked the earth. It was the express image. He was the icon. He was the likeness. He was the representation of the Father who had sent him. Jesus Christ was Emmanuel, right? He was God with us, a being who had been God with God from the beginning now in the flesh. His divine nature didn't change just because he was in the flesh and walking the earth. His existence changed. He was now a physical being, but he was joined to his Father by the Spirit. And his divine nature guided and directed the way in which he lived. Christ was tempted in all points as we are.

The opportunity to sin was before him. The opportunity to pursue acts and the expression of the carnal nature was always before him. The opportunity to lust, right? He could have just as easily as anyone else looked on a man, looked on a woman, whatever gender you want to pick, the opposite sex, look at them and to lust. Christ could have done that in his heart had he chosen to. Christ could have hated his brother. He could have had murder in his heart had he chosen to, but he would not do so. Why? Because it wasn't in his nature and character to do so. As Christians, brethren, he is our example. We strive to be as he was. We strive to live as he lived. When he walked and talked, you saw the Father reflected. When we walk and talk, what do others see reflected? How much is it us? And how much is it that is of God? But again, the divine nature guided and directed Jesus Christ's life. It must be what guides and directs our life as well.

Our goal is to be of the same nature and the same character as Christ. Philippians chapter 2, verse 5, we won't turn there, but Paul said, let this mind be in you. Probably finished the sentence, which was also in Christ Jesus. He said, let that same mind that Jesus Christ had be in you. What was the mind of Christ? Well, it was the mind that was filled with the Spirit of God walking and acting according to God. And his nature was according to the divine nature. So let this mind be in you, which was in Christ Jesus. Why do you think Paul would say, let? Why let? Well, how about because it doesn't come naturally? According to our carnal nature, we resist the mind of God. We resist the nature of God. They're in conflict, right? Romans 8, carnal mind is enmity against God, is not subject to the long God, nor indeed can be. So those who are in the flesh cannot please God. There's a war going on. You're not going to fully put on the one unless the other is displaced. This is a creation process that is taking place in our lives. We must let the mind of God be in us, the mind of Christ be in us. We must yield to it. We must submit to God. Allow that nature to be developed. It's a relationship. Jesus Christ is the example we strive to emulate as we yield ourselves to the divine nature by the Spirit of God, the Spirit which He's given us. And if we're truly partakers of the divine nature now, we will be seeking to live as Christ lived, to walk as He walked.

Again, let's notice He's our example. Ephesians chapter 4.

Ephesians 4 verse 11 It says, And He Himself, speaking of Christ, gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry, ministry means service, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Why? Verse 13, Till we all come to the unity of the faith, and to the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Christ-like individual is the goal.

To walk as He walked, to live as He lived, that is the goal that is set before us in this flesh, and it is a lot of work in the flesh. It's a huge challenge, actually. And I can only speak for myself. I can tell you Paul Moody has a long way to go.

It's a challenge. But we work. We submit to God's work in us. It is the goal that is set before us that we reach for with all our might the stature of the fullness of Christ. Who do we measure ourselves against? If it's another human being, the mark is too low, and likely pride will say, I'm better than them. But if we measure ourselves against Christ and the nature of God, the divine nature that He had, and the standard that our Father has given us to look to, then I think we all realize there's work to be done. There's growth that must take place. This is a process.

Christ was the perfect example of the divine nature in action. We need to seek after that. So what does the divine nature look like? Again, what does the process in action look like? Well, we can continue reading verse 14. So in Ephesians 4, it says that we should no longer be children tossed to and fro, carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, and the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things, and to Him who is the head Christ, from whom the whole body joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effect of working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edification of itself in love. This isn't some delusional idea that Paul is expressing here. You know, this wasn't a pipe dream. What are you smoking, Paul? You describe all these things. This is not some standard that's just out there somewhere, unobtainable. This is to be the norm in the body of Christ. This is what God and Christ have designed and how they have laid it out for the body to function when the members who come together are filled with that essence, God's Spirit, and the divine nature, their partaking of it is being formed within them. They will come together and they will work together in a way that builds and grows and edifies.

That's the standard. That shouldn't seem like the exception. That should seem like the norm. And, brethren, it's an attitude that will be prevalent among us if we are indeed partakers as well of the divine nature. This is what the body of Christ will look like. Carrying on verse 17, this I say therefore and testify in the Lord that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart, who being past feeling have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness and greediness. This is describing what being given over to the carnal nature looks like. Verse 20, but you have not so learned Christ. It's not the example you saw. It wasn't the nature that was displayed. It wasn't the gospel you heard. And it wasn't the covenant that you partook of. Not according to the carnal nature. There's a difference. There's a growth process that must take place. Again, verse 20, you have not so learned Christ. If indeed you have heard him and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus. Verse 22, that you put off concerning your former conduct the old man, which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, that you put on the new man, which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness. Notice this is a new creation. It is a new man. It is not a remodeling project of the old nature. Verse 25, therefore putting away lying, let each of one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry and do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification that may impart grace to the hearers. Again, we're talking about a changed nature and the expression of it. Verse 30, and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. But let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking put away from you with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God in Christ forgave you. Again, this is describing the divine nature of God in action, if it indeed is being yielded to in our lives. These examples, these details will be the expression of how we live, how we interact with one another. Again, Jesus Christ was the perfect image of God, possessing the divine nature of God when He walked the earth. He was our example. By yielding ourselves to the Spirit of God, we too are being transformed into the very same image, the very same divine nature of God by the Spirit. Second Corinthians chapter 3.

Second Corinthians chapter 3. Again, I want us to see, remember, Christ was the icon. Christ was the express image of God.

And it's the image that you and I are being transformed into as well, by the Spirit of God. Second Corinthians chapter 3 and verse 14. I'm gonna break into the middle of the context here. It says, But their minds were blinded, for until this day the same veil remains un-lifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless, verse 16, when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image.

Being transformed into the same image, okay, from glory to glory, justice by the Spirit of the Lord. So if we yield ourselves willingly to the process, if we continue to work to lay aside whatever remnant of the carnal nature that we may say, you know, I like that about that guy, I want to bring it along with me. If we let these things go and allow God to work in us and form his divine nature in us, then the very same divine nature which is in God and Christ will be formed in us by the Spirit of God. We will be partakers of the divine nature.

Rather than when we become partakers of the divine nature, it means that our ways come in alignment with God's ways. Our thoughts come in alignment with God's thoughts. Our actions come in alignment and our representative of the God whom we serve and the character and the nature of God. We won't turn there, but Jeremiah 31 describes the New Covenant, beginning in about 31 and moving forward from there. But Jeremiah 31 describes the New Covenant which would involve God writing his laws on our minds and on our hearts. When we receive God's Spirit, the words and the commandments of God are internalized. They're ingrained in us. There's things that we no longer just simply know, but they become a part of who and what we are. Just as Christ walked the earth and he wouldn't have sinned because it wasn't in his nature to sin, when we're truly yielding ourselves to the divine nature and it becomes a part of our nature. The laws, the words, the commandments of God become a part of not just what we know as Stuart said, academic head knowledge, becomes literally a part of our nature, part of the transformation that is taking place within us. And we become conformed to his image. That's what God means. Again, when he says, I'll write my law on their hearts and on their minds. It means they will be both at the core of their transformed nature, looking at the nature of looking and acting and demonstrating the nature of God in action to the glory of God. God lamented about Israel in Deuteronomy 5.29 saying, oh, that they had such a heart in them. You know, if only they had that heart, if only they had that desire and that yearning and that yielding to me. Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear me and always keep my commandments, that it would be well with them and their children forever.

When you are partakers of the divine nature, you have that heart in you. If you're yielding to it, you're allowing God's Spirit to express who and what he is within your life. You don't have to go now, suddenly go look at a plaque of the Ten Commandments on the wall to be reminded, oh, right, I'm not supposed to worship idols. But maybe I'll go steal today and you walk by the front door and you see the plaque and, oh, what was I thinking? I forgot that that commandment was listed there. That's not the point. When God's nature becomes our nature, you don't have to walk around with, you know, the phylactery, the box kind of hanging and dangling between your eyes, where you've got writing to remind you to keep the laws of God. Not if you're truly yielding to the Spirit of God. Nothing wrong with having the Ten Commandments on display. We have a plaque hanging in the entryway of our house. And it's a wonderful thing, so I'm not pushing against that. My point is this. You don't need outward symbolism to remind you to live according to the principles of righteousness, because it is God's Spirit within you that guides you in the way. It is the law written in your minds and on your hearts as a part of your nature, the divine nature of God that dwells in you and that convicts your heart. When we are partakers of the divine nature, God's ways become our ways. His thoughts become our thoughts. His character becomes our character. And just like Jesus Christ, it becomes a part of our nature not to even desire sin.

Wouldn't that be great? Well, hopefully we're moving closer and closer to that. To not even by the Spirit and nature of God in us, to not even desire sin.

Let's conclude over in Galatians chapter 5.

Galatians 5 verse 16.

Think about the concept of not even desiring sin, because it's not in your nature. It's not in your character to even want to go there. Galatians chapter 5 and verse 16. I say then, walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Did you get that? I'll read it again. Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

You want to push the effects of the carnal nature out of your life? Push the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life out? I don't mean to make it sound easy. It's a lot of hard work. Oh, by God's Spirit, we can do so. How? Again, it's like that glass full of air, which represents the carnal nature. You want to fill it with the living waters of God's Spirit to displace the nature, the flesh, the carnal things that pull on us on a regular basis. Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Verse 17, for the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. There's a battle taking place, and these are contrary to one another so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. You're not going to come under that penalty of death. Now, the works of the flesh are evident, which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like. Which I tell you beforehand, just as I told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Brethren, this is serious business. There is a nature which leads to life, and there is a nature which leads to death.

We've been given option of both, and we have a choice that we must make. Verse 22 says, but the fruit of the Spirit is love, it's joy, it's peace, it's long suffering, kindness and goodness and faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such there is no law.

These are the fruits that are going to be visible, that are going to be evident and displayed in our lives, brethren, if we are indeed partakers of the divine nature, allowing God to live in us by his Spirit. Verse 24 says, and those who are Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Are we there yet? I have to admit I'm still working on it, but hopefully I'm making progress. Those who are Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. This is what we are to be. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit, but let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

So what does it mean to become a partaker of the divine nature? What does that look like? What does that mean? Again, to be a partaker of the divine nature. Well, to be a partaker of the divine nature means that the characteristics of God's nature are becoming our own. The very characteristics of God's nature, His character, who He is, is becoming us. That we're becoming more and more like Jesus Christ, the icon, the likeness, the express image of God because of His Spirit in us and our yielding to Him. To the degree that that is not happening in our lives is the degree to which we are not yielding ourselves fully to the work that God is doing. We must be careful, brethren. This is not intended to be a heavy hammer sermon, but it is a warning to us. Let us be careful to move self out of the way and allow God to do His work. Otherwise, we will not be in the kingdom of God. It's that serious. So the degree to which we say, well, I'm not there, is the degree in which Paul Moody needs a light of fire under himself and say, I need to be heading there. Christ in me, the hope of glory, working according to the calling of God. It's a personal responsibility that each and every one of us have. We have a choice. You can quench the Spirit, or you can stir up the Spirit. The choice is yours.

In the beginning, God said, let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. And the condition in which we were born in the flesh is that best incomplete when held up against that standard. It's a creation process that is continuing, that is still taking place. We've not yet been brought to the fullness of what God intends for us to be. Not even today, not even with His Spirit. But one day we will, if we respond accordingly. The Bible shows that at the resurrection, the same Spirit will give us eternal life, allowing us to live on the same plane of existence as God and Christ, having been transformed into the same kind of beings, the same form, the same likeness, the same spiritual character in nature as God and Christ. But we're working on that process today, God's Spirit in us. Rather than that's our incredible potential. Again, to one day be partakers of the divine nature in the fullest, in the ultimate sense. And then when He is revealed, we shall see Him as He is, because we will be as He is. Same form, same likeness, the same nature. Let us today be willing participants in this creation process. Let us yield to God's Spirit in us, allowing His very own divine nature to take hold of you and me. And as we put in the hard work that is required, and there is hard work, there is much hard work, but that is our response to God. As we put in that hard work, let us rest assured, let's be confident of this very thing that He who has begun a good work in you, a creation in you, will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.