We love to quote 2 Peter 1:3–4 how the promises lead to making us “partakers of the divine nature”. Partakers in the NIV is “participants in the divine nature”, an amazing thought. What we miss in the passage is that “escaping corruption and lust” is also a part of the promises and not just “sharing” or “participating” in the divine nature. The desire for union with God must be greater than our “lust” or desire for anything else. “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15b NASB). We are called away from corruption to holiness. On our way to Him, we leave behind us the world with its passions and desires.
“His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature.” (2 Peter 1:3–4 NRSV).
