The following is taken from the thoughts of Pastor Hoekstra shared in my e-Sword Bible Studies program with some editing as required by the LORD'S Spirit. Now I have called upon the OT passages that verify all things of Christ within humanity. I also point to John 8:32 and chapters 14-17 as a study aid.
The Most Precious Promise of Shared Life:
By which have been given to humanity exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these humanity may be partakers of the divine nature . . . Christ has redeemed humanity from the curse of the Mosaic Law . . . that humanity might receive the promise of the Spirit through (His faith and obedience) faith. (2Peter 1:4 and Galatians 3:13-14)
Here's where we get at the heart of God's "exceedingly great and precious promises." By means of promise, the Lord made it possible for humanity to share in His life: "that through these [God's promises] humanity may be partakers of the divine nature."
What a remarkable prospect this is—that humanity could participate in the divine nature. Yet, the promises of GOD (as Yeshua...English translation Jesus) make this available to all of humanity. Of course, this does not mean that humanity becomes divine (as many false religions and some aberrant theologies espouse). GOD alone is, and will ever be, divine. "I am GOD, and there is no other; I am GOD, and there is none like Me" (Isaiah 46:9). Nonetheless, humanity can share in the life of GOD (Leviticus 17:11 and Hebrews 13:10 with Genesis 1:26-28 of Genesis 2:7), even though humanity will never become "a god" himself. This is accomplished by Jesus Christ coming to dwell within (humanity's flesh and thereby) the lives of those who believe Him. As the Lord Jesus died for humanity that He might give renewed life to humanity. "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes Me has everlasting life" (John 6:47). This life was in the humanity of (Yeshua, English... Jesus) that He wants to share with humanity His own life. "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life' . . . Jesus said to him, 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life' " (John 11:25 and John 14:6).
The Apostle Paul taught this great truth extensively. "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of GOD in human form as the likeness of, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus" (2Timothy 1:1). He understood that his apostolic ministry was not only anchored in GOD's Will, but it also depended upon the life that GOD promised. Thus, he confessed Christ as his very own life: "Christ who is our life" (Colossians 3:4). Paul was not the source of the daily Christ like life that he lived. "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). The Lord Jesus was Paul's life resource, as he is to be humanity's, that is to say you and me.
This is what the promise of the Spirit is about. "Christ has redeemed humanity from the curse of the Mosaic Law . . . that humanity might receive the promise of the Spirit through His faith." At new birth, the Holy Spirit also comes to indwell those who believe. The Spirit reveals these Truths to humanity through the word, Will of GOD. Then, the Spirit pours the life of Christ through every humble, dependent child of GOD (Genesis 2:7, Isaiah 43:1, 7, 10, 21, 44:2, 24, 45:18, 49:5, 54:17; Jeremiah 1:5, 33:2-3). "It is the Spirit Who gives life" (John 6:63).
LORD Yeshau, thank You for making Your life available to all of humanity. What a precious promise that is! Teach humanity to walk according to Your Spirit, that Your life might be expressed through humanity's life day by day, by the Spirit of Truth within and upon human forms. Amen.
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