EXCEEDINGLY GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES

“By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises” – 2 Peter 1:4a

GOD operates in realms of EXCEEDINGLY GREAT and PRECIOUS PROMISES: “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” (2Pet.1:4). FAITH is the proper response to the promises of God: It takes “precious faith” to obtain “precious promises” (vv.1, 4). The more we know and believe His promises, the better we can pray for, stand on, and cling to them. His promises are so amazing and wonderful that they are described as “exceedingly great and precious.” EXCEEDINGLY means unlimited, supernatural or beyond natural limits. GREAT infers large or surpassing. PRECIOUS depicts being of such rare value that a suitable price is hard to estimate!  

God’s promises are “exceedingly great” – far beyond magnificent. The Greek root behind this phrase provides the English prefix, “mega” – massive, huge or vast. His promises are innumerable, infinite in variety, and unfathomable in depth: “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” (Rom.11:33). Paul prayed that we “may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge” (Eph.3:18-19a). God’s promises straddle the spiritual, mental, and material realms. They touch our spirits, souls, and bodies. They fill time and over flow into eternity. They are “precious” – priceless and inestimable – beyond what any human or temporal treasure could ever secure.

Our meditation text reveals what it takes to mature in Christianity., as Peter unfolds God’s Growth plan for Christians. He urges Christians to understand that, through Grace and Peace with God, we are already equipped to lead the life to which He has called us, propelled by our awareness of His “exceedingly great and precious promises.” However, being equipped with His divine nature, we must deliberately nurture and maximise our potentials by striving to add certain virtues to our professed faith – excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love – leading to a productive and effective life. Lacking these Christ-like qualities will result in spiritual blindness and barrenness. Peter reminded believers of what they already knew, in order to stir them up, being mindful of his imminent passing.

Specifically, in verses 3 and 4, Peter reveals that through knowing God, we have all that we need to lead the life God calls us to – the “high calling of God in Christ” (Phil.3:14). In knowing Him He gives us everything we need for life and godliness. Jesus has shown us His glory and goodness by which we have obtained something of enormous worth: His promises! In human terms, we usually think of promises as things of limited value. We rarely count ourselves as having received anything until the promise is completely fulfilled. Experience has taught us that those too eager to make promises are usually the least dependable. How much value we place on a promise has everything to do with the person making it, and the confidence that it will be fulfilled. In this context, the God of the universe never lies or fails to keep His word.

Coming from Him, a promise is a Declaration of Certainty. A promise is Eternal Currency. Ponder for a moment on the preciousness of these promises: God’s Presence and Power; transformation by the power of His Holy Spirit; revelation of purpose in life; eternity in His family; an end to suffering; and crowns to overcomers. These promises are of such great value that merely possessing them has already given us right to participate in the “divine nature.” We are already partners with Christ in His ageless Project and eternal Agenda. We have escaped from the corruption and pollution that drown the world. We have been freed from the eternal penalty of sin, and rescued from our former destiny that headed in the direction of decay and destruction. We can now begin to answer Jesus’ call to live in realms of Glory and Goodness.