Possessing The Nature Of God ( 1)
EVERYTHING in existence partakes of the same nature, powers, attributes and characteristics that belong to its particular species or kind. The fish would have the attribute of fish and would be able to swim. So it is with human beings. When we have the nature of humans ( the nature of Adam), we are able to stand, walk, hear, see or speak. We also take on the customs, language and understanding of the people in the locality where we are born.
The same applies to the family of God. Born of God, purged by Christ and indwelt by the Spirit, we have the promise, privilege and power of the divine nature. The divine nature refers to the spiritual attributes of God ( His spiritual nature), the righteous character of God ( His righteous nature) and the supernatural possibilities of God ( His supernatural nature). Possessing the divine nature, therefore, makes us act like God.
“The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master”. You should be asking yourself: “How much am I near to the nature of Christ?” Having been saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost, with the privilege to pray, how much have all these helped you to attain and remain with the nature of God? Christ expects that we should be like Him. As He imparts His nature, power and the effect of Calvary on us, “nothing shall be impossible”.
And “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth”.
In the old covenant, many signs and mighty works were done. But the new covenant is better with endless possibilities. We need this nature to match and surpass what was done by those of the old covenant. For this to be, we must acknowledge that it is possible to have the nature; aspire to have it; ask for it; accept, appropriate and advance it in what we do and where we go. We also activate it and not allow it to go dormant.
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” This was God’s actual intention. However, because Adam and Eve had eaten the forbidden fruit, they lost the divine nature. All of humanity inherited this evil, satanic nature. “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually”.
Thus, He wanted to circumcise the Israelites so they would love Him with all their heart, soul and mind; and have the righteous, supernatural and spiritual nature of God in them. But they “corrupted themselves”. Instead of having the divine nature, they had the depraved nature. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.”
It is clear from the Scriptures that those who are not saved are part of the world and they have the depraved nature. They “walk in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God… Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness”. But Christ came to restore what we have lost and take away the depraved nature, so that we will have the divine nature. We must realise and resolve to have the nature of God active and operative in our lives to demonstrate that we God’s children. Further Reading ( King James Version): 2 Peter 1: 3,4; Luke 6: 40; John 14: 12; Matthew 17: 20; Mark 10: 27; 9: 23. Genesis 1: 26,27; 3: 9; 6: 5; Exodus 32: 7; Ephesians 2: 1- 3; Romans 1: 26,28,32; Ephesians 4: 17- 19. 2 Peter 1: 3,4; Genesis 1: 26,27; Romans 8: 29; 2 Corinthians 6: 16- 18; 3: 18; Colossians 3: 1- 4. 2 Peter 1: 3- 8.