His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue. 1 Peter 1:3 KJV
One amazing thing about the gospel is its completeness. The good news for every believer is the finished work of Christ. This means there is nothing added to it that can improve it, nor is there anything to cut off from it to make it more rounded. That Jesus came to earth as man, lived and died for our sins, was buried and resurrected to life, and is now at the right hand of the Father is a complete work of salvation. Today we learn how this work of salvation makes providence for all that we need for life and godliness.
This study would be broken into three parts: All you need for life, all you need for godliness, and through the knowledge of Him who has called you.
All you need for life. What does it mean to have all that you need for life?
Studies would tell us that there are three basic things we need for life: food, shelter, and clothing. But in my not-so-many years on earth, I have realized that it goes beyond that. You need good health for life. You need financial resources for life. You need peace of mind and joy for life. These are needs that are many times, beyond what man can control. Even the so-called basic ones aren’t so easy to come by. However, 1 Peter 1:3 makes a bold declaration that we already have everything we need for life.
The scripture, long before Jesus even came to earth, already made the prediction of our divine healing through Jesus in Isaiah 53:5. We are also told in 2 Cor. 8:9 that Jesus became poor, that we might become rich. Part of the fruit of the spirit which we are caused to exhibit by the Holy Spirit is joy and peace (Gal. 5:22).
So we see that the provision for all these things is already made available. When we pray, we do not need repetition of words. Just tell him what you need with faith and you shall receive. They are available but you will only access them by faith through prayer. God certainly would not say something He isn’t sure of. He would never make a promise He can’t keep. His word is written that it may not be changed.
All that you need for life is already available. If God so cares for ravens such that they lack nothing, how much more you, who is much valuable than ravens.
All that you need for godliness. What does it mean to have all that you need for godliness?
Godliness is living the God kind of life on earth, that’s living the eternal life of God on earth.
This means that even when you are satisfied with the good things of life, you would not lack the resources to remain in right standing with God. All that we need for Godliness is the grace of God. By the reason of your faith, you have received a new life and a new nature for that reason. Therefore your nature aligns with a godly one but it takes the grace of God through the renewal of our minds with the word of God, to be able to exhibit this nature. Romans 12:2
Our environment (the world) is structured to suppress this nature. But you have been given all that you need for godliness. We have an abundance of grace and the Holy Spirit Himself who is the Spirit of grace to help us remain godly regardless.
“Our environment (the world) is structured to suppress this nature. But you have been given all that you need for godliness. We have an abundance of grace and the Holy Spirit Himself who is the Spirit of grace to help us remain godly regardless.”
faith + blog
A proof that grace is what we need for godliness is seen in Titus 2:11-12 when the author of the book (by the revelation of the Holy Spirit) said that the grace of God teaches us to reject all ungodliness. If we truly believe we have been saved by grace through faith, then we must stay consistent with that faith that we remain saved by grace. All that you need for godliness is packed together in grace.
So you see, it’s not just your eternity God is concerned about. He is also concerned about your life now. And He doesn’t just cater for your life on earth and leave you to an unknown fate in the afterlife, He also made provision for your godliness. How awesome and deliberate God is!
Through your knowledge of Him.
Nevertheless, there is a path by which you receive and walk in these great promises: through your knowledge of Him. Growing in your knowledge of Christ helps you live a more godly life.
This is because you would be well aware of what He would have you do per time and in every situation. The more you know a person, the better you understand his or her ways, and the less likely you are to offend such person. It is the same with your walk with God.
Also, you can only know what is made available to you when you know God because your identity as a believer, is hidden in His. A beggar would continue to beg until he knows that his father is actually the king of the land. If you do not know who God is, how do you then expect to know who you are, let alone know what you have in Him?
It is the power of God that has made all these things -your being, identity, inheritance in Him, and His inheritance in you -available but it is only through your knowledge of Him that you will be able to walk in them and express them. Acts 17:28; Ephesians 1:17-19
The only person that can reveal God to us such that we then have a knowledge of Him is the Holy Spirit. If we are to even look at it closely, we realize that God’s divine power is the Holy Spirit and He who has called us is Jesus Christ. And Jesus is only revealed to us by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. So, it is advisable that every Christian stay in tune with the Holy Spirit at all times (through constant and persistent fellowshipping). That’s non-negotiable.
The summary of all this is that only those who know God (by the revelation of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God) can access all that they need for life and godliness. You would always be short of something needed for life and a godly one at that when you don’t know God. And the very first step to knowing God is to believe in His Son Jesus Christ. It is through Him that we can then gain access to the Father (John 14:6).
Faith+blog 