Becoming a Partaker of the Divine Nature - by Pastor Doug Riggs

by John Mark on 09/22/24

This was originally recorded on October 5, 2016, Doug’s message along with a discussion.

My notes:

Many times we hear Doug read scriptures that include the phrase "the knowledge of God". He expands it to "the epign?sis, the full knowledge of God". The idea of this term includes full, complete, mature, correct, precise and correct knowledge. This Greek term is not the same as gin?sk? or gn?sis, other words translated as knowledge that do not include the epi prefix. The word gin?sk? includes the concept "to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of; be aware of, feel, have knowledge, perceive, to understand.” The term gn?sis contains the idea of general intelligence, understanding; the general knowledge of our faith; includes a deeper and more enlarged knowledge, and moral wisdom. Additionally we find another word translated "know", eid?, includes the idea to perceive with the senses, discover, observe, to see, look, inspect or examine. An example of this is the unclean spirit crying out, "I know who You are—the Holy One of God!" (Mark 1:24)

Each term is so important, but to lump them together hides their important distinctions. For example: "This is eternal life, that they may know (gin?sk? - learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of) You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (John 17:3) Having such knowledge, we are to "grow in the grace and knowledge (gn?sis - intelligence, understanding) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). Taking it a step further, we are not merely invited to know our Lord in a general way, certainly not knowing about him, but to know Him in a full, mature, and complete way. Thus, "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge (epign?sis) of God and of Jesus our Lord." (2 Peter 1:2) This is the word used in Paul's amazing prayer in Ephesians 1 for "a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge (epign?sis) of Him."

For those of us who read the scriptures and want to know what terms are used in the original language, I recommend the Blue Letter Bible website: https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb95/2pe/1/4/s_1157004. I believe Doug used it often.

That's a rabbit trail... I hope it sheds some light where it will be useful. We've been so privileged and blessed to have had Doug teaching from the original languages. It's like turning black and white images to vibrant color. Getting back to Doug's message:

How do we become a partaker of the divine nature? As we put off the old man, what and who we are in the Adamic nature, we put on the new man in Christ, making no provision for the flesh. We do this by faith, and faith is not a passive feeling. Faith implies obedience. Becoming a partaker of the divine nature brings us into fellowship with our Lord, who is light, and with others walking in that light. Partaking of the divine nature and walking in fellowship with God and one another manifests the intrinsic eminence, moral virtue and excellence of God in Christ. This is where "the glory and nature of God can be progressively seen in our lives." Effective spiritual warfare requires us to be partakers of the divine nature.

Doug clears up the confusion we might have when it comes to the aspect of the fruit of the spirit that includes self-control. "Have you ever tried to exercise self-control? Try it; it never works." This self-control isn't us controlling ourselves. "There is a dominion available to us that operates from within. We have to be mastered by another Master." That's us yielding to the control of the Holy Spirit who rules from within us. "Self is controlled by God... It's a self that is under the control ... under the dominion of God."

When Doug quoted from Romans 5 where it uses the Greek word dokim? (for approved character), it reminded me of the judgments leveled in Romans 1 against so much of what we see today, that "God gave them over to a depraved (adokimos) mind." The prefix (a) negates the word dokim?, so it's the opposite of what God gives us when we persevere in tribulation. Just look at the news. There's ample proof our world is under this judgment. Not convinced? Check out Rachel Levine, the transvestite US Assistant Secretary for Health, who is also an Admiral in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps; not exactly "a character that has been tested and stands approved". How about the insanity of the presidential race between the two candidates? The whole Covid fiasco reflected (and continues to reflect) world-wide insanity with the ineffective forced social distancing, masks, and lockdowns. It makes us want to cry, "Maranatha!!! Come, Lord Jesus!!!"

We've heard the phrase 'the testimony of Jesus'. The Elder John in the last book of the Bible mentions it three times. Doug explains, "The measure in which we are making known the power and coming of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:16), that's the measure in which the testimony of Jesus is actually in evidence in our lives." It's not something we work up or come up with. "When you speak the truth, something is happening in them. There's something coming forth more than just words." For Peter, this was the difference between being an eyewitness to being a partaker of the divine nature.

Speaking of the world we live in - the world system, Doug reminds us, "Everything here according to 2 Peter Chapter 3 is reserved for fire. Nothing will be saved." We'll see some of this occurring in the soon-coming judgment, the day of the Lord (7-year tribulation), and then, ultimately, when this universe is burned up and a new one established.

I recently watched a new movie, "God's Not Dead; In God We Trust". It's a political action message to get the Christians to vote in the coming election. For me, it was disconcerting, considering the fact that elections are seriously rigged, proved scientifically but dismissed by the powerful narrative that to say so makes one a conspiracy nut. This country is not run by an electorate; much (or most) of what we see in the news and politics is not the truth; Satan is the god of this world; ...etc. I'm reminded of the difference between Abraham and his nephew Lot. Abraham looked "for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God." Lot chose Sodom. When the angels came to Sodom to extricate Lot, he "was sitting in the gate of Sodom". That's the place of government. The governing council conducted their court and administrative duties at the city gate. Perhaps Lot thought he could influence them to do better - to tone down their sin - to act like good, righteous people. Perhaps he was a politician - even holding political office. Lot was called "righteous" (2 Peter 2:7), "oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men". That sounds like the actor portraying a pastor running for Congress in the movie.

So what's the conclusion? Abraham made the right choice; Lot didn't. To make matters worse, on the precipice of Sodom being destroyed, as he escaped with his wife, she demonstrated where her heart was by turning back. "Remember Lot's wife." (Luke 17:32). Where is our heart? Hoping America returns to its Christian foundations? ... or looking for the blessed hope, our exodus from this dark and squalid place where we are sojourners? Are we looking off and away unto Jesus, or looking back and wishing we could stay here and make it better? I'm voting for Jesus - not Trump - not Harris.

I don't mean to dissuade anyone who believes God is leading them to be involved in civil government. That's between you and the Lord. I'm just wanting to make sure our eyes are open, at least a bit, to the fact that this nation (and others) are under God's judgment and the day of the Lord is ever so close. Doug sums it up: "How do we hasten the coming day of God (2 Peter 3:12)? By becoming a partaker of the divine nature."

Link to Audio: https://dougriggs.s3.amazonaws.com/Assemblies/10-5-16%2Bwednesday.mp3

Link to Discussion: https://dougriggs.s3.amazonaws.com/Assemblies/10-5-16%2Bdiscussion.mp3

Recommended resources:

Doug's series: Jesus Christ - the Bright Morning Star (https://www.dougriggs.org/Videos.html#anchor_95)

Maranatha!

John Mark

...hereby committing this unto the providential care of the enthroned Head of the Church; whose Name is blessed forevermore, Yeshua Mashiach - Jesus Christ!