God's glory and goodness

His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3 CSB

The transition from the preceding verse (v. 2) to verse 3 seemed to be abrupt. The use of the “knowledge” provides the passage continuity. Because of our relationship with Christ when we placed our faith in Him, “His divine power has given us everything we need.” The use of the phrase “divine power” describes the godhead and everything that belongs to Him. Because of Christ’s divine power, God has given us everything we need. This is an amazing statement! We can just imagine the smile in the face of Peter when he made this introductory verse. Peter exclaims that he and the readers are the recipients of untold blessings. The word “everything” sums up this idea. God has granted and continues to grant us “everything required for life and godliness.” He wants us to live in harmony with Him and His Word by honoring, loving, and serving Him. Eternal life is not an ideal that becomes reality when we depart from this earthly scene. On the contrary, we possess eternal life through our daily exercise of living for God and our fellow man. By obeying God’s will in our lives, we practice godliness and experience the possession of eternal life. Peter tells the believers that God grants them everything they need to enjoy life as they serve Him. He indicates that God grants His gifts liberally “through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” God has called us, through Christ, to salvation (see Romans 8:28, 30; 1 Peter 1:15; 2:9; 5:10). The act of calling us is a demonstration of God’s own glory and goodness. These two characteristics are highly personal for these are what God wants His children to experience. Also, the two terms, although in a sense synonymous, differ. God reveals His essential being through visible glory and He displays His goodness in His deeds. As John writes, “We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Moreover, we become aware of His goodness with our minds and hearts as we yield our lives to His working. “How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you. In the presence of everyone you have acted for those who take refuge in you” (Psalm 31:19).

Blessings,