Through these things [God’s glory and excellence] he [God] has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire.
1 Peter 1:4 NET
At the heart of this verse is the idea of becoming a partaker of the divine nature. This is held out for us as at least a possibility. But it is more than a possibility. It is the reality that we should experience as believers in the Lord Jesus.
But what does it mean to participate in the divine nature? One thing that it does not mean is that we will become gods in our own right. Nor will we be absorbed into the nature of God. It does mean that we will experience the divine nature of God in a very personal way.
Is this participation in the divine nature something reserved for the other side of the grave? Or is it something that I can experience now? The expression “having escaped worldly corruption” is also used in 1 Peter 2:20 to refer to those who have escaped but fallen back. That would indicate that it happens on this side of the grave–when we come to faith in Christ. But it will be even greater on the other side when we meet Jesus face to face (1 John 3:2).
Participating in the Divine Nature
So, what does it mean to participate in the divine nature now? In part, it may refer to being “in Christ.” As believers, we are included in Christ–we are where he is, seated at the right hand of the Father above (Col. 3:1-3).
But even more, we participate in the divine nature through the indwelling Holy Spirit. God is at work in us, conforming us to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29).
God has promised eternal life to all those who come to Christ in faith. Eternal life is more than life unending. It is knowing God the Father and the Lord Jesus (John 17:3). It is being in an intimate and loving relationship with God–participating in the divine nature.
