The Great Escape

“By which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire” (v4).

Spoiler alert! At the end of the movie “Scrooged,” Bill Murray’s character Frank finds himself being cremated in a burning casket. He’s there because of his selfish and self-centered choices. In many ways, Frank burns in the fire that he himself has stoked. Spoiler alert (part two)! Here in this verse, Peter describes how we have miraculous escaped from our burning coffin just in the nick of time. But we don’t just make it out with our clothes still smoking, barely alive. No, Jesus not only saves us from the blaze but to ultimate blessing. Once He rescues us from the fire, He gives us the incredible privilege of participating in the divine nature. We go from future charcoal to children of the Living God. I hope I didn’t ruin the exciting conclusion for you. No offense to Steve McQueen, but THAT’S a Great Escape!

In the previous verse, Pete lets us know that Jesus has already given us every bit of what we need to live a life that brings God glory. That happens through the unlimited power of God. And we do that through a deep and intimate relationship with His Son. This is important to remember because the apostle is writing to friends being duped by spiritual hucksters. In his first letter, he wrote to followers of Jesus in what we know as Turkey. The first time, the former fisherman encouraged these fellow believers to hang in there as they faced incredible pressure and persecution from the outside (1Pet 4:19). Now he writes a sequel because of crap that’s bubbling up on the inside. False teachers are in the process of infiltrating the fellowship (2:1). The best way to counter any twisted teaching is to know the truth of God’s promises. It’s the key to their escape. It’s the key to our escape. The Great Escape.

The apostle reminds us what a fabulous Giver that God is. He “has granted to us His precious and great promises” (v4). He uses the verb “granted” (Gr. doreomai), which is an emphasized idea of giving. It means to bestow, grant or give as a present. The verb is in the perfect form. For those of us who aren’t members of the grammar police, that simply lets us know that not only has something been done but it has long lasting implications. God has given us these promises and we still have them. They’re still working. They’re still effective. If we’ve trusted in Jesus, we have them. And they’re still working. See, I told you God was a crazy good Giver!

So just how good are these promises from God? Pete’s more than happy to tell us. First of all, they are “precious” (Gr. timios). This describes something that’s very expensive, costly, valuable. The promises of God are priceless. The promises of god are prized. In his first letter, Pete reminded us that Jesus didn’t purchase our salvation with precious metals but “with the precious (Gr. timios) blood of Christ” (1Pet 1:19). There’s nothing more costly than Jesus’ blood. Gold? Please. They use that stuff for asphalt in heaven. We need to see Jesus’ promises as costly and valuable as His very blood. That certainly makes sense. We don’t have access to those promises WITHOUT His blood! 

God’s promises aren’t just priceless, they’re also “very great” (Gr. megistos). This means that they are the greatest. The most outstanding. The best of the best. Greater than great. Nothing beats His incredible promises. Nothing. That’s because God not only makes and keeps His promises, He delivers in ways that blow our minds. He’s been making promises from the very beginning. Flip back to the opening scenes of creation. Our first parents have just jacked up everything after being fooled by a satanic snake. Their sin was still warm but God promised to send One who will come to their rescue. He warned the serpent that “He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise His heel” (Gen 3:15). And He’s been making promises ever since. To Abraham. To David.  Pete’s buddy Paul told his friends in Corinth that Jesus is the summation of everything God has ever pledged. “For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him” (2Cor 1:20). Yeah, I told you these were great promises!

So what good are these super duper, supernatural promises? I’m so very glad you asked. They are the key to becoming “partakers of the divine nature” (v4). In other words, by trusting in Jesus as the total package of God’s promises, we have access to the blessings of eternal life now. We don’t have to wait until we’re on the other side of eternity to experience God’s goodness. Think of it this way: eternal life starts NOW! To be “partakers” (Gr. koinonos) is to be a partner, companion, sharer, teammate and accomplice. It’s from the same word we get koinonia. We’re partners His divine nature. With Jesus. With each other. God has handed us the ability to live a life of victory and glory before we get to the graveyard. “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion” (2Cor 7:1). Because of His overwhelming promises in Christ, we can do it. We’re accomplices of His grace.

Pete reminds us once again of not just the very good news of God’s grace but the awful bad news of where we would be without our amazing rescue by Jesus. We’ve “escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire” (v4). The apostle flashes back to that burning coffin from “Scooged” (yeah, I know he didn’t really see it but work with me here!). He uses the Greek verb apopheugo, which means to flee from danger and get safely away. Think of those scenes in the movies where our hero snatches the his leading lady out of the burning building just before it explodes. That’s the picture that Pete’s painting.

The apostle uses some pretty disgusting language when he talks about the filth that Jesus has rescued us from. “Corruption” (Gr. phthoras) is actually decay, ruin, depravity and destruction. It’s a graphic depiction of death. Rotting flesh. Decomposition. Yeah, I told you it was nasty. Pretty sure I threw up in my mouth a little when I typed it. And if that’s not yucky enough, it’s on fire. The ESV translates this word as “sinful desire.” But the original Greek is epithumia. It literally means a burning desire. Johnny Cash nailed it when he said he fell into a burning ring of fire. He’s not the only one. We all did. Without Christ, the coffin is on fire.

Is it hot in here or is it just me? 

Spoiler alert! He saved me from the blaze to ultimate blessing. All thanks to His priceless promises. That’s the Great Escape.