Fellowship - Partaking Some restaurants offer only a few specialties—perhaps barbecue, burgers, or hot dogs. Others present several pages of menu items with countless choices. Whether the menu is simple or extensive, the quality of the food isn't truly known until it is tasted. It is in the eating, savoring, and enjoying of the meal that a relationship with the restaurant is formed. A memorable dining experience creates a craving, a recommendation to others, and a desire to return. In much the same way, we come to Christ because of His promise of salvation. That promise is extended to all, but only those who receive Him and partake of Him experience the forgiveness, freedom, and new life He offers. Knowing Him as Savior and compassionate Friend transforms the heart, creating a deeper hunger for Him, a testimony worth sharing, and a continual desire to return to His presence. As our fellowship with Christ grows, we discover that salvation is only the beginning. His Word is filled with precious promises that are meant not merely to be admired, but to be received and lived. As we partake of these promises by faith, they continue to transform our lives. Through them, He provides the means to escape the corruption of our sinful nature and to become partakers of His divine nature. It is in this continual fellowship with Christ—feeding on His promises and living in Him—that we experience the unity with Him and with one another for which He gave His life. Notes Fellowship Approach -response to a Promise Partake - acting on the Promise Become - union with the Promise Keeper Partaking of God’s nature is enabled by His promises 2 Peter 1:4 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. By acting on salvation’s promise, there is reception of every promise. 2 Peter 1:3-9 3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. 8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. Evidence of partaking:(Fruit of Abiding in Him) Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-control Perseverance Godliness Brotherly kindness Love The old nature is replaced by one with God’s nature Galatians 2:20 (TPT) 20 “My old identity has been co-crucified with Messiah and no longer lives; for the nails of his cross crucified me with him. And now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives his life through me—we live in union as one! My new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God who loves me so much that he gave himself for me, and dispenses his life into mine! It’s by promises that a nature that was formed by sin can take on the very likeness and image of Christ. How does a promise affect this change? Promise - a disruptor of doom and despair - changes the future’s vision - effect limited by fellowship with its giver. In the hearing of God’s promise is the arrival of faith that, if acted upon, will change not only circumstances, but the ungodly nature they came from. In a Promise - enabled faith in hope Hebrews 11:1 (TLB) 1 What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead. Failure to partake - death sentence to faith/fellowship James 2:20 (NKJV) 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Hebrews 11:6 (TPT) 6 And without faith living within us it would be impossible to please God. For we come to God in faith knowing that he is real and that he rewards the faith of those who give all their passion and strength into seeking him. The potential of our resident promises: Forgiveness for the guilty. Peace for the troubled. Strength for the weak. Wisdom for the confused. Victory over temptation. The abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. Eternal life through Jesus Christ. By acting on the promise of life in Christ, there is hope for more to know and share Colossians 1:26-27 (TPT) 26 There is a divine mystery—a secret surprise that has been concealed from the world for generations, but now it’s being revealed, unfolded and manifested for every holy believer to experience. 27 Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory! This mystery of Christ, embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people, and God wants everyone to know it! Overview: Fellowship: Living by Every Promise of God Key Text: 2 Peter 1:3–4 “He has given us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature.” The Journey of Fellowship 1. Approach — Respond to the Promise Fellowship begins with God's invitation. We approach Christ by faith because of His promise of salvation. Every promise starts with the Promise Giver. Faith is awakened when God's promise is heard (Romans 10:17). A promise disrupts despair by revealing God's future instead of our past. Truth: God initiates fellowship through His promises. 2. Partake — Act on the Promise Promises are received by faith and activated through obedience. Faith is never passive—it responds. James 2:20: Faith without corresponding action is dead. Hebrews 11:6: God rewards those who diligently seek Him. Fellowship deepens every time we trust and obey what He has spoken. Truth: Every acted-upon promise becomes an avenue for transformation. 3. Become — Union with the Promise Keeper God's goal is more than answered prayers—it is Christlikeness. Through His promises we become partakers of His divine nature. The old nature loses its influence as Christ's life increases within us. Galatians 2:20: Christ now lives His life through us. We do not merely possess promises—we are transformed by the One who gave them. Truth: Fellowship produces union, and union produces transformation. Evidence of Partaking The fruit of abiding reveals the life of Christ within us (2 Peter 1:5–8). Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-control Perseverance Godliness Brotherly kindness Love These are not human achievements but the evidence of God's nature being formed in us. How a Promise Changes Us A promise: Interrupts fear with hope. Replaces despair with expectation. Produces faith through hearing. Calls for obedient response. Deepens fellowship with the Promise Keeper. Changes not only our circumstances but our nature. The more we trust His promises, the more we resemble His character. Our Resident Promise Christ in us is God's greatest promise fulfilled. Colossians 1:27 declares: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Every promise ultimately leads us deeper into Christ, and Christ leads us into the fullness of His divine nature. Summary Approach — Respond to God's promise. Partake — Act on God's promise. Become — Be transformed through union with the Promise Keeper. Prayer: Father, thank You for giving me everything I need for life and godliness through Your Son. Thank You for Your exceedingly great and precious promises that invite me into fellowship with You. Teach me not to admire Your promises from a distance but to receive them by faith and walk in obedience. Transform me as I abide in Christ. Replace every remnant of the old nature with the character of Jesus. Let faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love abound in me. May Christ live His life through me until the world sees His image reflected in mine. I choose to approach You, partake of all You have provided, and become more like the One who has called me. Declarations: I am a partaker of God's divine nature through Jesus Christ. God's precious promises are alive and active in my life. I approach God with confidence because of His promises. I respond to His Word with faith and obedience. Christ lives in me, and His life is transforming mine. The old nature has been crucified, and I walk in newness of life. I am growing in faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. Every promise I receive draws me into deeper fellowship with my Father. I am being conformed into the image of Christ. Christ in me is the hope of glory, and His nature is being revealed through my life. I will live by every promise that proceeds from the mouth of God. My fellowship with the Promise Keeper is producing lasting transformation.