The Sacramental Reading of the Word

“Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” 2 Peter 1:1 – 4.

The Word of God, from Genesis through Revelation, is one continuous promise to us of Christ, through Christ, unto Christ. In 2 Corinthians 4:6 Paul reaches back to Genesis 1:3 when he writes, “For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

Peter writes that through God’s promises we become partakers of the divine nature, that is, we have koinonia with the Trinity. The Apostle John writes that “our fellowship [koinonia] is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

Paul makes it clear in 1 Corinthians Chapter 2 that without the Holy Spirit we simply cannot receive the things of God.

We are called to partake of [to have koinonia with] the divine nature, as Christ comes to us through God’s “precious and magnificent promises”; through the Word, the Bible, the Scriptures. In all of God’s promises is the Promise, and in the Promise we have all promises. In Christ we are “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).

Surely the Word of God comes to us sacramentally. Surely we are called to preach and teach the Word sacramentally.

We are called, in and through the Word, to have koinonia with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ – to partake of, to share in, the Divine Nature.

O Christian, allow the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to come to you in and through the Bible; let God draw you into His Divine koinonia.