Centered around the words in 2 Peter 1:4, notice that Peter not only describes the promises as being “great,” but ”very great”; he tells us they are “precious” and that God has given them to us.
2 Peter 1:4: “…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.”
God is the great Giver and His greatest gift was that of His Son (Jn. 3:16; 2 Cor. 9:15). With His Son He has “graciously given us all things” (Rom. 8:32; 1 Tim. 6:17). He has given us the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5) and the great gift of eternal life (Rom. 6:23; 1 Jn. 5:11). Here, the writer tells us that God has given us wonderful promises, and someone has estimated that in the Bible there are at least 30,000 of them! In the four Gospels we have many clear promises from the Savior’s lips, and we need to remember that promises may be couched in different terms. Think of the Jehovah titles of the Old Testament, the significance of the rainbow and of the promise that it reminds us of. Psalm 51 and John 21 contain the promise of restoration for the backslider; think of Jesus as our Rock, speaking to us of the promise that He will be our security and our shelter; think of the names ascribed to the Lord, such as Friend, Shepherd, Savior; think of the marriage at Cana, which tells us of God’s provision in times of need; think of the leper who came to Jesus asking for cleansing, telling us of His promise to free us from defilement. Peter says that God’s promises are “very great and precious.” Why are they so precious?
They are precious because it is God who makes them. The source of any promise is very important, but when God makes a promise we can be absolutely sure He will honor His word. We may make a promise to our friends and have every intention of keeping it, yet we may be prevented through no fault of our own. But there are no conceivable circumstances which can prevent God from honoring His word of promise (Num. 23:19, and compare 1 Kings 8:56, Luke 21:33 and Mt. 5:18). When God makes a promise it is based upon His sovereignty, His righteousness, His holiness, His justice and His mercy – all of which are involved in His pledged word. When he lay dying, General Booth turned to his son, Bramwell, and three times repeated the words, “The promises of God are sure” – and so they are!
Peter makes this point in his statement. He describes God’s promises as “very great”, and this surely is a reason why they are so precious. We measure the size of a promise by the benefit it gives us. When we consider the content of God’s promises and the great blessing they offer, then at once we see how very great they are. For example:GEVFREE-2-Peter-1-vv-1-to-4-Great-Promises.doc
Whatever your need may be God has a promise that exactly covers that need (Phil. 4:19) and notice that He promises to supply your need “according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”. What is your need? Is it food? (see Ps. 34:10). Is it clothing? (see Mt. 6:25, 30-32). Is it guidance you need? (see Ps. 73:24; Is. 30:21). Do you lack wisdom? (see Pr. 16:3; Ja. 1:5). Do you need rest? (see Mt. 11:28; Jn. 6:37). Is it forgiveness you need? (see Is. 55:7; Acts 13:38). Do you need salvation? (see Rom. 10:8-9, 13). Do you long for a sense of security? (see Jn. 10:27-29). Are you troubled about old age? (see Is. 46:4). Are you fearful and unable to sleep? (see Pr. 3:24; Is. 43:1-3). Do you need deliverance from trouble? (see Ps. 50:15 and 55:22).
The promises of God are precious because they are clear:
