Knowledge of the divine;
The more we know about God and Jesus, the more we will trust that he is in control of our lives and our surroundings. Grace, that is divine favor, and peace are the results of our quests to know about God. Understanding that no matter what happens in our lives, we have favor with God is key. David said that God’s favor covers us like a shield (Ps 5:12). The Bible tells us, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God” (Rom 8:28); that is grace. We cannot go through life without a glimpse of grace being showered over us. Isaiah calls the showering of grace, floods of water that God will pour upon us (Is 44:3). The peace of God increases as we grow in his knowledge (Phil 4:7). Peace and grace are pertinent to life.
2 Peter 1:2-3
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
But what are the things that are pertinent to godliness as unto life, that Peter said that God, according to his divine power he has given us all things for it? Believers are called to live a life of godliness and not to stay as they are. We are called to grow in the Lord in the things God has already given us to occupy ourselves with. Godliness refers to the believer’s attitude and devotion towards God. It holds the promise for the present and the life to come (1 Tim 4:8). Godliness leads to holiness, of which if we do not have, we cannot see the Lord (Heb 12:14). The work to cleanse ourselves from the defilement of this world is a work in progress. Rejecting those things that defile us is what holiness is (1 Cor 7:1). The bible teaches us that we have to be holy (Lev 11:44, & 1 Pet 1:15-16). Peter tells us of 8 virtues that we need to work on; he says “add”, for our lives to be set towards holiness (2 Pet 1:5-7). Paul said that if we add to brotherly kindness, godliness, we will end up with holiness. If we add to our patience godliness, we will reap holiness. And if we add to our temperance, patience from the holy spirit, we will reap holiness. All the things that pertain to godliness, leading to living a Holy life, have been given to us. They come with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Psalms 5:12
12 For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
Isaiah 44:3
3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
Philippians 4:7
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 4:8
8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
Hebrews 12:14
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
1 Corinthians 7:1
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Leviticus 11:44
44 For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
1 Peter 1:15-16
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
2 Peter 1:5-7
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.