through which he has given us honorable and effective promises so that through which you come into existence escaping the corruption in the world in sinful desires, coming into existence partakers of God's divine nature (2 Peter 1:4)
The word for honorable is sometimes translated as valued, precious, of great price but mostly used to mean honor. Honorable is the word I have chosen to use because of it's root word and that it relates to who God is in regards to keeping his word; he is honorable in his promises. Honor is defined as one's word given as a guarantee of performance.* This understanding is important as we look closer as this verse, and define the word for effective promise (ἐπάγγελμα (epangelma, which has the -ma suffix which focuses on the result, thus my defining it as "effective" promises). Effective means having an intended or expected effect or result. We have established God is honorable thus he will keep his word and there are results to his promises. So what is the result of these promises? "so that through which you come into existence escaping... sinful desires, coming into existence partakers of God's divine nature." These honorable and effective promises have such a result for maturing the believer.
for great the promises of God, that yes in him on which account also through him that our amen is to God for benefit of his glory (2 Corinthians 1:20)
There are many promises of God that become yes and amen in Christ to the glory of God. Paul writes through Jesus we are blessed in all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3). There is a big difference between spiritual blessings and earthly ones. God's promises are so that we escape the corruption in the world in sinful desires to become partakers of his divine nature. The purpose of such promises is so we become holy as he is holy. God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless in his presence in love, predestined for adoption as his own (Ephesians 1:3-4). God's promises are yes and amen according to what He has purposed in Christ, and we have been predestined according to this purpose to the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1:9-12). What God eternally purposed in Christ, Paul explains well in Ephesians 1 and Romans 8.
now knowing that all [things] work together for good to the ones loved of God, the ones existing called according to purpose, because whom he foreknew also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son... and to those he predestined, these also called and whom he called, these he justified, these justified also glorified (Romans 8:28-29)
This is an effective promise, through predestination you are eternally secure in Christ, which brings about your calling to holiness, and your justification in which you receive imputed righteousness which leads to your glorification. The working out of all for your good is to the extent of your glorification. What God eternally purposed in Christ and our calling, is about being conformed to the image of Christ. This Peter makes clear in his first letter, "as children of obedience do not be conformed to the impure desires formerly in your ignorance, rather, just as the one calling you is holy also you come into existence, become holy in all your conduct, on account, it is written 'exist holy because I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:14-16). If we are not being conformed to the image of Christ, if the gifts of prophecy, pastoring, evangelism and teaching are not being used to grow the church into mature adulthood into the full measure of the stature of the image of Christ (Ephesians 4:10-13), if it is not about growing in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus (2 Peter 3:18), someone has maligned the truth for their own purpose (Ephesians 4:14).
through which he has given us honorable and effective promises so that through which you come into existence escaping the corruption in the world in sinful desires, coming into existence partakers of God's divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4)
There is not one promise that I base my ability to escape sinful desires, there are many. Each is useful in its own time. Peter writes his letter saying they know these truths, but he keeps reminding them as it is the right thing to do (2 Peter 1:12-15). It is right for us today, to be refreshed in memory of these promises, but I would guess many have never heard them, having no foundation to build upon.
How do we grow in Christ, from being a child to mature adulthood? Or said another way how do we escape sinful desires and come into existence as partakers of God's divine nature? Or said another way how do we practice truth or be obedient?
Being a partaker of his divine nature speaks of who we are in Christ. As Paul writes we are indebted to live according to righteousness and to live by the Spirit and not the flesh, if the Spirit of Christ is in us.
But how do we get there? Jesus said if you abide in my words you will know the truth and the truth will set you free (John 8:32). Pretty clear. As is this verse, we come into existence as partakers of God's divine nature, escaping sinful nature, through his honorable and effective promises. We see they are effective promises, and the focus is on the result of the promise, that God is honorable to do what he promised.
But according to his effective promises (epangelma | ἐπάγγελμα) we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness will be at home (2 Peter 3:13)Here is a promise. No unrighteousness will inherit the kingdom of heaven. Does imputed righteousness count towards my inheritance? Does being born into the kingdom of God count? Does the sealing by the "promised" holy Spirit and being made alive bring about the promises of God. That he would put his Spirit within us, that he would adopt us as his own, redeem us from our sinful nature, and that one day he will take possession of his own. That he would make an eternal covenant with his people, that salvation and redemption would come through the Messiah, that God would look down on us and have mercy through his great love and bring about his honorable and effective promises in Christ through a new eternal covenant.
One day we will be at home, surely this is not our home, we await salvation, those of faith understand this. Thus the promises of God are not effective through earthly blessings, but to the praise, honor, and glory of God, that which he purposed in Christ, to be effective in bringing about that which is more precious than gold in the eyes of God (1 Peter 1:3-9).
... coming into existence partakers of God's divine nature (2 Peter 1:4)
The word partaker (κοινωνός (koinōnos)) and fellowship (κοινωνία (koinōnia)) have the same root word koinos. We were common, unclean, and did not share in God's divine nature. How can we have fellowship with a holy God if we are not partakers of his divine nature?
He chose us in Christ to be holy, blameless in his presence, in love. How can God love the unrighteous? We see imputed righteousness and the adding to faith godliness and that God has made us his own thus is faithful to the chosen. "Who also establishes you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship (partakers of his divine nature) with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:8-9).
That we are called according to his purpose. Let it sink in, that we are called according to his purpose. The honorable and effective promises of God are according to his purpose.