Genesthe Theias Koinonoi Physeos

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April 6, 2022

1 Peter 4:8 NIV

8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

CONSIDER THIS

There is a critical observation we must made at this point in this early conferencing around a doctrine of love. It can be a short misstep from where we are to the doctrine of love advanced by the world. Lennon and McCartney nailed this doctrine in the 1967 runaway single, All You Need is Love, in which the word “love” is repeated some 102 times. Here’s the problem. The Bible makes clear that God is love; however, we must be patently clear—love is not God. 

The kind of love spoken of in the text, love each other deeply (and so many other places in Scripture), is an other-worldly, supernatural, transcendent kind of reality. In fact, this kind of love cannot be somehow separated from God, for it is God’s very nature. It cannot be reduced to an ethical code; and though it can be commanded, it cannot be conscripted. The only possible way for a human being to love as God loves is to actually share in the very nature of God. This brings us to the most important thing Peter ever said. It comes from the second letter.

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:3-4

Did you spot the miracle? Let me ALL CAP it for effect: 

YOU MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE DIVINE NATURE.  

I cannot possibly convey to you the earth-shaking consequence of these seven words. Because it is too easy to roll right past the English words, let’s look at the original language through which they came into revelation. Again, ALL CAPS lifted straight from verse four. 

GENESTHE THEIAS KOINONOI PHYSEOS 

Out of reverence let’s say it like the writer may have heard it in his mind as he wrote:

Ge-neh-steh  Thi-os  koy-no-nos  foo-sis

GENESTHE—It means to become, be born into or come into being, or to change condition, state, or place. 

THEIAS—It means God’s Divine nature or essence. 

KOINONOI—It means a participant or partaker who mutually belongs and shares fellowship. This word is used almost synonymously with the Holy Spirit throughout the New Testament. 

PHYSEOS—It means the inner nature or the underlying constitution or makeup of someone or something. 

This is the miracle. As we abide together in Jesus Messiah, through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, we partake of and participate in the very nature and essence of God—which is love. This is how, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins,” works—on earth as it is in heaven. When the miracle happens, the miracles happen. This is the whole point and purpose of the second half of the Gospel. 

GENESTHE THEIAS KOINONOI PHYSEOS  (Ge-neh-steh  Thi-os  koy-no-nos  foo-sis) Why am I persisting in using these unintelligible words? Because this is how we must approach this emerging doctrine of love—like we know nothing and must become beginners again and again and again. There is so much unlearning and relearning as so much human brokenness obscures this truth. This is like a new language. Love is the mother tongue of Heaven, meant to be spoken fluently on earth. I submit if discipleship to Jesus is not about learning and becoming this distinctive kind of love, then it is about nothing at all. 

Wake up sleeper and rise from the dead. . . 

Your turn: 

THE PRAYER

Jesus, you are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. You are Divine Love simultaneously deified and personified, and in this way you show us the way. When you invite me to abide in you, you are inviting me to become a partaker, a participant in your very nature. Holy Spirit, koinonia of Heaven, increase my yearning for this truth to become the most real thing in my life. Lead me into this way into this truth into this life. Praying in Jesus’ name, Amen.

THE QUESTION

As a symbolic exercise, will you learn and practice saying these four words from the Greek language? GENESTHE THEIAS KOINONOI PHYSEOS or (Ge-neh-steh  Thi-os  koy-no-nos  foo-sis). Let’s make it our secret “sign” language. ;0) 

For the Awakening,
J.D. Walt
Sower-in-Chief
seedbed.com