To share in the divine nature is not, of course, to become God. That cannot be. The essence of Deity is not something a created being can possess. Between the creature and the Creator there must ever be a gulf fixed in respect of essence. But just as the first man Adam was made in God's image, so we, through the renewing work of the Holy Spirit, are made in the image of the Most High in an even more divine sense. We become partakers of the divine nature. By grace, we are made like God.

"God is love"—and we become love—"He that loveth is born of God." God is truth—and we become true, and we love that which is true. God is good—and he makes us good by his grace, so that we become the pure in heart who shall see God.

Moreover, we become partakers of the divine nature in an even higher sense than this—in fact, in as lofty a sense as can be conceived, short of our being absolutely divine. Think about this: Do we not become members of the body of the divine person of Christ? Yes! The same blood which flows in the head flows in the hand. The same life which quickens Christ quickens his people. "Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."

Nay, as if that were not enough, we are married unto Christ! He hath betrothed us unto himself in righteousness and in faithfulness. And he who is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

Oh! marvelous mystery! We look into it, but who shall understand it? One with Jesus—so one with him that the branch is not more one with the vine than we are a part of the Lord, our Saviour, and our Redeemer!

While we rejoice in this, let us remember that those who are made partakers of the divine nature will manifest their high and holy relationship in their intercourse with others, and make it evident by their daily walk and conversation that they have escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

O for more divine holiness of life!