By KELLY KNIGHT / Guest Columnist

Peter tells us that through the divine power of God and Jesus Christ, we have all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1). He continues by stating that we are given “exceeding great and precious promises” by which we might partake of “the divine nature” and then gives us the formula: We must escape the corruption that is in the world. To do so, he explains, we must be diligent in faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity (2 Peter 1:5-7).

Paul expands this understanding in his teachings to the Colossians wherein he challenges us to put off the things of the world and “set our affections on things above.” Among others, we are to put off uncleanness, covetousness, disobedience, anger and malice. Through Christ, we put on the new man, one having mercy, kindness, humbleness, meekness and longsuffering. We forgive others, just as Christ forgives us. We let “the peace of God rule in [our] hearts.” We are thankful, and, above all else, we have charity, which Paul describes as “the bond of perfectness” (Colossians 3).

Perhaps the greatest lesson on divine nature comes from the Savior. Matthew records the words of the Savior given in the Sermon on the Mount known as the Beatitudes. In the midst of a powerful lesson on how we are to live our lives, the Savior instructs us — “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

We have within us a divine nature, a nature that originates in God. May each of us put off the things of this world, and come unto Christ, and “let [our] light so shine before men, that they … see [our] good works, and glorify [our] Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Kelly Knight of Calera is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints High Council. You can contact him at kellyknightonline@gmail.com.