THE CERTAINTY OF GOD'S PROMISES Divine commitments have the accent in Scripture! To be sure, there are obligations imposed upon men. There are also promises offered to them. Some have chosen to emphasis the obligations, and, indeed, there are certain situations where this becomes necessary. However, the overall thrust of Scripture is what God has PROMISED. It is a golden thread, inserted in Genesis 3:15, and woven throughout the sacred text until the last promise in Revelation 22:20. -- Tomorrow:
"For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise." (Hebrews 6:13-15).
INTRODUCTION
Of old time, Israel was admonished to recall what "the Lord hath PROMISED" (Ex 12:25; Deut 1:11; 12:20; 26:18; Josh 23:10). The land given to Abraham is called "the land of PROMISE" (Heb 11:9).
In His exposition of the New Covenant – the great salvation that is in Christ Jesus – the Holy Spirit repeatedly refers to "the PROMISE" (Lk 24:49; Acts 21:4; 2:33,39; 7:17; 13:32; 26:6; Rom 4:13,14,16,20; 9:8; Gal 3:14,17,19,22,29; 2 Tim 1:1; Heb 6:15; 9:15; 10:36; 11:39; 2 Pet 3:4; 1 John 2:25). Faith lays hold of Divine commitment – God's PROMISE. Faith believes what God declares He has done or will do. It appropriates what God affirmed He wills to give.
Believing God involves infinitely more than believing you should obey Him – although that is an absolute indispensability. Jesus is "the Author of eternal salvation to them that obey Him" (Heb 5:9), and there will be no deviation from that principle. Obedience, however, comes from faith, which is convinced of the promise, and moves out upon it. The failure of men to obey the Gospel is expressly traced to the failure to believe God's report (Rom 10:16). It was when the people of Nineveh "believed God" that they repented (Jonah 3:5).
We cannot make too much of the promises of God, particularly regarding eternal life, which is the ultimate PROMISE – the summation of all Divine commitments. As it is written, "And this is the PROMISE that he hath PROMISED us, even eternal life" (1 John 2:25).
The word "PROMISE" places the accent on Divine initiative. The PROMISE of God is not His response to an interrogation by the creature! Rather, it is an affirmation of our Father's "eternal purpose."
Before we go further, permit me to share some of the great promises of God. If we are to be encouraged to believe the promises of God, we should familiarize ourselves with them. The conquering Offspring was PROMISE in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:15). God PROMISED Noah He would no more curse the ground with a flood (Gen 8:21-22; 9:1-17). A PROMISE of blessing was given to Abraham – a promise that translates into the New Covenant we enjoy (Gen 12:1-3. A PROMISE of a reigning Monarch was given to David (2 Sam 7:12-13,28; 1 Kgs 2:24). A New Covenant was PROMISED through Jeremiah (Jer 31:31-34).
Were these promises to be removed from Scripture, it would become meaningless. God's dealings with men, His patience with the human race, and the execution of His will, all revolved around these PROMISES The interrelations of God with men all revolved around His commitments – His promises. If you read the Word of God without the promises dominant in your thinking, it will appear to be a mere history book, or a manual of conduct. In either case, it will cease to work effectively in you.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I confess I desire to obtain what You have promised in Him.