Introduction Standing on the Promises of God By Mark Mayberry 4/1/2012 When someone makes a promise, he or she makes a solemn commitment. Promises play an important role in everyday activities. Employees perform an honest day s work, while employers agree to give an honest day s pay. When we take out a loan at the bank, we pledge to repay our debts. The exchange of vows at a wedding ceremony express a couples lifelong commitment to each other. Promises are also an important part of the Christian religion (2 Pet. 1:1-4). God has made certain pledges to us, and we to Him. The song, Standing on the Promises of God, is an expression of our confidence in God and His promises. 2 Peter 1:1 4 (NASB95) 1 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. This lesson is designed to deepen our appreciation for the promises of God. To this end, we ask three questions: First, what is the basic value of the thing promised; second, what is the character of the promisor; and, third, what are the conditions of the promise? The Basic Value of the Thing Promised Men have been known to promise things that in reality were of little value. Certain land deals, get rich quick schemes, and email offers from rich Nigerian widows fall into this category. Occasionally, we often get advertisements through the mail stating that if we will visit XYZ Land Development on Lake Pleasant Waters and sit through a high-pressure sales pitch, we will win either a new boat, a color television, or a set of steak knives. Some years ago, we worshipped with a man who worked for one of these land development corporations. While he never saw anyone receive a new boat or a color T.V., he acknowledged that plenty of steak knives were given out. God s promises, in contrast, are of immense value (2 Pet. 1:4). They include the forgiveness of sins (Isa. 1:18), fellowship with the Father (Isa. 57:15), an abundant life in the present (John 1
10:10), and hope for the hereafter (1 John 5:11). Such assurances involve man s most valuable possession, his soul (Matt. 16:26). 2 Peter 1:4 (NASB95) 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Isaiah 1:18 (NASB95) 18 Come now, and let us reason together, Says the Lord, Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool. Isaiah 57:15 (NASB95) 15 For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite. John 10:10 (NASB95) 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. 1 John 5:11 (NASB95) 11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Matthew 16:26 (NASB95) 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? The Character of the Promisor The character of the promisor often determines the worth of the promise. Many lack integrity and character, and this leads to broken promises. Examples of this can be seen on every hand: in politics, business, marriage, and even the church. In contrast with man s inconsistency, God is faithful and unchanging (Num. 23:19; James 1:17). Moreover, He has the power to accomplish what He has promised (Gen. 18:10-14; Rom. 4:18-21). Accordingly, we can have every confidence that God will do as He has said (Heb. 6:16-19; 10:23). Numbers 23:19 (NASB95) 19 God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? James 1:17 (NASB95) 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. Genesis 18:10 14 (NASB95) 10 He said, I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son. And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; 2
Sarah was past childbearing. 12 Sarah laughed to herself, saying, After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? 13 And the Lord said to Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old? 14 Is anything too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son. Romans 4:18 21 (NASB95) 18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, So shall your descendants be. 19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah s womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Hebrews 6:16 19 (NASB95) 16 For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. 17 In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, Hebrews 10:23 (NASB95) 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; The Nature and Conditions of the Promise There are certain things God has not promised: Man is not promised a second chance after death (Tit. 2:11-12; Heb. 9:27), a life free of hardship (2 Tim. 3:12; James 1:2-4), or for that matter, another day of life (Prov. 27:1; James 4:13-15). Titus 2:11 12 (NASB95) 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, Hebrews 9:27 (NASB95) 27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 2 Timothy 3:12 (NASB95) 12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. James 1:2 4 (NASB95) 2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Proverbs 27:1 (NASB95) 1 Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth. 3
James 4:13 15 (NASB95) 13 Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit. 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that. Certain of God s promises are unconditional. They are absolute and steadfast, without limitation or restriction. For example, God unconditionally promised never again to destroy the world by water as He did in the days of Noah (Gen. 9:11). His promise of summer and winter, seed-time and harvest still abides (Gen. 8:22). The promise of Christ s second coming also remains sure (John 14:1-3). Genesis 9:11 (NASB95) 11 I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth. Genesis 8:22 (NASB95) 22 While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease. John 14:1 3 (NASB95) 1 Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. Certain of God s promises are conditional. That is, they will not be fulfilled until man responds in a certain way. For example, His promise to answer prayer is contingent upon our faith (James 1:6-7; 1 John 3:22; 5:14). The promise of forgiveness is based upon obedience (Acts 2:38; 22:16). So also, the hope of eternal life (Matt. 7:21; Heb. 5:9). James 1:6 7 (NASB95) 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 1 John 3:22 (NASB95) 22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. 1 John 5:14 (NASB95) 14 This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. Acts 2:38 (NASB95) 38 Peter said to them, Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 22:16 (NASB95) 16 Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name. Matthew 7:21 (NASB95) 21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 4
Hebrews 5:9 (NASB95) 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, Conclusion Such a study helps us gain a deeper appreciation for the promises of God. When we look at the value of the things God has promised, when we consider His character and the conditions of His promises, then we can truly realize that they are exceedingly great and precious. Therefore, let us manifest diligence and patience as we pursue the promises of God (Heb. 6:10-12; 10:35-36). Hebrews 6:10 12 (NASB95) 10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 10:35 36 (NASB95) 35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. 5