Promises

Articles

Neal Ellis
02/28/16 - God's Promises

Ask the man on the street – or anywhere you find him – for his favorite biblical scripture, and chances are he will say John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

That’s a good one, as far as it goes. But maybe it is selected because it stops short of some necessary additions.

I’m not really sure that it is a good idea to have a “favorite” scripture, because, as the apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” However, as we consider the scriptures as a whole, we would be amiss not to have a special appreciation for those verses which tell of God’s promises to his followers on earth. There are many scriptural promises – all powerful and amazingly generous – and certainly a verse for every need.

Danny Guthrie presented one to us in a memorable lesson he delivered on a Wednesday evening in July 2014 when he quoted John 14:23, in which Jesus stated, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

Could there be a greater promise or blessing than for the God who created the universe, and his Son, Jesus Christ, to come into your home and live with you? That promise can hardly be surpassed, but God’s word provides many others that should never be forgotten. Many of them are offered by John.

Verses like John 6:35 in which he sates, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”

And John 15:7: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”

And the powerful words of 1 John 5:13: “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

In John 14:13-14, the apostle also wrote of Jesus, “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

John delivered another promise from Christ in John 15:7 when he stated, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”

That promise is compounded in 1 John 3:22 which adds, “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.”

Then there is Matt. 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Matthew passes along another promise to us: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matt. 7:7-8).

Paul has several promises for us. In Phil. 4:19, he said, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

James, the Lord’s brother, urged us to “draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

Furthermore, James delivers an extremely valuable promise in James 1:12: “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

Then there is the great promise found in Rev. 21:4 which should never be forgotten: “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

One more verse – this one from the Old Testament – and it is particularly timely as we attempt to reverse the downward trend (abortions, single sex marriages, etc.) of our nation: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chron. 7:14).

The best news of all is that God keeps his promises. You can depend upon it.