God's Great Promises

As a child, did you ever make a “pinky promise” and say, “I swear!” for good measure? If you’re like me, probably so. But did you keep your word? Promises are far easier made than kept!

God is a promise-maker. But more importantly, he is a promise-keeper. The Bible is filled with God’s hope-filled promises for his people.

Biblical promises have a three-fold purpose: (1) to educate our mind, (2) to motivate our heart, and (3) to elevate our spirit. We are thus informed and transformed by God’s promises.

As believers we can bank on the promises of God because of “the unchanging nature of his purpose” and the fact that “it is impossible for God to lie” (Heb. 6:17-18). His covenantal oaths are sealed with Christ’s blood and the Holy Spirit as a down payment or guarantee (2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13-14). Jesus serves as our faithful high priest in heaven’s throne room (Heb. 6:20). Our hope in God’s promises functions as a spiritual anchor for the soul, keeping us stable and secure (vs. 19).

In this blog post, I want to focus on the interwoven biblical promises of salvation and God’s love. In the Old Testament, the assurance of pardon for sins and eternal salvation remained somewhat abstract and intangible, shrouded in prophetic mystery of what would be fulfilled later upon the coming of the Messiah.

According to Scripture, salvation for Israel referred more to physical redemption and protection as a holy nation than spiritual redemption (e.g., see Jer. 15:19-21). Their rescue and protection was of a physical and military nature, demonstrating God’s covenantal love toward his people.

In the New Testament, however, we as God’s spiritually redeemed people, receive a far greater promise of his amazing grace. John 3:14-17 (ESV), states, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.’”

Thus, God sent his one-of-a-kind son on the ultimate rescue mission to save our souls from eternal death through his perfect self-sacrifice.  Who else would love you and me this much? God gave us his best so we could be his children, too. Talk about great and matchless love!

However, God’s eternal blessings and promises are contingent on our believing and trusting in the Son of God’s true identity and spiritual authority. We can’t please God without demonstrating a responsive faith (Heb. 11:6; James 2:14-17). We don’t have to give up a child for God (as he did for us). He just asks us to believe and act accordingly. 

God’s grace is free of charge (Rom. 6:22-23). It can’t be purchased or earned. The price (or debt) has already been paid in full by Jesus—our high priest, sacrificial lamb, Prince of Peace, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We deserve nothing less than the penalty of death for our sins, but Jesus took our sentence upon himself as a ransom (i.e., appeasement or propitiation) for God’s righteous judgment and holy wrath.

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV), states, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God’s unconditional love for us is a sure thing without exception.

You don’t have to be anything special for God to cherish and accept you—not the smartest, richest, prettiest or most virtuous or upright. Your heavenly Creator loves you just as you are.

The greatest invitation in the Bible states: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20, ESV).

God is reaching out to you today with his love and grace. Jesus wants to be in a saving, personal relationship with you. Will you take hold of His nail-scarred hand?