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Promise: God Keeping His Word

Biblical Terms, Devotionals / By

The word promise comes from a Greek word that is found over 50 times in the New Testament. Although the Old Testament does not use the word, the concept of promise runs throughout. From Genesis to Revelation you will find God promising to do certain things for His people.


Old Testament Promises

A promise is a covenant or declaration that one will do exactly what they pledge. God made many promises to Israel, and all His promises have come to true or will come true. The promise to Abraham and Sarah of a child is one of the great promises in the Old Testament (Genesis 15:5; 17:6-8). God promised Abraham that he would have a child and that child would develop into a nation of people as innumerable as the sand on the seashore (Genesis 22:17). It was an unconditional promise that God made with Abraham as we read in Genesis 12:2-3:

2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
This is so far reaching that it touches everyone who have has put their faith in Christ (Galatians 3:29). Thus all born again believers became children of this great promise (Galatians 4:28).


The Promise of Salvation

In the New Testament, the word “promise,” comes most importantly in God’s announcement of His plan of salvation and blessing to His people. The author of Hebrews sees in Jesus the realization of the promises given to Abraham and the prophets (Hebrews 11:39-40). God promised salvation to all who believe in His Son (Ephesians 3:6). There is no greater blessing than the free gift of God’s salvation. And once we are saved, God promises to continue the work He started until we reach heaven (Philippians 1:6). This is very encouraging, since unlike us, God never changes in His plan, purposes or promises. We can count on God that He will never go back on His Word.


We Can Depend on Him

God’s promises are also comforting. He says He will be with us everywhere we go,

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).
If God promised to be with us wherever we go, what can we be afraid of? This promise assures us that we will never walk alone. It is also a reminder that we can always rely on Him whatever challenges come our way. He promises that He will take care of us and sustain us,
Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved (Psalm 55:22).
This is so helpful. When we go through trials we can cast our anguish on the Lord who can handle it all and in return, He will uphold us and ease the turmoil we have.

Scripture Reference

And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

6 “I have made you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and akings will come forth from you.
7 “I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.
8 “I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.

2 And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;
3 And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.

39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,
40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.

to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
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