Promises, divine

God’s promises are irrevocable

He is absolutely trustworthy

Numbers 23:19 KJV 1900

God is not a man, that he should lie; Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

See also Tt 1:2; Heb 6:13–18

He is unchanging

Ps 110:4; Mal 3:6–7; Jas 1:17–18

He has the power and will to fulfil his promises

Isaiah 55:11 KJV 1900

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

See also Ro 4:21

He is faithful in keeping all his promises

Jos 21:45; Jos 23:14–15; 1 Ki 8:56; Ps 145:13; Heb 10:23

His promises stem from his goodness and glory

2 Peter 1:3–4 KJV 1900

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

God may confirm his promises with an oath

Genesis 22:15–18 KJV 1900

And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

See also Ge 26:3; Is 45:23; Am 6:8; Am 8:7

Examples of God’s promises through covenant relationship

Ge 9:8–17 with Noah

With Abraham:

Ge 15:9–21; Ge 17:1–22; Heb 11:8–9; Heb 11:17–19

Ge 26:3–4 with Isaac

With Jacob:

Ge 28:13–15; Ge 46:2–4

With Moses and the Israelites:

Ex 19:1–6; Ex 24:1–8

Nu 25:10–12 with Phinehas

With David:

2 Sa 7:5–16; 1 Ki 8:15; 1 Ki 8:24

Je 31:31–34 with Jeremiah

The grounding of God’s promises in Christ

God’s promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ

2 Corinthians 1:18–20 KJV 1900

But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

See also Mt 5:17; Lk 4:16–21; Ac 2:29–31; Ac 3:21–26; Ac 7:37; Dt 18:15–18; Ac 13:23; Ac 13:32–34; Ac 26:6–7; Ro 1:2–3; Ro 15:8; Heb 9:15

Jesus Christ brings superior promises through the new covenant

Heb 8:6–8 Jesus Christ mediates a covenant of inner transformation, willing obedience, intimate relationship with God and forgiveness of sins forever.

See also Eph 1:13–14; Heb 7:22; Heb 11:13; Heb 11:39–40; 2 Pe 1:1–4

Jesus Christ has the right to make promises on God’s behalf

John 3:34–35 KJV 1900

For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

See also Jn 1:1–2; Jn 1:14; Jn 8:25–29; Heb 1:1–3

God’s promises must be received by believers

They are received by faith

Galatians 3:22 KJV 1900

But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

See also Jn 1:12; Ro 4:13–16

They are received by perseverance and obedience

Hebrews 10:36 KJV 1900

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

See also Ro 4:19–24; 2 Co 7:1; Heb 6:12

God’s promises unite believing Jews and Gentiles

Ephesians 3:6 KJV 1900

That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

See also Ac 2:38–39; Ro 9:8; Ga 3:29; Ga 4:28; Eph 2:11–18; Heb 11:39–40

Disaster awaits those who reject God’s promises

Jos 23:12–16; Jn 3:18–20; Jn 3:36; 2 Ti 2:11–13; Heb 6:4–12; 2 Pe 3:3–10

Particular promises of God in Christ

The gift of the Holy Spirit

Lk 24:49; Ac 1:4; Ac 2:33; Eph 1:13

The fulness of life and eternal life

2 Ti 1:1; Heb 12:26–28; Jas 1:12; Jas 2:5; 1 Jn 2:25

Resurrection

Jn 5:29; Jn 11:25–26; 1 Co 15:48–57; 2 Co 4:14; 1 Th 4:16

The forgiveness of sins

1 John 1:9 KJV 1900

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The presence of God

Ex 3:12; Ex 33:14; Jos 1:9; Is 58:9; Mt 28:20; Heb 13:5

The peace of God

1 Ch 22:9; Ps 85:8; Is 9:6–7; Ro 5:1; Php 4:4–9

Joy in God

Ps 16:11; Ps 132:16; Jn 16:20–24

The knowledge of God

Je 31:33–34; Jn 17:25–26; 1 Jn 5:20