God's Commitment to Us

Key Point: God Won’t Rip you Off

What is commitment?

Making a Commitment vs. Being Committed

“Ya bro, I’ll be there”

Commitment: A state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.

Commitment is not words:

It is not making a promise, although the intent to commit may be expressed through a promise.

A promise that is not fulfilled is called a broken promise.

A promise that is fulfilled was true commitment after all.

Commitment is proven by a commitment being fulfilled.

Commitment is shown to be trustworthy when a promise is fulfilled at great expense to the promise maker.

Willingness to follow through even if it means giving up what you have earned or are entitled to.

Willingness to follow through even if it seems unfair.

Willing to follow through even though it is going to hurt.

Willingness to follow through even if it costs everything.

The depth of love is expressed by the depth of commitment.

Ex: “Baby, I love you so much. I want to make a special commitment to you. I commit to visit you once a year, if finances and good weather permit, and oh, as long as it is convenient for me. I commit to call you every other month, as long as I’m not too busy. And I will stay married to you as long I have feelings for you. Will you marry me.”

A guy might be able to easily follow through with that promise, but it displays a very shallow love. There is no sacrifice there.

But when a man says to a woman, “I love you so much that I commit to be by your side as long as we both shall live. Whether you are sick or healthy. For richer or poorer, for better or worse. I will never leave you. And I pick you to be my one and only lover. Will you marry me?”

Now, that type of commitment shows a whole different level of love. That’s costly love. And when a man follows through on that, he shows that his promise was real commitment.

This type of commitment provides a sense of security and freedom; and it overcomes fear, because the spouse knows that the marriage isn’t going to fall apart as soon as things get rocky.

Is God Committed to us?

If he is, then we know we can trust him.

Faith, is trusting God enough to do what he says. And sometimes, that’s hard.

If he is, we know that he will not rip us off.

What does the Bible Say?

The need for a Savior:

Prov. 14:9 - Sin is a big deal.

Proverbs 14:9 NIV

Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.

Heb. 9:22, 27 - Blood, forgiveness, judgement.

Hebrews 9:22 ESV

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Hebrews 9:27 ESV

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Past: God’s Past Commitments

Gen: 3:15

Genesis 3:15 ESV

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Is. 7:14

Isaiah 7:14 ESV

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Jer. 31:31

Jeremiah 31:31 ESV

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,

Present: Fulfillment in Christ

Matt. 26:27-28

Matthew 26:27–28 ESV

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Phil. 2:5-8

Philippians 2:5–8 ESV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Christ gave up what he was entitled to. (Phil. 2:6)

Philippians 2:6 ESV

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

Christ took upon himself what was unfair. (Phil 2:7)

Philippians 2:7 ESV

but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Christ willingly gave up everything he had, even his own life. (Phil 2:8)

Philippians 2:8 ESV

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Future: God’s Commitment to our future

John 3:16-18, 36

John 3:16–18 ESV

“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. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

John 3:36 ESV

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Because of God’s Commitment to us, it gives us a security that leads us from...

Discouraged to encouragement (Phil. 2:1-2)

Philippians 2:1–2 ESV

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Selfishness to humble selflessness (Phil. 2:3-4)

Philippians 2:3–4 ESV

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

From Fear to Freedom (1 John 4:18)

1 John 4:18 ESV

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Entitlement to Service (Phil. 2:6-8)

Philippians 2:6–8 ESV

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Self-Preservation to Self-Sacrifice (1 John 3:16)

1 John 3:16 NIV

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.