Promises, divine

God’s promises are irrevocable

He is absolutely trustworthy

Numbers 23:19 NASB95

19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will 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 NASB95

11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which 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 NASB95

3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

God may confirm his promises with an oath

Genesis 22:15–18 NASB95

15 Then the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 16 and said, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 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. 18 “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have 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 NASB95

18 But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no. 19 For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not yes and no, but is yes in Him. 20 For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through 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 NASB95

34 “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. 35 “The Father loves the Son and has 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 NASB95

22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

See also Jn 1:12; Ro 4:13–16

They are received by perseverance and obedience

Hebrews 10:36 NASB95

36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

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

God’s promises unite believing Jews and Gentiles

Ephesians 3:6 NASB95

6 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,

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 NASB95

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous 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