By: Peter Larocque – June, 2019
I am absolutely almost positive that many of you have heard the proverb, “Promises Made, Promises Kept”. As I looked for the genesis of this saying, it is still up for debate who said it first! When we are talking about us humans I can understand the confusion. But when we speak of God, our Heavenly Father, all the talk is over because He is the original promise keeper! When God makes a promise, it is a done deal, you can count on it! The timing may not be exactly according to our wishes, but it will come to pass.
Let’s read 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” The “yea” means an emphatic yes and the “amen” means so be it, it’s trustworthy! Something of great importance that we must recognize here is that all the promises of God are not contingent upon our behavior and the reason for this is because of “who” made the promise which in this case it is God! We must never contribute to God man’s limitations, man’s ability or inability to keep a promise.
Titus 1:2, tells us, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” Note that this doesn’t say God will not or chooses not to lie, it very clearly states, God cannot lie! The answer to the universal question, “is there anything God cannot do?” The Answer is yes! God cannot lie!
Now, as far as “timing” attached to His promises, let’s not forget that God knows what He is doing and the truth that He knows all! He knows all the whys and the wherefores, all the behind the scenes stuff that we are not privy to.
2 Peter 3:9, tells us, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” We just have to trust Him!
Now let’s go back to 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” The words “in him” refer to Jesus Christ, he is the one that makes the surety, meaning Jesus took on the responsibility, and the undertaking of performing the Father’s will, Redeeming us from our sins which Ephesians 1:7 explains, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” The results of this is what we read in Hebrews 7:22, “By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.” Along with Hebrews 8:6, “But now hath he [Jesus Christ] obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.” Because of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, we have a better testament, and a better covenant which results in better promises!
So, when we get to verses 21 & 22 of 2 Corinthians 1, we see the following, “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”
What these verses are telling us according to (Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1991 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.) “The veracity [the precision, exactness] of God, the mediation of Christ, and the operation of the Spirit, are all engaged that the promises shall be sure to all the seed, [all who believe] and the accomplishment of them shall be to the glory of God (v. 20) for the glory of his rich and sovereign grace, and never-failing truth and faithfulness.”
So, all the Promises of God have the backing of Himself, Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit! Now that’s makes it SURE! For example, in Philippians 1:6, we read, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” The great things God has started in you and for you, He promises that he will see it through with you to completion!
Have you ever read Joshua chapter 23? You should, because here God makes himself know as the promise keeper to the Children of Israel as they are about to enter the promise land that he promised them. Joshua 23:5, “And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you.” Joshua 23:9-10, “For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day. 10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.”
Wouldn’t make sense to know what God has promised you? The only place you will find them is in the Bible. Do not go by what people say about what God has promised! Many times, what people say God has promised, in the Bible God says he has not, and many times what people say God has not promised, God says in His word, he has!
Please, please read the Bible for yourself and claim the promises of God for yourself, they are yours for the taking! God loves it when you take Him at His Word!
Charles Spurgeon, an English Calvinist and Baptist Preacher of the 1800s said, “Every promise of Scripture is a writing of God, which may be pleaded before Him with this reasonable request, ‘Do as Thou hast said.’ The Heavenly Father will not break His Word to His own child.”
Happy Hunting!!!
Love to all,
Peter Larocque
peterlarocque@hotmail.com ◊