Topical Encyclopedia IntroductionThe concept of God's promises is a central theme throughout the Bible, reflecting His faithfulness, love, and commitment to His people. These promises are assurances given by God, often conditional upon obedience and faith, and they encompass a wide range of blessings, including spiritual, physical, and eternal aspects. God's promises are seen as unbreakable covenants that reveal His character and His plan for humanity. Old Testament Promises 1. The Abrahamic Covenant: One of the foundational promises in the Old Testament is the covenant God made with Abraham. In Genesis 12:2-3 , God promises Abraham, "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you." This promise includes the land, descendants, and blessings to all nations through Abraham's lineage. 2. The Mosaic Covenant: At Mount Sinai, God made a covenant with the Israelites, promising to be their God if they obeyed His laws. Exodus 19:5-6 states, "Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine. And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." 3. The Davidic Covenant: God promised King David that his throne would be established forever. In 2 Samuel 7:16 , God declares, "Your house and kingdom will endure forever before Me, and your throne will be established forever." This promise is seen as fulfilled in Jesus Christ, a descendant of David. 4. The Promise of a New Covenant: Through the prophet Jeremiah, God promised a new covenant with His people. Jeremiah 31:31-33 says, "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah... I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people." New Testament Promises 1. The Promise of Salvation: Central to the New Testament is the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ. John 3:16 affirms, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." 2. The Promise of the Holy Spirit: Jesus promised His disciples the Holy Spirit as a Helper and Guide. In John 14:16-17 , Jesus says, "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth." 3. The Promise of Eternal Life: Believers are assured of eternal life through faith in Christ. 1 John 2:25 states, "And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life." 4. The Promise of Christ's Return: The New Testament contains the promise of Jesus' return. In Acts 1:11 , the angels declare, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven." Characteristics of God's Promises 1. Faithfulness: God's promises are rooted in His unchanging nature. Numbers 23:19 emphasizes, "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?" 2. Conditional and Unconditional: Some promises are conditional, requiring human response, such as obedience and faith, while others are unconditional, based solely on God's grace and sovereignty. 3. Fulfillment in Christ: Many Old Testament promises find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is seen as the ultimate expression of God's faithfulness and love. 4. Hope and Assurance: God's promises provide hope and assurance to believers, encouraging them to trust in His plan and remain steadfast in their faith. Conclusion The promises of God are a testament to His enduring love and faithfulness. They serve as a foundation for the believer's hope and trust in God's ultimate plan for redemption and eternal life. Topical Bible Verses 2 Peter 1:4Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Topicalbible.org 2 Peter 3:13 Philippians 4:19 John 3:16 Romans 8:1-39 Library Concerning Theurgy, which Promises a Delusive Purification of the ... Trypho Asks that Christ be Proved God, but Without Metaphor Justin ... Promises and Threatenings WT Vn to the Christen Reader. This Assurance, However, is not Produced by any Peculiar ... Thou Shalt have no Other Gods Before Me. Articuli xxxix. Ecclesi?? Anglican??. AD 1562. That Even Varro Himself Pronounced his Own Opinions Regarding the ... Whilst There are Thus Many Gods and Lords, Whereof Some are Such ... His Promises. Resources Are Christians “little gods”? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that God is the God of gods and Lord of lords? | GotQuestions.org Why is "You shall have no other gods before me" in the Ten Commandments? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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