Promises, divine

The promises of God reveal his particular and eternal purposes to which he is unchangeably committed and upon which believers can totally depend. These promises are, however, conditional upon obedience on the part of believers.

God's promises are irrevocable

He is absolutely trustworthy

Numbers 23:19 See also Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:13–18

God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?

He is unchanging

Psalm 110:4; Malachi 3:6–7; James 1:17–18

He has the power and will to fulfil his promises

Isaiah 55:11 See also Romans 4:21

so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.

And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time, saying, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

Examples of God's promises through covenant relationship

Genesis 9:8–17 with Noah; Genesis 15:9–21, Genesis 17:1–22; Hebrews 11:8–9, Hebrews 11:17–19; Genesis 26:3–4 with Isaac; Genesis 28:13–15, Genesis 46:2–4; Exodus 19:1–6, Exodus 24:1–8; Numbers 25:10–12 with Phinehas; 2 Samuel 7:5–16 parallel 1 Chronicles 17:4–14; 1 Kings 8:15, 1 Kings 8:24; Jeremiah 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 See also Matthew 5:17; Luke 4:16–21; Acts 2:29–31, Acts 3:21–26, Acts 7:37; Deuteronomy 18:15–18; Acts 13:23, Acts 13:32–34, Acts 26:6–7; Romans 1:2–3, Romans 15:8; Hebrews 9:15

But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.” For all the promises of God are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him, our “Amen” is spoken to the glory of God.

Jesus Christ brings superior promises through the new covenant

Hebrews 8:6–8 Jesus Christ mediates a covenant of inner transformation, willing obedience, intimate relationship with God and forgiveness of sins forever. See also Ephesians 1:13–14; Hebrews 7:22, Hebrews 11:13, Hebrews 11:39–40; 2 Peter 1:1–4

Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises. For if that first covenant had been without fault, no place would have been sought for a second. But God found fault with the people and said: “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.

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

John 3:34–35 See also John 1:1–2, John 1:14, John 8:25–29; Hebrews 1:1–3

For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.

God's promises must be received by believers

They are received by faith

Galatians 3:22 See also John 1:12; Romans 4:13–16

But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.

They are received by perseverance and obedience

Hebrews 10:36 See also Romans 4:19–24; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 6:12

You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.

God's promises unite believing Jews and Gentiles

Ephesians 3:6 See also Acts 2:38–39; Romans 9:8; Galatians 3:29, Galatians 4:28; Ephesians 2:11–18; Hebrews 11:39–40

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.