Introduction: Promises are to be believed, based on integrity, ability to perform, and past experience of promiser. Without these, none will believe a promise made by anyone.

I. God has made certain promises.

A. Based on same premises as any promise - even in extra-ordinary cases.

1. Integrity (absolute, with God) - 2 Cor. 1: 18-20; Heb. 6:13-17.

2. Ability to perform - by definition, omnipotent - Psa. 23; Acts 17.

B. Nature of promises:

1. Holy - Psa. 105:42.

2. Great and precious - 2 Pet. 1:4.

3. Ancient - Tit. 1:2 ("before the world").

4. Not flippant, arbitrary or insincere.

C. Type of promises: physical and spiritual.

1. Physical promises:

a. Creation - earth and fulness as a promise to sustain and provide for man.

b. Gen. 1, 2 - seed after its kind.

c. Gen. 9:8-17, 22 - seasons continue until the end.

d. Job 38:8-11 - limit shore of seas; proud waves stayed.

2. Spiritual promises:

a. These promises necessitated by the fall; connected to redemption.

b. Promises to Abraham - Gen. 15; 17:1-8; 22:15-18; Gal. 3:14-18; 4:28.

c. Such promises are sure - Act 13:23-26,32; 26:6ff; Rom. 4:13-16; 15:8.

d. Secured by Holy Spirit - Lk. 24:49-Acts 1:4; 2:33.37; Eph. 1:13.

II. Object of the promises - eternal life.

A. 1 Tim. 4:8; 2 Tim. 1:1; Rev. 22; 1 Jn. 2:25.

B. Heb. 8:6 - the better promises.

III. Some don't believe God's promises.

A. Why? Because of a lack of integrity, ability or experience with God?

1. 2 Pet. 3:4ff.

2. God's word is immutable - Heb. 6:17.

B. A promise is not less true simply because I don't believe it.

C. How sad to dismiss the promises of God through unbelief (Heb. 10:36-39).

D. Faith, the proper response to the promises of God.

Guardian of Truth XXX: 7, p. 200
April 3, 1986