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Understanding and Applying God's Promises in Scripture

God's promises, as revealed in Scripture, are foundational to Christian faith and practice, offering assurance and direction to believers. These promises are understood to be contained within the Scriptures, which are themselves described as the "Word of God" and "Holy Scriptures," given by divine inspiration through the Holy Spirit [1, 2].

The nature of God's promises is multifaceted. They are made in Christ and to Christ, as well as to specific individuals like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David [1]. The Israelites as a whole, and even "all who are called of God," are recipients of these promises [1]. The faithfulness of God is central to their reliability; God is described as faithful to His promises and remembers them [1]. These promises are characterized as "Good" and "Holy" [1].

A significant aspect of God's promises is their confirmation, often by an oath, underscoring their immutability [1, 9]. The covenant established with Israel, for instance, included God's promise of blessings contingent on their obedience, demonstrating His veracity in fulfilling His word [11]. The New Covenant, mediated by Christ, is likewise founded upon promises [14]. This new covenant is also understood as a "will or testament," made valid and effective by the blood of Christ [13, 15].

The fulfillment of Old Testament promises is a key theme in the New Testament, with Jesus bringing into reality what prophets and saints desired to see and hear [12]. The doctrines of God, including His promises, are considered to be "his words" put into the mouth of the church, prophets, or Christ himself, through whom "all the promises are yea and amen" [10].

Believers are encouraged to engage with these promises through various spiritual disciplines. Seeking God involves seeking His word, His face, His strength, and His commandments [6]. Prayer is a primary means of accessing God, with promises that He will hear and bless those who pray [3, 5]. Public prayer, in particular, is deemed acceptable to God, who promises to hear and bless it [3]. Access to God, which includes access to His promises, is granted through Christ, by the Holy Spirit, and obtained through faith [5]. This access follows reconciliation with God and is a privilege for saints, who can approach God with confidence [5].

The concept of justification before God is also tied to His promises. Justification is promised in Christ and is an act of God, not achieved through works or a combination of faith and works, but "by faith alone" and "of grace" [4]. This justification is "in the name of Christ" and "by imputation of Christ's righteousness" [4].

The Scriptures, containing these promises, are not merely historical records but are living and active. They are called "the Word," "the Word of God," and "the Word of truth" [2]. Christ Himself sanctioned the Scriptures by appealing to them and teaching from them [2]. Believers are exhorted to keep God's testimonies, which testify of God's mind, love, grace, and the salvation found in Christ [7, 16]. Being fully persuaded that God is able to do what He has promised is an act of faith [8].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Promises of God, The — Contained in the Scriptures -- Ro 1:2. Made in Christ -- Eph 3:6; 2Ti 1:1. Made to Christ. -- Ga 3:16,19. Abraham. -- Ge 12:3,7; Ga 3:16. Isaac. -- Ge 26:3,4. Jacob. -- Ge 28:14. David. -- 2Sa 7:12; Ps 89:3,4,35,36. The Israelites. -- Ro 9:4. The Fathers. -- Ac 13:32; 26:6,7. All who are called of God. -- Ac 2:39. Those who love him. -- Jas 1:12; 2:5. Confirmed by an oath -- Ps 89:3,4; Heb 8:6. Covenant established upon -- Heb 8:6. God is faithful to -- Tit 1:2; Heb 10:23. God remembers -- Ps 105:42; Lu 1:54,55. Are Good. -- 1Ki 8:56. Holy. -- ”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer, Public — Acceptable to God -- Isa 56:7. God promises to hear -- 2Ch 7:14,16. God promises to bless in -- Ex 20:24. Christ Sanctifies by his presence. -- Mt 18:20. Attended. -- Mt 12:9; Lu 4:16. Promises answers to. -- Mt 18:19. Instituted form of -- Lu 11:2. Should not be made in an unknown language -- 1Co 14:14-16. Saints delight in -- Ps 42:4; 122:1. Exhortation to -- Heb 10:25. Urge others to join in -- Ps 95:6; Zec 8:21. Exemplified Joshua. -- Jos 7:6-9. David. -- 1Ch 29:10-19. Solomon. -- 2Ch 6:1-42. Jehoshaphat. -- 2Ch 20:5-13. Jeshua. -- Ne 9:1-38. Jew”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Justification Before God — Promised in Christ -- Isa 45:25; 53:11. Is the act of God -- Isa 50:8; Ro 8:33. Under law Requires perfect obedience. -- Le 18:5; Ro 10:5; 2:13; Jas 2:10. Man cannot attain to. -- Job 9:2,3,20; 25:4; Ps 130:3; 143:2; Ro 3:20; 9:31,32. Under the gospel Is not of works. -- Ac 13:39; Ro 8:3; Ga 2:16; 3:11. Is not of faith and works united. -- Ac 15:1-29; Ro 3:28; 11:6; Ga 2:14-21; 5:4. Is by faith alone. -- Joh 5:24; Ac 13:39; Ro 3:30; 5:1; Ga 2:16. Is of grace. -- Ro 3:24; 4:16; 5:17-21. In the name of Christ. -- 1Co 6:11. By imputation of Ch”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Access to God — Is of God -- Ps 65:4. Is by Christ -- Joh 10:7, 9; 14:6; Ro 5:2; Eph 2:13; 3:12; Heb 7:9, 25; 10:19; 1Pe 3:18. Is by the Holy Spirit -- Eph 2:18. Obtained through faith -- Ac 14:27; Ro 5:2; Eph 3:12; Heb 11:6. Follows upon reconciliation to God -- Col 1:21,22. In Prayer -- See Prayer. De 4:7; Mt 6:6; 1Pe 1:17. In his temple -- Ps 15:1; 27:4; 43:3; 65:4. To obtain mercy and grace -- Heb 4:16. A privilege of saints -- De 4:7; Ps 15:1; 23:6; 24:3,4. Saints have, with confidence -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16; 10:19,20. Vouchsafed to repenting sinners -- See Repen”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Seeking God — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7. Includes seeking His Name. -- Ps 83:16. His word. -- Isa 34:16. His face. -- Ps 27:8; 105:4. His strength. -- 1Ch 16:11; Ps 105:4. His commandments. -- 1Ch 28:8; Mal 2:7. His precepts. -- Ps 119:45,94. His kingdom. -- Mt 6:33; Lu 12:31. His righteousness. -- Mt 6:33. Christ. -- Mal 3:1; Lu 2:15,16. Honour which comes from him. -- Joh 5:44. Justification by Christ. -- Ga 2:16,17. The city which God has prepared. -- Heb 11:10,16; 13:14. By prayer -- Job 8:5; Da 9:3. In his house -- De 12:5; Ps 27:4. Should be Immediate. -- H”
  7. Psalms “that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments, -- Psalms 78:7”
  8. Romans “Romans 4:21 (BSB) — being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.”
  9. Hebrews “In this way God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; -- Hebrews 6:17”
  10. Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 51:16: And I have put my words in thy mouth,.... His promises and his truths, either in the mouth of his church, and people for them, both to preserve and transmit to future generations, and to publish and declare to the comfort of each other, Isa 59:21 or to the Prophet Isaiah, to make known to the people of Israel; or to Christ himself, the great Prophet in Israel, by whom grace and truth are come, and by whom God has spoken all his mind and will, and in whom all the promises are yea and amen. The doctrines of God, and not men, as appears by their truth, purity, harmony a”
  11. Deuteronomy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Deuteronomy 7:11: Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day--In the covenant into which God entered with Israel, He promised to bestow upon them a variety of blessings so long as they continued obedient to Him as their heavenly King. He pledged His veracity that His infinite perfections would be exerted for this purpose, as well as for delivering them from every evil to which, as a people, they would be exposed. That people accordingly were truly happy as a nation, and found every promise which th”
  12. Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 13:16: 13:16-17 Jesus brought into reality what the prophets and Old Testament saints desired to see and hear, that is, the fulfillment of Old Testament promises (see Isa 52:15; John 8:56; 1 Pet 1:10).”
  13. Hebrews (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Hebrews 9:15: In these verses the apostle considers the gospel under the notion of a will or testament, the new or last will and testament of Christ, and shows the necessity and efficacy of the blood of Christ to make this testament valid and effectual. I. The gospel is here considered as a testament, the new and last will and testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is observable that the solemn transactions that pass between God and man are sometimes called a covenant, here a testament. A covenant is an agreement between two or more parties about things that are in”
  14. Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 8:6: now--not time; but "as it is." more excellent ministry--than any earthly ministry. by how much--in proportion as. mediator--coming between us and God, to carry into effect God's covenant with us. "The messenger (angel) of the covenant." which--Greek, "one which" [ALFORD]: inasmuch as being one which. established--Greek, "enacted as a law." So Rom 3:27, "law of faith"; and Rom 8:2; Rom 9:31, apply "law" to the Gospel covenant. It is implied hereby, the Gospel is founded on the law, in the spirit and essence of the latter. upon--resting upon.”
  15. Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 9:16: For where a testament is,.... The covenant of grace, as administered under the Gospel dispensation, is a testament or will. The Jews have adopted the Greek word, here used, into their language, and pronounce it and by it understand a dying man's last will and testament (d). Some of them make it to be of Hebrew derivation; as if it was said, , "this shall be to confirm" (e), or this shall be stable and firm; though others own it to be the same with this Greek word (f). The covenant of grace, is properly a covenant to Christ, and a testament or will to his people: it i”
  16. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:2: Blessed are they that keep his testimonies,.... The whole word of God, the Scriptures of truth, are his testimonies: they testify of the mind of God, and of his love and grace in the method of salvation by Christ; they testify of Christ, his person, offices, and grace; of the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow; and of all the happiness that comes to the people of God thereby. The law is called a testimony, which being put into the ark, that had the name of the ark of the testimony. This is a testimony of the perfections of God, his holiness, justi”
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