1263. The Glory of God and the Promises
The Glory of God and the Promises
"For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us" (2Co_1:20).
How often have we all sung the good old hymn,
"Standing on the promises of Christ our King,
Through eternal ages, let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God."
1. The promises of God are exceeding great and precious: "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the Divine nature" (2Pe_1:4).
The precious promises include the following:
(1) The promises of redemption and justification. In the 3d chapter of Galatians, we have seven statements about the promises of God.
"That we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
"Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made."
"The Law * * cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect."
"If the inheritance be of the Law, it is no more of promise."
"But God gave it to Abraham by promise."
"Is the Law then against the promises of God? God forbid."
"That the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe."
These seven Scriptures leave the Law no place but that of a pedagogue to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith according to the promise.
(2) The promises of our Lord's Second Advent. These are set forth in II Peter.
"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises."
"We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
"We have also a more sure word of prophecy."
"There shall come in the last days scoffers, * * saying, Where is the promise of His coming?"
"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, * * but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night."
"According to His promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth."
These Scriptures make the prophecies of the Lord's return as promises of God. We know the prophecies are trustworthy because they are promises Divinely penned.
(3) The promises of the inheritance of saints. In the Book of Hebrews this is given especial notice. In chapter 6 the Holy Spirit speaks of the promises:
"That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
"Abraham, * * after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise."
"God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, * * that we might have a strong consolation * * to lay hold upon the hope set before us."
"Jesus * * is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises."
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope (lit. rendering) without wavering; for He is faithful that promised)."
The words above, have to do more particularly with the heirship which shall be given to the saints at the Coming of Christ. They are exceedingly precious promises.
2. The promises of God are yea and amen in Christ Jesus. An old lady wrote opposite certain promises in her Bible the letters, "T" and "P." When asked what the letters meant, she replied: "These are the promises I have tried and proved."
This may be said of every promise of God. We read in Tit_1:2 of "eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began." What is true of eternal life is true of all the promises.
How happy we shall be! How settled! How established in the faith! Not an untrustworthy word in the whole Bible! Every statement, every promise, yea and amen in Christ Jesus. When God speaks, none can disannul His words; when God stretches forth His hand, none can draw it back.
Now to the chief thought in all of this study:
3. The promises are to the glory of God. The honor, the reputation, the glory of God depends upon His verifying His promises. "FOR ALL the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen; unto the glory of God, by us."
The promises are certified to us, in that Christ is the One in Whom they were given, and upon Whom they were builded. Since we know that Christ came forth from the Father and came into the world; since we know that He died, rose again, and ascended up on high, we know that the promises are certified thereby. Even the unfulfilled promise of Christ's return to reign upon David's throne, is assured in the already fulfilled resurrection of Christ and His seat upon the Father's right hand.
Every promise as it meets its fulfillment adds glory to the God of all grace. Every fulfilled promise makes Him great and greatly to be praised among men.
When at last we stand over yonder, and view the fulfillment of all of God's great promises, we will fall upon our faces and worship Him, as we acclaim: "There hath not failed one good thing of all that was spoken."
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR