The Promises of Christ
To the scattered saints of the Most High God and our Lord Jesus Christ,
Our faith in God is what we are standing upon in these last days. Little by little every earthly thing we have trusted upon is being taken away. Chastening grace, in proportion to our faith [Eph 2:8], is the way salvation comes to us and how every man is being made anew in the likeness of Christ. The purpose of our many tribulations in the Lord’s plan is to ensure that the only thing we trust upon is an unshakable faith in the Lord. In our day of the Lord, “everything else” but faith; be it our wisdom, our money, our health, our public standing, our relationships … or anything else; is being removed and is being burned up in the Lord’s fire.
Heb 12:27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.
This road and journey in the Lord’s hand are difficult and much suffering and affliction is part of His process. Taking heart of God’s many promises strengthens and helps us endure our trials keeping our eyes focused on the hope yet to come.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
Php 3:14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
All the promises of God are an absolute certainty which come to pass in the times appointed beforehand for every man. The character of God is unchangeable who is 100% faithful and who cannot lie. As the true Israel of God, the true circumcision, we should be strengthened knowing the One who began a good work in us will complete it right on His declared schedule.
Psa 89:34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
Our faith in all God’s promises gives us the necessary hope that will indeed save us in the end.
Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Rom 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
The most basic promise of God is that of eternal life. This includes attaining a spirit-filled and godly life now in this age, if the Lord has ordained it.
1Jn 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
Joh 10:10 I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Joh 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Numerous other promises of God our Father through Christ are derived from the pivotal promise of eternal life. Our faith in the Lord and these promises are essential to stand firm and endure the many afflictions the Lord is having us experience.
Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee [His Word, the promises]
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth [thy word, thy promises are truth], and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
In these last days (our day of the Lord), we are walking by faith, the substance of what our carnally minded senses cannot see which is also foolishness to the world and its way of thinking. There will be times of doubt and inner torment as we sojourn towards eternal life and our salvation. We have learned and continue to progress by taking all contrary thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.
All things, even any suffering and our tribulations are for our sake and the response of the faithful man is to rejoice and give thanks always no matter the circumstances.
2Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
When we fall or fail to stand, we need to pick ourselves back up and keep on moving towards the prize of being completed in Christ. The rewards are certain if we endure.
2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Having faith in God is the best admonishment and reminder in these troubling times. If we ask for anything we want, consistent with the Lord’s will (our sanctification), we are promised it will be done.
Mar 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
Mar 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Yes, having patience and waiting is part of the lessons we are learning. The Lord’s delays are not His denials and should be viewed as only a testing of our faith. Christ cannot and will not be unfaithful to His or His Father’s promises.
2Ti 2:13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.
As immature youth, we first grow weary yet in due time learn to remain steadfast with our eyes focused on the promised end, trusting in the promises to come.
Gal 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
The promise of eternal life is our guaranteed inheritance that is incorruptible when the Lord finishes His work in us. Many other subtending promises come from this main one. We need to remember and recall these promises (truths) so it is good to often be reminded of them. Some of the key promises we are given are highlighted below.
Some other Key Promises of the Lord
We are promised freedom or liberty in Christ: This is true at several levels including being freed from the law of carnal reasoning but also from our being freed from the power sin has over us.
Joh 8:36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
We are promised peace: This is not the same peace the world defines, as indeed Christ coming to us wreaks havoc on our once carnal and self-focused life. That life must be lost to gain the new life where we find the inner peace that only a deep faith in the Lord and His promises can provide.
Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
We are promised rest when we come together. With strong faith, we are finally able to quit kicking against the pricks and contending with what the Lord is working in our lives. He is in charge; we are mere clay in His hands. Settling on those truths brings a rest (a cessation) of our carnal works to save ourselves.
Mat 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
We are promised forgiveness of our sins: This is huge and one our carnal mind has difficulty in truly believing. The Lord works all things, even our sins for His purposes (Isa 63:17, Isa 64:8, Jer 2:19, Jer 10:23, Eph 1:11, Rom 9:19-20, Phi 2:13, etc….). By no means do we turn this truth into a license to sin as many do and others will falsely accuse us of doing. Yet we need to remember it is the Lord and we need not wallow in self-condemnation but believe the Gospel and get right back up and keep walking doing all we can to stand.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
We are promised strength to overcome sin and the world: The power unto salvation is not our own power, it is indeed the power of God given to us by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. If we truly belong to Him, we are His sons and have that power dwelling within us to overcome and be His witnesses on this earth. Of course, we all must grow and mature from babes in Christ to mature sons to be perfected and achieve the overcoming.
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
He promises never to leave us or forsake us: It can be very lonely for those that keep the true faith. Combine this with our struggles of being in this world and our fleshly weaknesses and doubt, we need be watchful not to be taken in by a lying spirit that would have us believe the Lord has forsaken us. Even our Lord cried out in the last moments of His dying flesh thinking He had been forsaken. Faith would have us take those thoughts captive, trusting in the promise to never leave us or forsake us. We should view such doubts as the trial of faith that it is.
Deu 31:6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Psa 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Christ promises to lose nobody. All given to eternal life, which is every man in his predetermined order, will indeed be saved! There is nothing any of us can do to save ourselves. One is either be saved in this age, or they will be saved in age to come after the Lord brings this present evil age to an end. Our progress or lack thereof at times should not have us doubting the promises of God. The Lord finishes what He has started in us and nobody or nothing is going to take us out of His hands. He is the Potter, He is in absolute control.
Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Christ promises to meet all our needs: We are in this world and have many needs to survive and live in the flesh. We should not worry no matter our circumstances as He promises us to give us everything we need. We are learning contentment with what we have by trusting in these promises.
Php 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
When we seek Christ He promises to help: He is always there in times of trouble and provides what we need to endure and be strengthened. He is always with us and when we turn our face to the Lord, He is there to minister and comfort us.
Mat 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Psa 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Christ promises all prayers made in faith according to His will, will be answered.
Joh 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Mat 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
He promises to teach us the way of righteousness: Learning righteousness is the same process as being saved from our sins (salvation). To do right we are caused by the Lord to err [Isa 63:17] and by the subsequent chastening of His judgment, are being taught the right way. Lord willing, we are learning and adapting from our failures as that indeed is their purpose.
Psa 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth [teaches], and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Isa 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
We overcome and are not being harmed by abiding in His eternal fire. In fact, the fire is what is, was, and will be saving us!!! This is a big promise if we can receive it. The way of life in Christ is not easy for our marred and weak flesh. We become weary at times and in those moments, standing on the promises of God and trusting them fully is how we can endure.
Isa 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
The story of Shadrak and company in the blazing furnace depicts this promise and mystery that so few are given to understand. Walking by faith requires us to be despised and hated by a carnal world that has no faith. The resulting spiritual fires this brings in our lives are going to bring forth Christ in us. He appears in the fire.
Dan 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
Our time in the “lake of fire” is the ordained process that brings about the death of our carnality hence it is also known as the second death [our first death being found dead in our sins and trespasses]. Experiencing the second death is the other side of the same coin as the blessed and holy First Resurrection. We should eagerly look forward to partaking in this blessing. This is a prophecy that is being fulfilled in our life and rather to be avoided, it is the way of salvation. Trusting in the promise of no harm shall come to us, will give us much-needed encouragement when we are given the faith to stand.
Rev 2:11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”
Christ promises to come again and always dwell with us. That indwelling is within us as Christ lives within us. For now, we have a down payment, an earnest deposit of the Spirit of God. Yet in due time, as His work is being completed and we shed these earthen vessels, we will receive a full reward having the mind of Christ. This glorious outcome is something we should look forward to and do all we can to hasten its appearing in our walk. It is a pivotal promise that helps us endure to the end.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
The hope of getting our crown of righteousness is obtaining the mind of Christ. This is assured without a doubt if we fight the fight of faith to the end.
2Ti 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2Ti 4:8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Many more pages would be needed to even begin to cover all the promises the Lord has given to His people. The Scriptures declare them, and we as His people are living (experiencing) these blessings right now. The knowledge of God we have been given includes knowledge of these precious promises. May these words be an encouragement and reminder to all of us and help to all those waiting on the Lord.
Psa 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
Pete & Ronel
peterjwilson56@gmail.com