Question 1

With so little to depend upon in life, what can I count on from God?

Accepted Answer

Galatians 3:21-22Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.We can count on God’s character as a promise-keeper. Most of God’s promises apply to his followers, those who have received his gracious offer of salvation through faith in Jesus.Matthew 28:20“Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”John 14:15-17“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.”We can count on the commitments Jesus made to his followers. Jesus promises to be with us forever in the personal presence of his Holy Spirit.1 John 1:9If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.We can count on God’s willingness to forgive. Jesus promises forgiveness when we confess our sins to him.John 14:1-4“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”We can count on a wonderful eternal destiny. Jesus promises an eternal home in heaven for those who trust him.2 Peter 3:8-10You must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief.We can count on God’s sovereignty and the fulfillment of his plan. The Bible promises that Jesus will return to judge the world for its deeds and preserve his faithful followers for an eternity with him.Romans 8:28We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.We can count on God promises to redeem all the events of our lives for our good if we live obediently for him.Hebrews 6:18So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.We can count of the fact that God’s promises are completely dependable and trustworthy because he himself is so. This can give us great comfort in the present, as well as assurance for the future. If the past and present verify God’s dependability, the future will certainly demonstrate his continued dependability.

Question 2

Why is it so important for us to keep our promises?

Accepted Answer

Numbers 30:1-2Moses summoned the leaders of the tribes of Israel and told them, “This is what the Lord has commanded: A man who makes a vow to the Lord or makes a pledge under oath must never break it. He must do exactly what he said he would do.”People rely on our promises. Keeping a promise is the basic foundation for trust in any relationship. The fact that we depend on others to keep their promises is reason enough to keep ours.1 Samuel 20:14-16“May you treat me with the faithful love of the Lord as long as I live. But if I die, treat my family with this faithful love, even when the Lord destroys all your enemies from the face of the earth.” So Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, saying, “May the Lord destroy all your enemies!”2 Samuel 9:7-10“Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!”We honor God and others by keeping our promises. David had promised Jonathan to care for his family, and he kept his word when he became king. David took Jonathan’s crippled son, Mephibosheth, into his household to care for him, even though he was the grandson of his enemy, King Saul.Matthew 5:33-37“You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’ But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.”Jesus said that if we are people of our word, we shouldn’t need to strengthen our promises with a vow. In Jesus’ day, the collateral nature of vows was used sometimes as a scale for actually measuring whether or not a person’s promise had to be kept. (Did a promise made on the Temple or the gold in the Temple carry greater weight?) Jesus pointed back to the basic importance of being a dependable person. Keeping our promises will establish our reputations as a people of our word. Jesus wants his followers to be trustworthy.Psalm 50:14Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High.Love causes people to make and keep promises. The keeping of promises is part of a healthy relationship, not an arrangement of duties to be fulfilled. The promises we make to God should be expressions of our gratitude for all he does to keep his promises to us.1 Samuel 1:11, 24-25She [Hannah] made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime” . . . When the child was weaned, Hannah took him to the Tabernacle in Shiloh.Our goal is to pattern our lives after God. If God always keeps his promises, so must we.Deuteronomy 23:22-23“It is not a sin to refrain from making a vow. But once you have voluntarily made a vow, be careful to fulfill your promise to the Lord your God.”Proverbs 20:25Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost.Ecclesiastes 5:2, 5Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few. . . . It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it.Matthew 5:33-37“You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’ But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.”Keeping our promises will establish our reputation as a person who is trustworthy. Being careful not to make promises we cannot keep will also contribute to our reputation for integrity.Genesis 47:29-31As the time of his death drew near, Jacob called for his son Joseph and said to him, “Please do me this favor. Put your hand under my thigh and swear that you will treat me with unfailing love by honoring this last request: Do not bury me in Egypt. When I die, please take my body out of Egypt and bury me with my ancestors.” So Joseph promised, “I will do as you ask.”Numbers 30:1-2Moses summoned the leaders of the tribes of Israel and told them, “This is what the Lord has commanded: A man who makes a vow to the Lord or makes a pledge under oath must never break it. He must do exactly what he said he would do.”Malachi 2:14-16You cry out, “Why doesn’t the Lord accept my worship?” I’ll tell you why! Because the Lord witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows. . . . So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.”Being a person of your word is an essential component of integrity. Keeping a promise is also the basic foundation for trust in any relationship. If you cannot consistently keep your word, how can anyone really trust you?

Question 3

How does God expect me to respond to his promises to me?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 12:1-7The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed.God expects us to respond to his promises in faith and to act on his promises.

Promises