Pastor J.D. discusses the different types of promises we see in Scripture and how God’s promises are still true for us today.

A glimpse into this episode:

• • I’m for taking promises more seriously–the Bible has 3000!
  • In short: Yes. 2 Corinthians 1:20 says that all of the promises of God are “yes” in Christ Jesus. But not always in the same way as to Israel, so it’s important to understand what we’re reading when we read the Old Testament.
    • In the Bible, there are different types of promises:
    • First, there are unconditional promises, true about God all the time.
      • Nahum 1:7 says that he’s a refuge in times of trouble. Isaiah 41:10 says he will strengthen and help and uphold us — those are pretty incredible promises coming from the God of the universe.
    • There are national covenantal promises: promises for prosperity, to give Israel the Promised Land, to defeat their enemies, and establish a rich, prosperous kingdom, etc. to have a Jewish king on the throne.
      • These can still apply to us by principle: One I use: “Children mighty in the land.”
    • In a lot of these promises to Israel are conditional promises (like the promises with “if” statements attached to them).
      • First command with promise from Ten Commandments / Paul picks it up in Ephesians 6:1
      • “Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
        • That’s given to Israel specially: but it still shows you something about God.
        • God repeatedly says that keeping his own commands equating to long life in Proverbs 3:1-2 and Deuteronomy 4:40.
        • It’s a principle that applies.
• 2 Chronicles 7:14
  • 14 “and my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.”
  • That verse was given to Israel (not America) at a specific time and place.
• How is 2 Corinthians 1:20 true?
  • In Christ: Even the promises that are addressed to Israel apply to us, in a way, because we’re the new Israel.
  • Some are spiritualized in Christ: all they hoped for: a righteous, peace-ensuring Jewish king, forgiveness of sins, eternal inheritance, strength no enemy could touch–are given to us in Christ!
    • John Piper said about this verse: “Every sinner who comes to God in Christ, with all his needs, finds God coming to him in Christ, with all his promises. When a sinful person meets the holy God IN CHRIST, what he hears is YES.”
      Everything about God’s protection, presence, working for our good, eternal rest and fulfillment–yes.
    • But we can still expect the break-in of God’s goodness: Psalm 27:13
      • 13 “I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.”

• • My friend Jen Wilkin gave some helpful tips on interpreting the promises of God. She said:
    • Don’t confuse a promise with a principle.
    • Don’t ignore the context of the promise.
    • Don’t overlook an “if” in the promise.
    • Don’t choose a promise selectively.
    • Don’t try to manipulate a promise to mean what you want it to mean.
    • Don’t limit a promise to your own understanding.

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