The Promises of God

Good morning and welcome in everybody.  Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 6 ¹⁰ For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. ¹¹ And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: ¹² That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. ¹³ For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, ¹⁴ Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. ¹⁵ And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

A promise is a declaration or an assurance that one will do a particular thing. The Bible is filled with promises from God, but in order to receive them, action is required on our part. Consider this for a moment. A dad might promise to take his son hunting for the opener, but in order to reap that promise, he needs to keep his grades up at school. When you become an employee of a company, they will promise you a specific wage and give you a payroll check every few weeks, but in order to reap that promise you must show up for work and do the duties that are required of you. These are very simplistic illustrations, but in order to reap the promises of scripture requires active works of faith and obedience towards the will of God. They are so important that the Apostle teaches that without them, you really don’t possess faith at all. 

James 2 ¹⁷ Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. ¹⁸ Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

¹⁹ Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. ²⁰ But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? ²² Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? ²³ And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. ²⁴ Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. ²⁵ Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Faith and works are both required in order to obtain eternal life. Many people are going to try to get into Heaven by their works, but unless they have faith in Christ Jesus they will fail. Some people will try to get to heaven by faith in Christ Jesus alone, but without works, they will fail too. You must have both actively working in your life in order to obtain eternal life. God’s Word is filled with promises, but in order to obtain them, it will require faith and patience. Everyday God is watching to see how we live our lives, and those who obey Him will be rewarded.  Obedience towards God is the key to reaping his benefits.

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12

Eternal life is a reward for the faithful of God. We have a promise given to us that he will save us but we must repent of our sins. Those who become a Christian must depart from evil. They must be converted and transformed from sinners into Saints. We must turn from the lies of sinful living and believe the truth in Christ. To obtain the promise of eternity, we must first prove ourselves worthy, by walking in the will of God. 

 Hebrews 10 ³⁶ For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. ³⁷ For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. ³⁸ Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

But a promise can go either way, and what I mean by that is, if you do what’s good, God will bless that, but if you do what’s evil He will punish that. He will punish sin because He is just and righteous, but those who seek to do good shall receive glory and honor and immortality.

Romans 2 ⁵ But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; ⁶ Who will render to every man according to his deeds: ⁷ To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: ⁸ But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, ⁹ Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; ¹⁰ But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: ¹¹ For there is no respect of persons with God.

God’s not going to forget the things that we have done for Him The Apostle Paul had spent his life preaching and teaching God’s Word and he knew that God would reward him accordingly.

2 Timothy 1 ¹¹ Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. ¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Just like you hope to get your paycheck and patiently wait for that day, we hope to be able to walk in paradise forever with the Lord Jesus Christ. But biblical hope is based upon a promise, and in order to obtain it, we most certainly need to walk according to God’s will. Remember that the Apostle Paul didn’t live his life as though he had already attained salvation. If you already possess something, then there’s no need to hope for it any longer. We are supposed to abide in hope, but genuine hope is waiting for something that you have not yet received. We must hear, “well done now good and faithful servant”  in order to enter into heaven. In order to reap that promise, you will need to be a good and faithful servant!. God doesn’t reward the wicked and the rebellious, He grants eternal life to those who serve and obey Him from the heart. 

2 Timothy 4 ⁷ I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

To obtain any of the promises of God requires patiently serving Him every single day. We must endure all the way to the end to be awarded with the crown of righteousness. We certainly haven’t crossed the finish line yet, and today is the day to start running. Are you ready to do what is required of you, in order to obtain…..

……The Promises of God

Let’s think about these things for right now.  We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.❤️

tlkjbc.com