Promises and Threats From God
A promise in the Scriptural sense of the term is a declaration of God's will in which He signifies what particular blessings or good things He will freely give, as well as the evils that will be removed from us.
God's promises differ from His threats inasmuch as the promises are declarations concerning good, and the latter are a denunciation of evil.
But there are times when the promises of God seem to include certain threats. Why? Promises in there very nature are conditional, and imply the conferred gifts from God as being based on certain conditions to be performed by men.
In reality these promises are skilfully planed tactics by the Almighty. His promises are threatened to be withheld because of our non-compliance with the conditions He puts forth.
Promises differ from commands in that the commands are to make God's will known concerning a particular duty or work directed and expected of the people. On the other hand His promises relate to the blessings and favors men are to receive due to His mercy.
There are various categories of promises. First there were the promises of a coming Saviour in the O.T. Then there were promises to the future church concerning salvation. Thirdly are the promises of blessing by God both temporal and spiritual to the saints. Lastly are the promises encouraging the exercise of duties by believers, this through the Holy Spirit.
The first two promises relating to Christ and the church are predictions as well as promises. The second two relate to particular persons, or to the performance of particular duties by God's disciples. Christians' must receive the promises of God in such a way as they are put forth by Him through His Holy Spirit.
God's promises are both general and conditional. For example the Gospel dispensation is described as a covenant between God and man. Here the salvation of every living soul is made to depend upon their observance of the set forth conditions. Men as free agents have in their power to perform or not to perform these conditions set forth by God. We call it choice.
Jehovah foresaw from the beginning who would and who would not perform on the word of His promises. In other words He knew before-hand who would or would-not be saved at the day of judgment. If God's promises are not fulfilled, we can rest assure that the fault does not lie with Him, but with us.
"God cannot lie:" Therefore the fault would be with man who had failed to comply with the conditions He set forth. With this said, we can apply general assurances to the individual, having no doubt if a person performs the conditions expressed, God will keep His promise of mercy, grace and salvation.
Matt.11:28, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
The promise here is the giving of rest to those who come to Christ. The characteristics of the persons to whom this hope, this pledge is made are distinctly mentioned. They are the weary and heavy laden, whether with the distresses of life, a sense of guilt, or with the load of ceremonial observances that burden a Christian. The condition required of us is to come unto Christ by faith, to believe in Him and become His disciple. The warning, if you do not come, there will be no rest.
There are promises made to particular persons that may be applied to any and all believers. These promises do not exclusively concern those to whom they were first made; but being inserted in the Scriptures, they were made and can be applied to all men. They being a benefit to each and every believer in the past, now, and in the future.
Rom.15:4, "Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."
Lets examine what Paul has to say and its application to all believers. Compare Josh.1:5, with Heb. 13:5.
Joshua 1:5, God said to Joshua, "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I (God) was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, not forsake thee."
Heb.13:5, "Let your conversation (conduct) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He (God) hath said, I will never leave thee, not forsake thee."
Heb.13:8. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever."
Jesus has the same grace and mercy to pity us, and the same power to help His people now as in the past, this without respect of persons.
There is a distinction in the O.T. especially in the book of Psalms concerning promises made to the Jewish community and believers today. Some having a universal application others were made to the Jews, they being temporary.
There were the promises of peace and prosperity to the Jews in the promised land if they observed and obeyed certain commandments. But now, under the Gospel,
1 Tim.4:8, "Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."
The difference lies in the cross, where the future for believers in Christ will be eternity with the Lord in heaven. But the promise to the Jews in the O.T. were for a general happiness in this life. These are not to be applied literally to Christians on this side of the cross. Heaven being the ultimate goal.
God will never fail us not will He forsake us,
Thank you,
Phil LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com