“But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him…’ ”

(1 Corinthians 2:9)

Dear Saints,

While preparing a sermon in late May, I was reminded of the extravagant number of promises God makes in the Bible to believers. If asked whether we want what the Lord promises, most of us would say, “Yes.” But if asked what those promises are, most of us would have trouble recalling more than a few. And if we think of God as a wish-granting genie, these promises are likely to be a disappointment. Our imaginations and desires have to be transformed before we can want what the Lord promises.

Not all biblical promises are “general” ones; that is, not all are addressed to all believers in all times. Not every promise is easy to understand. The promises about answered prayer (in Jesus’ Name) are hard to reconcile with the fact that we pray all the time for things that don’t turn out quite the way we specify in our prayers. Many of God’s promises include a command and a warning not to refuse what He promises.

Here is just a small sampling of the promises I discovered while preparing that sermon. As I have said, there are thousands of promises in the Bible!

Promises of Salvation

¨ “But the angel said, ‘Do not be afraid. Look, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.’ ” (Luke 2:10-11)

¨ “He has wiped out the record of our debt to the Law, which stood against us; he has destroyed it by nailing it to the cross; and he has stripped the sovereignties and the ruling forces, and paraded them in public, behind him in his triumphal procession.” (Colossians 2:14-15)

Justification by Faith

¨ “… we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 2:16)

¨ “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses…” (Ephesians 1:7-8)

Promises of Forgiveness

¨ “…I tell you, there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner.” (Luke 15:10)

¨ Also 1 John 2:12, 4:10; and Hebrews 9:13-15.

The Resurrection of the Body

¨ “We are not all going to fall asleep, but we are all going to be changed, instantly, in the twinkling of an eye, when the last trumpet sounds. The trumpet is going to sound, and then the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed, because this perishable nature of ours must put on imperishability, this mortal nature must put on immortality. And after this perishable nature has put on imperishability and this mortal nature has put on immortality, then will the words of scripture come true: Death is swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:51-55)

Promises of Eternal Life

¨ “In all truth I tell you, whoever listens to my words, and believes in the one who sent me, has eternal life; without being brought to judgment such a person has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24)

¨ Also John 6:56-57; 14:18-21; Revelation 2:7, 11, 17; 3:5-6; 1 John 5:11-15.

Promises of a Share in Our Lord’s Sufferings and Courage

¨ “…If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.” (John 15:19-20)

¨ “I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33)

¨ “God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7-11)

Perseverance: Luke 8:15, Hebrews 10:38-39, 1 John 2:5-6, 24-28, Colossians 1:21-23, 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Peter 3:13-15.

Promises of Prayer Heard and Answered

¨ “Whatever you ask in my name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14)

¨ Also Matthew 21:22, John 15:7, 16:23-24, 1 John 5:11-15.

The Holy Spirit

¨ “I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Paraclete to be with you for ever, the Spirit of truth whom the world can never accept since it neither sees nor knows him; but you know him, because he is with you, he is in you.” (John 14:16-17)

¨ Also Romans 8:9-11, Ephesians 3:16-19; John 15:26-27, 16:13; 1 John 2:14.

Christian Identity and Mission: Acts 20:32; Ephesians 1:4-8, 2:17-20; 1 Corinthians 3:9; Revelation 1:5-6, 7:14-17.

Promises of Victory

¨ “Children, you are from God and have overcome them, because he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

¨ Also 2 Timothy 2:9; 1 John 5:5; Revelation 7:14-17.

Freedom: John 8:31-32; Ephesians 1:4-8; Hebrews 2:14-15.

Intimate Knowledge of God: 1 John 2:14.

Peace with God: Colossians 1:16-23; 1 Timothy 2:4-7.

God’s Word: Isaiah 42:9, 55:10-13.

Citizenship in Heaven: Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 12:22-24.

In my most recent continuing education course, one of my classmates was a priest from Tennessee whom I’ve gotten to know through the program. He directs a challenging inner-city ministry in Memphis. This past February, his wife of 27 years died unexpectedly of a pulmonary embolism. She usually accompanied him to his courses, and I am fortunate to have met her. She was the mother of their two children and my friend’s partner in ministry. One night at supper, after we had prayed for him, someone told him how surprised we were that he had gone ahead with his plans to take the course in June.

“This is what she would have wanted,” he told us, adding: “Some days it seems as if she died a million years ago; sometimes it seems as if it happened yesterday; some days I can’t believe it’s happened at all. But the promises of God are the best things I know. Knowing the love of God and his goodness has made it possible for me to get through this.”

May the Lord fill us with the grace to want what he promises, as much as he stands ready to give good things to his children.

Faithfully,

Chuck Bradshaw +