God Is a Promise Keeper

Introduction

A. To some degree we count on promises. A child’s confidence soars when a parent promises to be at a performance or ball game. A potential employee counts on the promise of human resources to feel confident about a job. A bride and groom gain confidence as their future spouse makes promises during a ceremony. Our court system places confidence in the testimony of a witness when that witness promises to tell the truth.

B. And the opposite happens. The parent who fails to show up for the performance or ball game damages the confidence of the child. The potential employee loses confidence when the promises of human resources alter. The spouse loses confidence when the promise to love and honor is broken. And the court system falters when a witness doesn’t tell the truth.

C. Promises matter. Confidence exists when a person who is a person of integrity and trustworthy makes a promise to us. We have all been on the receiving end of a broken promise. And when such happens we are negatively affected. Have you thought that our faith is based on promises? Our faith is based on our confidence in God. The more we trust God, the more we walk with confidence. Every person has to decide if God can be trusted. And with the decision to trust him or not — confidence comes — confidence in God or confidence in something or someone else.

D. Here is the bottom line for today. God wants you to be confident. God wants you to be assured that he is trustworthy. God wants you to be encouraged in bold ways. God wants you to be courageous because you trust him. Today we begin a series based upon the promises of God. Confidence soars when we trust in a promise. Over the next several weeks we are going to be looking at some of the promises of the Bible and how those promises encourage us to be confident and courageous people living for God in this world. Today we begin with looking at the subject God is a promise keeper. When God makes a promise can we count on him? God wants you to be confident and courageous. We can trust God.

A Promise to Abraham

A. Hebrews begins with a call to pay attention to Jesus because He is God’s ultimate demonstration of God’s character. In previous chapters, the writer has shown that Jesus is superior to the angels and to Moses. The writer points out that Jesus is greater than any high priest even Melchizedek who was a priest forever. Beginning in 5:11, the writer digresses from the point that he was making to elaborate on some important points. Our text comes at the end of that interjection. The point about Melchizedek returns in 7:1.

B. Beginning in chapter 6, the writer points out that his readers are accustomed to elementary teaching but they need to be pushed to deeper teaching and instruction. The writer reminds his readers that salvation matters and the result of that salvation is to persevere because of the hope that they have. That hope is based upon a promise. This brings us to our text. The promise that brings hope goes all the way back to Abraham.

C. You will remember the story of Abraham’s faith being tested in Genesis 22. God tells Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Abraham doesn’t falter. He takes Isaac and sets off to complete the task God has given him. God stops Abraham from killing his son. And with Abraham having passed the test to his faith, God promises to bless Abraham and to multiply his descendants. The promise is important but the foundation of the promise is the point that the author wants us to understand.

D. When human beings want to swear an oath, a person will swear by something or someone greater. In Israel’s understanding, swearing by the Lord was the supreme oath. Abraham makes this oath three times in Genesis. In a court of law, a promise is made then an oath is given. “Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?” The promise is made by the integrity of the person, but the oath is made based on something or someone greater.

E. But in this case, when God makes a promise and then wants to swear to the oath there is no one greater than himself. So he makes the promise and then swears by his very character that he will fulfill it. This is not unusual for God. Throughout the Bible, God often swears by his name that he will do something.

i.  Throughout Ezekiel, God speaks these words "As surely as I live." This is the means by which God demonstrates that he will do what he says he will do.

ii.  Romans 4:11 demonstrates this truth when Paul quoting Isaiah 45 writes "As surely as I live, says the Lord,'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God."

Our Confidence

A. Notice how the writer places the emphasis in verses 17 & 18. God wanted to be clear about his unchanging purpose. The promise made to Abraham extends to the heirs and that promise was followed by an oath. The promise and the oath are the two unchangeable things. But here is the emphasis — God cannot lie. It is impossible for God to be anything but truth and truthful. He cannot lie about the promise or the oath. Nor can he lie about himself. By his very nature, character, and name God has sworn to bless the heirs of Abraham’s promise.

B. And we who have fled from sin and fled to God need to be encouraged. This is our spiritual anchor. It is the promise and the oath that encourages to live for God. It is the fact that God cannot lie that we live our lives anchored to God. God wants us to be encouraged. He wants us to be confident. This confidence is found in God. God makes a promise and will keep the promise.

C. What is the promise? By faith we know that there will be a day when we will see God face to face. Look back in verses 9—12. The writer encourages the readers to persevere. Don’t become lazy. Don’t doubt. By faith and patience we will inherit what has been promised. God wants us to have hope. His desire is that we find confidence in him and his promises. God wants you to be encouraged. The only thing that separates you from seeing God face to face is time. Be patient. The promise made on oath by the very name of God is going to happen.

D. There are just so many uncertain things in this life. We do not know the outcomes. We do not know the future. We have now and we want to know what is next. We want some reassurance that everything is going to be okay. And God’s promise is that you will see him. His promise secured by his very nature and character is that he will not forget you. Our hope is in him. 2 Peter 1:4 calls God’s promises precious. God has given us precious promises so that we can participate in the divine nature. God’s promises are the treasure that we hold on to. God promises that he will fulfill every promise and we hold on to those promises in the darkest days and in the days of great faith.

i.  When we don't know what a disease is going to do, we hold to God's promise.

ii.  When we don't understand why things happen as they do, we hold on to God's promise.

iii.  When we see our children going on a path that we never wanted for them or taught them to follow, we hang on to God's promise.

iv.  When the suffering is greater than we think we can stand, we hang on to God's promise.

v.  And when everything in us thinks that God has failed us; that God has abandoned us; that he has forgotten us, we go back to the promise as God says, "I promise and swear on my very name that you will be with me one day. Be patient. Don't quit. Persevere. One day."

vi.  Invitation.

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