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Promises
One of God's special character traits is that of PROMISES!! GOD'S PROMISES NEVER FAIL!! As we look back over time we are able to see so many things He promised and the outcome of those. Please give a bit of attention to some with me.
GOD'S PROMISE TO NOAH..."Then God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I AM ABOUT TO DESTROY THEM WITH THE EARTH." (Genesis 6:13)
"And behold, I, even I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish" (Genesis 6:17)
Therefore, we find that God brought on the flood, and only Noah and his family were saved because of their faith and trust.
GOD'S PROMISE TO MAKE THROUGH ABRAHAM A GREAT NATION ..God had promised to Abraham in Genesis twelve He would make of him a great nation. (Genesis 12:2). This promise is fulfilled much later when the nation is taken from Egypt and a long period of bondage.
"And He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will close your eyes." (Genesis 46:3,4)
God fulfilled His promise to Abraham just as He had given much earlier, through the nation of Israel in Egypt. When they left Egypt by direction of Moses through the Red Sea, they were a great nation of people, now headed for the Promised Land, another of God's promises. .
GOD'S PROMISE TO ABRAHAM HE WOULD PROVIDE SALVATION FOR ALL BY WAY OF HIS OWN SON.. Through the lineage of Abraham, and the tribe of Jude, our Lord came to the earth. "And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS SHALL BE BLESSED IN YOU. " (Galatians 3:8) This also would fulfill His promise given in Genesis 12 verse 3. (Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:31-33)
"So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. Now that no one is justified by the Law (old law) before God is evident; for, THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." (Galatians 3:9,11)
"For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith." (Romans 4:13) "For this reason it is by faith, that it might be in accordance with grace, in order that the promise may be certain to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU") in the sight of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist." (Romans 4:16,17)
There is one promise God made which is yet to be fulfilled-- that of His Son's return and the end of this universe as we know it. (2 Peter 3) .(Hebrews 9:27,28) The end of time.
There are those who believe God will not fulfill this promise :
"Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lists, and saying, "Forever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation. Fort when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that BY THE WORD OF GOD, the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water " (2 Peter 3:3-6)
When we go on in this chapter of second Peter we find he confirms His promise. Please notice with me:
"But the day of the Lord WILL COME LIKE A THIEF, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense hear, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things ARE TO BE DESTROYED IN THIS WAY, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning and the elements will melt with intense heat.
But according TO HIS PROMISE WE ARE LOOKING for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells." (2 Peter 3:10-13)
Please give attention to verse nine of this reading: "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but IS PATIENT TOWARD YOU, NOT WISHING FOR ANY TO PERISH but for ALL TO COME TO REPENTANCE."( 2 Peter 3:9).
So, we might consider our condition and relationship with Him every day; are we ready for that DAY TO COME! As He said, it will come, and could at any time--only the Father in heaven controls that. Have we obeyed His plan of salvation (Romans 1:16), and are ready for the last day? God wants all to be saved, but it has to be on His terms -- the Gospel of His Son.
Ross
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