March 31, 2021

God Keeps His Word

 

That old saying, “There is nothing certain but death and taxes” is not entirely true. Even more certain are the promises of God. These are His “formal promises or assurances (in writing) that certain conditions will be fulfilled” verified by His track record and what the Bible says about Him, but also verified by His character. He is not a liar nor does He play games with our hearts.

In the OT, the words GUARANTEE and GUARANTOR are used only on a human level. However, the NT uses these terms to describe what God promises and has done according to His saving grace. Romans 4:16 explains that salvation “depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring.”  

Guarantor also describes who God is. Hebrews 7:22–25 refers to the never-ending life and ministry of Jesus Christ as our High Priest:

“This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

My guarantee of eternal life is not based on what I do or anything about me; it is about the eternal Son of God who prays for me and preserves me forever. This is a marvel and a joy — my eternity is secure because God says so!

God also provides a guarantee in this life — the Holy Spirit. He says it in these verses:

2 Corinthians 1:21–22. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

2 Corinthians 5:4–7. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.

Ephesians 1:12–14. so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

This is a simple concept; God said what He will do and I either believe it or call Him a liar. Could I do that? Can anyone do that? As humans, sticking to our word and making oaths is important. The Bible acknowledges this:

Hebrews 6:16–20. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever  . . . .”

Yet I do call God a liar when failing to trust Him or failing to believe His promises. It happens far too often. Many others who say they believe in God will worry and fret about things that God promises to take care of making us appear to be ‘practicing atheists’ rather than trusting the Lord.

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. My mother had this written in her well-worn Bible: “God said it, I believe it, that settles it.” Yet she worried at times. So do I, even though I declare God fully able to take care of those things that worry me. Confessing this as sin is vital. Being filled with the Spirit is vital, and even more, realizing the Holy Spirit is my guarantor. By grace, He continually proves that God is faithful to keep every promise that He makes.