God's Promises

Eternal Life

Promises are found throughout the Bible. What’s the most important?

“And this is what he promised us—eternal life.” (1 John 2:25 NIV)

Are there conditions?

“A man who endures trials is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12 HCSB)

Endurance to do what?

“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.” (Hebrews 10:36)

What is that promise?

“From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, to promote the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 1:1 CEB)

What does it mean that these all died not having received the promises? Were they glad to wait and receive those promises after their deaths?

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.” (Hebrews 11:13 ESV)

Is God therefore slow delivering on His promises, or is there a greater plan involving others besides ourselves?

“The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 WEB)

The good eternity is a Sabbath rest and a promised land of rest. Can people miss it?

“Therefore, while the promise to enter His rest remains, let us fear that none of you should miss it.” (Hebrews 4:1 HCSB)

We cannot humanly guarantee our promises. Is God perfectly able to fulfill His promises?

“... God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind.” (Hebrews 6:12-17 NLT)

Are the promises made under the new covenant better?

“But now, Jesus has received a superior priestly service just as he arranged a better covenant that is enacted with better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6 CEB)

What were those better promises?

“Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.” (Hebrews 9:15 ESV)

Can God’s promises be trusted?

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” (Hebrews 10:23 NLT)

Were the promises to the patriarchs made with us in mind?

“And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:39-40 NASB)

Details

Let’s look at some details of God’s promise. Is a life of self-sacrifice promised anything?

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29 NIV)

What is the promise for either not doing right or doing right by the hungry, thirsty, foreigner, naked, sick and prisoners?

“And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46 NKJV)

What about faith?

“... everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.” (John 3:15 NLT)

What does communion remind us of?

“He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:54 WEB)

What does Jesus promise those who listen to and follow Him?

“My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life. They will never die, and no one will snatch them from my hand.” (John 10:27-28 CEB)

What promise is there in giving up worldly ways?

“If you love your life, you will lose it. If you give it up in this world, you will be given eternal life.” (John 12:25 CEV)

Is eternal life a gift?

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 ESV)

Do we have a part to play?

“Fight the good fight for the faith; take hold of eternal life that you were called to and have made a good confession about in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12 HCSB)

Can hate prevent eternal life?

“Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” (1 John 3:15 KJV)

Is eternal life even now?

“And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” (1 John 5:11 NASB)