The Promises of God - Lesson 2 God Keeps His Promises
Introduction:
1. According to 2 Peter 1:4, God has given His people "exceeding great and precious promises." 2. Because God's promises are so special, they deserve our careful attention. 3. Before we examine God's actual promises, perhaps it will be helpful to examine some general information that relates to them. 4. In our last lesson we examined one of the effects of trusting God's promises - we showed from Hebrews 11:13-16 how "trusting in God's promises will lead His people to serve Him faithfully." a. God made some special promises to Abraham, Sara, Isaac, and Jacob. b. They all died in faith without receiving all the promises God made to them. c. They understood that God's promises extend beyond the grave. 5. In this lesson we are concentrating on why we should trust in God's promises as Abraham, Sara, Isaac, and Jacob did. 6. We are showing from the Scriptures that "God keeps His promises." 7. Having confidence that God keeps His promises is one of the keys to trusting in them.
Discussion:
I.THE BIBLE DECLARES MANY TIMES THAT GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES
A. (Deuteronomy 7:7-9) Moses stated that God is faithful, and that He keeps His oaths and covenants. B. (1 Kings 8:54-56) Solomon said that God had kept His promise completely. C. (Hebrews 10:23) God is described as being "faithful that promised." D. (2 Peter 3:9) Peter said, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise."
II. GOD'S PROMISES CAN BE TRUSTED BECAUSE HE CANNOT LIE
A. Titus 1:1-2 B. Hebrews 6:13-18
III. GOD'S PROMISES TO BIBLE CHARACTERS ILLUSTRATE HOW HE KEEPS THEM
A. In our last lesson we showed how God made special promises to: 1. Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; 13:14-17; 15:4-5, 18; 17:1-8) a. God promised to give him many descendants. b. God promised to give Canaan to his descendants. c. God promised that kings would descend from him. d. God promised that all families [nations] of the earth would be blessed through his seed. 2. Sara (Genesis 17:15-16; 18:9-11) a. God promised her that she would give birth to a son. b. God promised that kings would descend from her. 3. Isaac (Genesis 26:1-4) a. God promised to give him many descendants. b. God promised to give Canaan to his descendants. c. God promised that all nations of the earth would be blessed through his seed. 4. Jacob (Genesis 28:12-15). a. God promised to give him many descendants. b. God promised to give Canaan to his descendants. c. God promised that all families of the earth would be blessed through his seed.
B. God kept His promises to Abraham, Sara, Isaac, and Jacob. 1. Sara gave birth to Isaac (Genesis 21:1-3). 2. God gave Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob many descendants (Exodus 1:7; 12:37). 3. God gave Canaan to their descendants (Joshua 21:43-45; 23:14). 4. Kings descended from Abraham and Sara (Matthew 1:1, 6-11). 5. All families [nations] of the earth were blessed through the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Galatians 3:8, 16, 26-29).
