i promise
from the conclusion of my sermon yesterday, reflecting on our promise-making and promise-keeping God, as seen in Romans 4:13-25…
THE PROMISE GRANTED THROUGH FAITH
13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 If those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made empty and the promise nullified, 15 because the law produces wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.
16 This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace, to guarantee it to all the descendants—not only to the one who is of the law but also to the one who is of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations—, in the presence of the God in whom he believed, the one who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist. 18 He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be., 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do. 22 Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness., 23 Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, 24 but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Romans 4:13-25, CSB
Do you see what the story of Abraham, and far more importantly, this story of the GOD of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, means?
It means that what was true for Abraham, is true for us. He is our father, and we are not disconnected from his story, or his God. We are part of a long stream of those who have so believed, and have thus belonged, by faith, to the family of this God. A God who brings life from death, and did so in the most cataclysmic and transformative event to ever take place — the raising of his Son from the dead. And this raising was necessary, because he had been delivered up by God to die on a cross, so that all of our trespasses against God’s law might be forgiven, and we too might be raised to newness of life, made right before God.
So that in Jesus — all our hopes are fulfilled, God’s promise is kept, and faithfullness is displayed.
All the promises. From God, to us.
Which means, brothers and sisters, that the way is open to go to him with all of our requests, and he gives us two, little, life-changing words: I promise.
Father, when I am afraid, will you help me?
I promise.
Father, when doubts assail me, will you strengthen me?
I promise.
Father, when people attack me, and tear me down, and I feel unsafe, may I run to you, and be safe?
I promise.
Father, when I’m walking through the shadow of the valley of death, terrified of evil, will you be with me to comfort me?
I promise.
Will you please lead me to places of stillness, and rest, as if I was in the quietest green meadow, or beside the most still of waters?
I promise.
When I feel unloved, will you pursue me with love?
I promise.
When I feel that only goodness, and not evil, seems to have my number, tracking me down, will you pursue me with your goodness and kindness?
I promise.
This life is haaard sometimes, Father; sometimes with a kind of hardness I feel will never end; and sometimes I feel so alone. Do you promise to never leave me, or forsake me, while I walk through what is sometimes a veil of tears?
I promise.
Father, I know that there have been so many times I’ve done things, things I’m embarrassed about, that I’ve done over and over, and I feel beyond your mercy, but will you still show me mercy?
I promise.
I know that the life I’ve lived seems, at times, to exhaust your grace, will you still be gracious to me?
I promise.
But I’ve given you so many reasons to be angry with me, Father. Would it be possible for you to be slow to anger?
I promise.
But when I look at my life, my love seems so weak, and my faith even weaker…will you still abound in steadfast love and faithfulness, even so?
I promise.
And when I sin, if I confess, will you always forgive me? I mean…always?
I promise.
And when I look in my heart and soul, and I find the stain of my iniquity, will you wash me as white as snow?
I promise.
But what of my unrighteousness, and the defilement it brings, will you cleanse me from all my unrighteousness?
I promise.
And one day, when I die, will you raise me to new life?
I promise.
And will you allow me to live with you forever, with a new and glorified body, free from sin, in a new heavens, and a new earth, with all those who are my brothers and sisters in this family you’ve made me a part of, a forever family?
I promise.
And I find myself asking him, “But how, Father, how is all of this, and so much more, in this age, and the age to come, how is all of this possible?”
And I hear our Father say:
“Because, my child, because of Jesus, who was appointed to be my powerful Son according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead. Don’t you see? And every one of my promises is “Yes” in him! And you’ve only scratched the surface in your asking. Keep reading the whole story, keep searching out my promises, writing them down. And then trust that in Jesus, and because of Jesus, you may also say “Amen, let it be so” to my glory, to the glory of God.
You see, dear child, all things are yours. Because you are Jesus’, and Jesus is mine.
You are Jesus’, because the Good News came to you, and you trusted and rested in the message. By faith alone. And it was credited to you as righteousness. You were moved from death, to life. From old man, to new creation. From not having a family, to being in my family. You have the greatest oldest brother on the planet, in the universe, in all of creation! And all that is his, therefore, is yours. You see, all my promises, in him, are yes, and amen.
For my glory, and your joy.
So, dear child, will you believe?
Will you simply rest in my promises?
Will you place your confidence in my faithfulness?”
NOTE: Click HERE to watch or listen to this whole sermon from Sunday 29 January, “We Belong, By Faith (part two)”. And you can access all Grace Sermons online here.
