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Understanding God's Promises, Character, and Nature Biblically

God's promises are foundational to understanding His character and nature, serving as expressions of His faithfulness and love throughout biblical history. These promises are not merely declarations but are often established as covenants, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to His people [1, 6].

The concept of God's promises is deeply embedded in Scripture, appearing from the earliest books of the Old Testament through the New Testament. For instance, God made promises to Abraham, including the assurance that his descendants would receive the Promised Land, a commitment so strong that God swore an oath to confirm it [1, 10]. This oath underscores the immutability of God's counsel, as highlighted in Hebrews 6:17, which states that God "interposed with an oath" to show the unchangeableness of His plan to the heirs of the promise [8]. Similar promises were made to Isaac, Jacob, and David, often concerning their lineage and an everlasting kingdom [1, 7]. The Israelites as a whole were recipients of God's promises, as were "the Fathers" and "all who are called of God" [1].

These promises are consistently described as "good" and "holy," reflecting God's own character [1]. They are confirmed by an oath and form the basis of the covenant relationship between God and humanity [1, 6]. The covenant with Abraham, for example, was not only for him but also for his "seed after him," encompassing both his physical and spiritual descendants, and is considered everlasting in its evangelical sense [13]. The New Testament further clarifies that these promises are "made in Christ" and "to Christ," with Christ Himself being the substance and mediator of the covenant [1, 6]. The gospel renews and fulfills these covenants, ratified by the blood of Christ [6].

A key aspect of God's nature revealed through His promises is His faithfulness. Titus 1:2 states that God "cannot lie," and Hebrews 10:23 affirms His faithfulness to His promises [1]. The psalmist also acknowledges God's remembrance of His promises (Psalm 105:42) [1]. This faithfulness is tied to God's integrity; as Psalm 18:30 suggests, God's character is "perfect," meaning He keeps His word and protects His people [11]. The Hebrew word khesed, often translated as "unfailing love," describes God's undeserved kindness and loyalty, providing a strong reason to trust that He will keep His promises [12].

God's character is further defined by His holiness. Holiness is not merely an attribute but a standard for both God and His people [2]. Leviticus 19:2 commands, "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy," establishing God's character as the benchmark for human conduct [2]. Christ's character also serves as a standard for holiness, with believers called to be conformed to His image [2]. This pursuit of holiness is essential, as Hebrews 12:14 states that "without holiness no one will see the Lord" [2]. God desires holiness for His people, and the gospel is presented as the "way of holiness" [2].

The concept of "godly fear" is another facet of understanding God's nature. This fear is not terror but a reverential awe and respect for God, motivated by His holiness, greatness, goodness, and forgiveness [5]. It is described as a "hatred of evil," "wisdom," and a "fountain of life" [5]. God Himself is the object and author of this fear, which is commanded throughout Scripture [5]. This godly fear is closely linked to a renewed heart, which is prepared to seek God, fixed on Him, and joyful in Him [4]. A renewed heart is characterized by uprightness, purity, tenderness, sincerity, and obedience to God's law [4].

God's promises extend to the future, offering hope and assurance. For instance, 2 Peter 3:13 speaks of looking for "new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells," according to God's promise [9]. These "exceeding great and invaluable promises" are given to believers, enabling them to become "partakers of the divine nature" [14, 15]. The promises are not just future hopes but have a sanctifying effect on believers in the present, assimilating them to God [15].

The covenant relationship, which is often established through God's promises, is central to biblical theology. These covenants, such as those with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David, demonstrate God's initiative and His commitment to His chosen people [6]. The covenant with David, for example, promised an everlasting kingdom and sonship, a promise that finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ [7]. The renewal of the covenant under the gospel, as described in Jeremiah 31:31-33 and Hebrews 8:8-10, signifies a new phase where God's law is written on the hearts of His people, and He becomes their God [6].

Christian liberty, a gift conferred by God through Christ and the Holy Spirit, is another expression of God's character [3]. This liberty is freedom from the law's curse, the fear of death, sin, corruption, and human bondage [3]. It is called the "glorious liberty of the children of God" (Romans 8:21) and is proclaimed by Christ Himself [3]. This freedom is not lawlessness but the service of Christ, enabling believers to live in accordance with God's righteous character [3].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Promises of God, The — Contained in the Scriptures -- Ro 1:2. Made in Christ -- Eph 3:6; 2Ti 1:1. Made to Christ. -- Ga 3:16,19. Abraham. -- Ge 12:3,7; Ga 3:16. Isaac. -- Ge 26:3,4. Jacob. -- Ge 28:14. David. -- 2Sa 7:12; Ps 89:3,4,35,36. The Israelites. -- Ro 9:4. The Fathers. -- Ac 13:32; 26:6,7. All who are called of God. -- Ac 2:39. Those who love him. -- Jas 1:12; 2:5. Confirmed by an oath -- Ps 89:3,4; Heb 8:6. Covenant established upon -- Heb 8:6. God is faithful to -- Tit 1:2; Heb 10:23. God remembers -- Ps 105:42; Lu 1:54,55. Are Good. -- 1Ki 8:56. Holy. -- ”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holiness — Commanded -- Le 11:45; 20:7; Eph 5:8; Col 3:12; Ro 12:1. Christ Desires for his people. -- Joh 17:17. Effects, in his people. -- Eph 5:25-27. An example of. -- Heb 7:26; 1Pe 2:21,22. The character of God, the standard of -- Le 19:2; 1Pe 1:15,16; Eph 5:1. The character of Christ, the standard of -- Ro 8:29; 1Jo 2:6; Php 2:5. The gospel the way of -- Isa 35:8. Necessary to God's worship -- Ps 24:3,4. None shall see God without -- Eph 5:5; Heb 12:14. Saints Elected to. -- Ro 8:29; Eph 1:4. Called to. -- 1Th 4:7; 2Ti 1:9. New created in. -- Eph 4:24. Possess. ”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Liberty, Christian — Foretold -- Isa 42:7; 61:1. Conferred By God. -- Col 1:13. By Christ. -- Ga 4:3-5; 5:1. By the Holy Spirit. -- Ro 8:15; 2Co 3:17. Through the gospel. -- Joh 8:32. Confirmed by Christ -- Joh 8:36. Proclaimed by Christ -- Isa 61:1; Lu 4:18. The service of Christ is -- 1Co 7:22. Is freedom from The law. -- Ro 7:6; 8:2. The curse of the law. -- Ga 3:13. The fear of death. -- Heb 2:15. Sin. -- Ro 6:7,18. Corruption. -- Ro 8:21. Bondage of man. -- 1Co 9:19. Jewish ordinances. -- Ga 4:3; Col 2:20. Called the glorious liberty of the children of God -- Ro”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Heart, Character of the Renewed — Prepared to seek God -- 2Ch 19:3; Ezr 7:10; Ps 10:17. Fixed on God -- Ps 57:7; 112:7. Joyful in God -- 1Sa 2:1; Zec 10:7. Perfect with God -- 1Ki 8:61; Ps 101:2. Upright -- Ps 97:11; 125:4. Clean -- Ps 73:1. Pure -- Ps 24:4; Mt 5:8. Tender -- 1Sa 24:5; 2Ki 22:19. Single and sincere -- Ac 2:46; Heb 10:22. Honest and good -- Lu 8:15. Broken, contrite -- Ps 34:18; 51:17. Obedient -- Ps 119:112; Ro 6:17. Filled with the law of God -- Ps 40:8; 119:11. Awed by the word of God -- Ps 119:161. Filled with the fear of God -- Jer 32:40. Meditat”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fear, Godly — God is the object of -- Isa 8:13. God is the author of -- Jer 32:39,40. Searching the Scriptures gives the understanding of -- Pr 2:3-5. Described as Hatred of evil. -- Pr 8:13. Wisdom. -- Job 28:28; Ps 111:10. A treasure to saints. -- Pr 15:16; Isa 33:6. A fountain of life. -- Pr 14:27. Sanctifying. -- Ps 19:9. Filial and reverential. -- Heb 12:9,28. Commanded -- De 13:4; Ps 22:23; Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Motives to The holiness of God. -- Re 15:4. The greatness of God. -- De 10:12,17. The goodness of God. -- 1Sa 12:24. The forgiveness of God. -- Ps 130:4.”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Covenant, The — Christ, the substance of -- Isa 42:6; 49:8. Christ, the Mediator of -- Heb 8:6; 9:15; 12:24. Christ, the Messenger of -- Mal 3:1. Made with Abraham. -- Ge 15:7-18; 17:2-14; Lu 1:72-75; Ac 3:25; Ga 3:16. Isaac. -- Ge 17:19,21; 26:3,4. Jacob. -- Ge 28:13,14; 1Ch 16:16,17. Israel. -- Ex 6:4; Ac 3:25. David. -- 2Sa 23:5; Ps 89:3,4. Renewed under the gospel -- Jer 31:31-33; Ro 11:27; Heb 8:8-10,13. Fulfilled in Christ -- Lu 1:68-79. Confirmed in Christ -- Ga 3:17. Ratified by the blood of Christ -- Heb 9:11-14,16-23. Is a covenant of peace -- Isa 54:9,10; ”
  7. Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H1285] berith (part 4/6) — with David Psa 89:4; 89:29; 89:34; 89:39; 132:12; Jer 33:21 (compare 2 Samuel 7 = 1 Chronicles 17); a divine promise to the seed of David of an everlasting kingdom, the relation of sonship, and the superintendence of the temple (compare Psalms 2..) g. Jehoiada and the people 2Kin 11:17 2Chr 23:3, a constitutional agreement to be the people of Yahweh. h. Hezekiah and the people2Chr 29:10, a constitutional agreement to reform the worship. i. Josiah and the people 2Kin 23:3, a constitutional agreement to obey the book of the covenant. j. Ezra and the people Ezra 10”
  8. Hebrews “In this way God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; -- Hebrews 6:17”
  9. II Peter “II Peter 3:13 (LITV) — But according to His promise, we look for "new heavens and a new earth," in which righteousness dwells. Isa. 65:17”
  10. Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 15:18: 15:18-19 God specified the boundaries of the Promised Land. His clear message to Abram was that despite prospects of death and suffering (enslavement), he and his descendants would eventually receive the promises, for God had sworn an oath (see Heb 6:13-14). Nothing can separate God’s people from his love or the fulfillment of his plans (see Rom 8:18-39; 2 Pet 1:3-4).”
  11. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 18:30: 18:30-36 The psalmist experiences God’s rescue and provision of victory. 18:30 perfect: God’s character has integrity (see 18:26). • God promises to protect his people, and he does so. • Seeking God’s protection entails trust and faith. Regardless of his feelings or external circumstances, the psalmist makes a deep commitment to the Lord. He experiences joy (5:11; 64:10) as he awaits the Lord’s rescue (57:1).”
  12. Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 15:13: 15:13-18 The people God has redeemed have confidence for the future. In light of what the Lord had done in rescuing Israel from his enemies, there was no question that he would be able to carry through on his promise to take them safely into the Promised Land. 15:13 In light of God’s unfailing love and his might, there is no reason to doubt that he will be able to keep his promises. “Unfailing love” is a translation of the Hebrew word khesed, which speaks of the undeserved kindness and loyalty of a superior to an inferior. It is the most frequent descriptor of Go”
  13. Genesis (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Genesis 17:7: Here is, I. The continuance of the covenant, intimated in three things: - 1. It is established; not to be altered nor revoked. It is fixed, it is ratified, it is made as firm as the divine power and truth can make it. 2. It is entailed; it is a covenant, not with Abraham only (then it would die with him), but with his seed after him, not only his seed after the flesh, but his spiritual seed. 3. It is everlasting in the evangelical sense and meaning of it. The covenant of grace is everlasting. It is from everlasting in the counsels of it, and to everlasting in the”
  14. 2 Peter (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Peter 1:4: Whereby are given unto us - By his own glorious power he hath freely given unto us exceeding great and invaluable promises. The Jews were distinguished in a very particular manner by the promises which they received from God; the promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and the prophets. God promised to be their God; to protect, support, and save them; to give them what was emphatically called the promised land; and to cause the Messiah to spring from their race. St. Peter intimates to these Gentiles that God had also given unto them exceeding great promises; indee”
  15. 2 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Peter 1:4: Whereby, &c.--By His glory and virtue: His glory making the "promises" to be exceeding great; His virtue making them "precious" [BENGEL]. Precious promises are the object of precious faith. given--The promises themselves are a gift: for God's promises are as sure as if they were fulfilled. by these--promises. They are the object of faith, and even now have a sanctifying effect on the believer, assimilating him to God. Still more so, when they shall be fulfilled. might, &c.--Greek, "that ye MAY become partakers of the divine nature," even now in p”
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