Biblical Promise

Click the link below to discover God's promise to you:

The Epistle to the Hebrews
Chapter 6

Christian Promise & Biblical Promise in the Bible Vow
The Promise of God Explained

Greetings once again! It's another great day to share some more Daily Bread. Last time, we talked about Jesus as High Priest and we talked a little bit about understanding and habits.

Today, Paul switches topics. In so many words, he tells the Hebrews:

Instead of repeating the same lessons of Christianity, let's move on to perfection ... How to become mature, strong Christians, unwavering in our faith because it is impossible for those who once understood the Good News, experienced Heaven's gift, the Holy Spirit, the Word of God and the mystery of eternal life, to repent again once they have abandoned the faith. It is like crucifying Jesus again and mocking Him openly.

Christian Promise / Biblical Promise in the Bible
The Promise of God to You

This is a very sensitive thing that Paul is talking about. There are so many people who believe that they've ruined the hope of their salvation because sin in their life continues, even after they've been saved or reborn. Nothing could be further from the truth. Sin is sin because you know you're doing something wrong. If you didn't, it wouldn't be sin. When you sin, subconsciously you're saying, I know this is wrong, and I'm gonna do it anyway. Yes, it's ugly and shameful and very very hard to admit it, but it's the Truth. Somehow, we don't want our sins to be "bad" sins, but we can live within our own skin more comfortably if we think that we only commit "good" sins.

Friend, there's no such thing. Sin is sin. It's all bad. If you look at sin in general, you could probably say that the majority of sins are repeat offenses. Unfortunately, when you're saved, or reborn, sin doesn't magically disappear from life. You don't become perfect. But your attitude, and your determination to avoid and reject temptation is what changes. You still have the sin "gene" from our earthy ancestors Adam and Eve, but when you're saved, you decide to manage your inheritance differently. Falling away, or going astray, as Paul is speaking of it here, would have to be blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, or in other words, permanently rejecting or renouncing the Holy Spirit. That is the only unforgivable sin. Everyone sins, and I'll tell you one of my favorite things again, Your sin can't possibly outdo God's Grace. Don't ever forget that. (You can read more about the "falling away" that will happen near the End Times in 2 Thessalonians, Chapter 2.)

Christian Promise - Biblical Promise in the Bible
The Promise of God Today

Next Paul gives the Hebrews a little analogy to ponder on:

A moment ago, I reminded you that when you're saved, you don't become perfect, but you change inside. Now, at the beginning of this chapter, Paul said to the Hebrews, Let's talk about perfection. Even Paul knew that nobody's perfect. Many times in the Bible, the word perfect means complete, or mature. It's something that a Christian strives for. It's a day to day goal to be like Jesus.

A major part of our maturity, or completeness, or quest for perfection, is our hope of everlasting life with our Lord, through the grace of God and the death of Christ. Paul describes below how God knew that it would be tough on us in this ungodly world to steadily pursue this hope, so He made us a Promise.

Christian Promise & Biblical Promise in the Bible
The Promise of God is Eternal

Paul expresses to the Hebrews that they hope that they keep their enthusiasm and eagerness forever and that they never get lazy, but like those who with strong faith and patience, inherit the promises.

Paul continues explaining that after Abraham had patiently waited with hope and faith, he obtained the promise.

Christian Promise - Biblical Promise in the Bible
The Promise of God is a Blessing

Think of the truth of this. When someone assures you of something, if they give you their "word," you're more likely to believe they'll keep their promise. In Matthew 5:33-36, Jesus says not to swear (make promises) at all, but let your word be only yes or no. Why is that? Because it's better not to promise at all, than to break a promise, and if you "swear to God" you are promising to God, which is truly a promise you never want to break. Man's promises have been broken since the beginning of time, but God's Word is never broken.

What is Paul saying here in plain English? The Living Bible says, He has given us both His promise and His oath, two things we can completely count on, for it is impossible for God to tell a lie. Now all those who flee to Him to save them can take new courage when they hear such assurances from God; now they can know without doubt that He will give them the salvation He has promised them.

Christian Promise / Biblical Promise in the Bible
The Promise of God Summary

Let's talk about the "veil" for a moment. In the Old Testament, inside the tabernacle, and behind the veil, was the most holy place where the ark of the covenant was, upon which was the Lord's presence. The most holy place, was God's private room, with the veil, sort of like a door between God and the children of Israel. The Hebrews, being passionately dedicated to all the ordinances of the tabernacle, and sticklers for following rules, knew that nobody but Moses and the high priest were allowed inside the veil, and then, only when God said so. So Paul uses this to show how Jesus removes the veil, or opens the door so that we can be with God. Also, in Exodus 34:34, when the glory of the Lord was shown to Moses, his face became so brilliant that the children of Israel could not look at him, so he wore a veil. The veil is a symbol of man's separation from God, but when a person turns to the Lord, their blindness is taken away, the veil is done away with, and you can clearly see that Christ is the New Way. You can read more about the veil in 2 Corinthians, Chapter 3. The title of that Daily Bread study is Reflections.

To sum up our study today, you could say that our eagerness and our hope to obtain God's promise to us is what makes us mature, complete, perfect. Remember, this kind of perfection doesn't mean flawless, as Jesus was, it means that we're striving to be like Him. Next time, Paul tells us the story of Melchisedek and how Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchisedek. Don't miss it, right here at Daily Bread.