God's Promise Confirmed In Jesus Christ

Sermon By: Dick Webster

2 Corinthians 1:18-20; 2Peter 1:1-4

Intro

The Bible contains thousands of promises from God

Most Christians don’t claim even one of them a day

They are all at our disposal through Jesus

BUT all of Gods promises are not a smorgasbord to pick and choose from

They are not a “goodie” bag to pick out of at our leisure

He is looking for people who trust in Jesus daily to pour them on

They are for our taking and for our daily lives

We must trust in Christ to be blessed with them

Don’t see them in action because our faith is not where God wants it

Promises are based on the integrity of the one who makes it

God’s integrity is true

His integrity is unfailing

He has always given and always will give what He says

Survey the lives of many believers we will find that they all had or have one thing in common.

They were either going through something

Coming out of something.

Many times when we face tests and trials, we feel as if God has

forsaken us and that he doesn’t care about us in our situation

We see trials for different reasons

Mainly for spiritual growth (mature us)

To enhance our faith in Christ

To change us in the way we do and see things

To see the glory of God in all situations

Gods promises are reliable in every situation

Comforting in Sorrow

Dependable in difficult situations

Poor, lonely, suffering times, family difficulties

Faithful during times of temptation

AS God has given promises of victory and power, we also see trials

God is always there to see us through

To give the power and endurance if we will only trust in Him

Trans: Gods promises are Confirmed in Christ

1) Yea In Christ (2 Cor 1:18-20)

Paul faced detractors and trials in Corinth

People saying he was inconsistent, because he changed his travels

They said he said yes and no at a the same time

Their eyes were on earthly things and not the heavenly message

Paul directed them immediately back to the message of Christ

Reminding them of Gods promises be reliable

Always true

It was a consistent message of Jesus Christ

Just as all of Gods promises are consistent and true

Through Jesus we have the hope of eternal life

Confidence that God will always keep His promises

Notice he said all promises are true “AMEN”

“So be it”

Emphasizing the truth of what he was saying

Affirming the truth of his message

God’s promises are true

Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection are the “Amen” that Gods Word is true

God promised to free His people from spiritual bondage

To grant us eternal life

Jesus affirms that in our hearts

Gives us hope that enables us to stand firm in the faith

Joshua 23:2 confirms and reminds the people that Gods promises are true

God delivered His people from bondage

God promised and gave His Son to deliver us from spiritual bondage

Through Jesus we have a foretaste of glorious fulfillment of His promises

Forgiveness

Empowerment

Indwelling of the Holy Spirit

God will, through Jesus, fulfill His promise of eternal life

2) Through Knowing Christ (2Peter 1:1-4)

V1-3 tell us hat we have everything we need to live righteous lives

The key is the knowledge of God

Revealed in his Son Jesus Christ

In God is all power to experience victory in all things

In all situations

Whatever comes against us

Let Jesus be seen in all situations

God’s power provides everything we need

“Sweeping” statement “everything” to live a life of Godliness

V3 The power for such provision comes through “knowledge of Him”

We are to “seek” the knowledge of God

This goes above and beyond just looking for it

With all you have seek it

Again, His promises are not “consumer items”

We need peace so we look for a scripture on peace

Or comfort so we look for scripture on comfort

Or strength so we look for scripture on strength

AND THEN when all is good we set the Bible aside

Peter reminds us that God has expectations also

V4 we are to be “Partakers of the divine nature”

Daily seeking His goodness, forgiveness, and His nature

There is no divine nature except in Him

Partakers will overcome worldly lusts

“escape the lusts of the corruption that is in the world”

We need to have more faith and trust in God to deliver us

We need to “seek” Him more in our daily lives

We may have worldly lusts, but we don’t have to partake in them

God has given us promises through Christ to overcome them

Exceeding and great promises are confirmed through the knowledge of Christ We need Christ and His knowledge more than ever

The world has held us captive long enough

Christians stand up and be “Holy”

Take hold of Gods promise to be a partaker of His “Divine Nature”

Live for Him and seek Him on a daily basis

Take hold of His promises – THEIR YOURS!