TOPIC:“Promises that are Precious”
by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap
TEXT:II Peter 1:4
“By which are given unto us exceedingly great and precious promises.”
Someone has estimated that in the Bible there are almost 7,500 promises by God. In Peter's two Epistles he uses the word “precious” four times. He speaks of precious faith, precious blood, precious Savior and precious promises. The question arises, Why does the Apostle Peter describe these promises as being precious? For tonight's message let me give you four reasons why they are precious.
I.
First of all, Peter calls them precious because of their SOURCE. Recall the words of verse 3: “According as his divine power has given unto us…”
These promises are precious because it is God who makes them and it is God who fulfills them. We may make a promise to our friends and have every good intention of keeping it, yet we may be unable to do so through no fault of our own. But not so of God. There are no conceivable circumstances which can prevent God from honoring His word of promise.
Listen to what I mean. We read in Numbers 23:19 these words: “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent. Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” Or consider these words of I Kings 8:56: “Blessed be the Lord, who hath given rest unto his people, Israel, according to all that he promised; there hath not failed one word of all his good promises, which he promised by the hand of Moses, his servant.”
When God makes a promise it is based upon His sovereignty, His righteousness, His holiness, His justice and His mercy. All of which are involved in His pledged word. Is it any wonder that when General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, lay dying, he turned to his son and three times repeated these words: “The promises of God are sure.” And so they are!
II.
In the second place, God's promises are precious not only because of their source, but also because of their SIZE. Notice how Peter describes the promises of God in verse 4: “exceedingly great.” Not just great but exceedingly great. The NIV has it: “very great.” The Living Bible renders it: “rich and wonderful blessings he promised.”
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