Articles
Jesus' Promises
Have you ever been the victim of unkept promises? Have you ever made any? Men’s promises are at times unreliable, but God’s are sure (Titus 1:2). Consider four of Jesus’ promises.
The kingdom would come in His generation. “And Jesus was saying to them, ‘Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power’” (Mark 9:1). Earlier He had said it was at hand (Mark 1:15). Do you believe modern theorists who say that Jesus postponed His kingdom plans until He returns, or do you believe Jesus?
The Holy Spirit would guide the apostles into all the truth. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13a). Earlier Jesus said that the Spirit, whom He would send (John 15:26), would also help them remember what He had taught them personally (John 14:26). If Jesus kept His promise, two con-clusions follow: 1) we can know all the truth by studying the accounts the apostles left us (Ephesians 3:3-5); 2), all who claim to have some later revelation from God are frauds.
Jesus’ followers will be rewarded. “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life” (Mark 10:29-30).
Note four elements in this promise. First, following Jesus requires making sacrifices, at times major ones such as severing family ties. Second, any sacrifices we make are more than compensated; not always directly or materially, but in Christ we become part of a much larger family with sufficient resources. Third, following Jesus also brings persecution, which He said is a blessing (Matthew 5:11-12). Fourth, the final outcome is eternal life. We receive that in the age to come.
Some will be saved, some will be condemned. “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16). The gospel is the good news of salvation in Jesus, who died for us. Salvation is sure to those who meet God’s conditions: faith in Jesus, expressed in baptism into Him, by which we become His disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). But there is another side: condemnation is just as certain for those who reject the gospel. The promise goes both ways.
Jesus’ promises are sure. Do you believe them? Are you acting on them?
