The Hebrew writer speaks of the promise God made to Abraham. “For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, ‘Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you’” (Hebrews 6:13-14). We know that God kept His promise to Abraham. We know this because it has been revealed through scripture. However, the promise was certain to be fulfilled as soon as it was made, because God was the One who made it! Consider the writer’s point: “Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us” (Hebrews 6:17-18).
Only one thing was needed to show Abraham the surety of the future promise. God cannot lie. The oath He swore by Himself simply showed it “more abundantly.” Because of His nature, what God promised was assured. In this we rejoice, because He has promised hope to those who are His. “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast…” (Hebrews 6:19).
As we seek to emulate God, we too must be as good as our word. Jesus spoke of a common practice among the Jews, who would swear oaths, with the idea that honesty was only required when the most serious of oaths were made. In response, Jesus said, “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37). Just like God, our nature as Christians requires us to be faithful in keeping the promises we make. And, while we must certainly keep the promises we make to others, in this article I wish to consider the impact this truth has on our relationship with God.
For example, our commitment to Jesus Christ requires us to submit to His Lordship. This is the promise we make, to make Jesus the Lord of our lives. In this, we promise to do His will, to submit to His teaching and requirements. The spiritual anarchy that is present among religious people in our culture is a failure to keep a promise. To presume that Jesus does not care how or what we do religiously is to presume that Jesus does not expect us to keep our promise to accept His Lordship! Consider Paul’s exhortation, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17).
Also, our commitment to Jesus Christ entails a promise to present ourselves as “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). This call to personal consecration and sacrifice is again seldom found in current practice. Too many call themselves servants of Jesus Christ, but live profane lives, characterized by worldly values and selfish pursuits. They ignore the plea of the apostle Peter, “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15-16).
Just as God, by His nature, is bound to keep the promises He makes — we as His children are to keep our promises. This is especially important as we pledge our loyalty and fealty to the Lord. Paul understood this, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Do we understand and accept it as well?
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