Promises, Promises

Passage:  1 John 2:25 KJV  And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

Main Point:  Salvation (eternal life) cannot be forfeit, lost, or thrown away.  One who "loses it" never had it.  To have it is to have it forever.  God's integrity stands behind it, for it is His promise of eternal life.  Problem is, some have never fully believed in it - and so they forsake the Lord, turning away.  Those who have it KNOW they have it, and they stay the course.  There is no alternative.  Eternal life that stops was never eternal.  Once saved, always saved.

• Promise?  Trust Jesus as Savior, trust Jesus as LORD, trust Jesus' blood as payment for sin, and eternal (forever) life will be given to you, never to be revoked.
• Blessing?  We are forever saved.  We never need worry about our salvation.  We rest on the promise of God.
• Sin?  It would indeed be a sin to doubt God.  Deep in your soul, do you trust Him?
• Revelation about God?  God is always faithful

Devotional:

I have known many people who have broken promises; indeed I have broken my own promises all too often.  It is to my shame.  It is evidence of my humanity.  But it takes supernatural abilities to keep all promises in a natural world.  God - most people believe there is one - is supernatural.  He also has made promises to mankind (to you and me individually).  He keeps His promises. 

God makes some promises based on our actions - "If - Then" promises.  If we do this, then He will do that.  God also makes some unconditional promises - promises that are granted regardless of our actions.  An example is the rainbow - a reminder of the promise of God to never flood the world again judgment will have to come some other way (by fire).

The promise of eternal life is one of those promises that is both conditional and unconditional in a way.  Conditionally, we must trust the Lord that He will deliver this promise.  His deliverance is unconditionally given to those who will trust the person and work of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  Eternal life is given to these.  The unconditional part is found in the gift itself: "eternal."  Eternal means it can never be revoked.  It means it lasts forever - no ending.  Once saved, always saved.

This is a life-changing truth.   When you are given eternal life, you are changed from being a person who is dying to a person who lives free of death.  Have no fear when your body dies, the "you" will live forever!  When you are given eternal life, you are changed from one who will be judged to one who will be rewarded!  When you are given eternal life, you are changed from one who has no hope to one who has a sure hope.  God's very integrity stands behind it; God's holiness, omnipotence, and omniscience ensures it.

Those who receive this marvelous gift can trust the promise of God.  Those who doubt cannot.  So I ask you, do you doubt God's ability to keep His promises?  Do you doubt God's willingness to keep His promises?  Do you doubt the certainty of God's promises?  Consider Abraham and Isaac.  God can keep His promise always.  Remember the wanderings of the nation of Israel.  God will keep His promise, and that is always His aim.  Remember Jesus?  God wants YOU so much He kept His promise to Abraham through JESUS, His Son, whom He gave for your sin so you can live forever with Him!

God NEVER breaks His promises.  Let us therefore be faithful and loyal to Him as we can, rejoicing and resting on His promises.  Never fear losing your salvation.  Rather live for Him because of it!