If a man promises me that he will do something and I have serious doubts as to whether he will, then I must know or suspect something about him that makes me doubt. Generally, the reason for my doubt will be found in one of these areas:
Truth: Is there truth in this promise?
Ability: Does he have the ability to do what he promised?
Sincerity: Is he sincere or are there hidden motives?
Remembrance: Will he remember to do it?
Constancy: What if he changes his mind?
With God there is no reason for uncertainty. There isn’t anything about God that would make us question whether he will do as he promises. God has done everything necessary to take all of these excuses for doubt out of the way.
Let’s consider the first question: Is there truth in God’s promises?
The best way to determine the strength of a promise is to be sure about the integrity of the promiser. When we consider God’s promises, we need, first, to consider God. He is the God of truth and is himself true (John 8:26; Romans 3:4). His word is not merely true, but truth (John 17:17). He sent his Son, who is the Truth and testifies to the truth, to purchase and confirm his promises (John 14:6; John 18:37; Revelation 3:14).
In addition to this, the God of truth, whose word is truth, has come down to our level and used every possible means to guarantee to us the truth of his promises. He could have spoken the words and left it at that. His promises are sure in and of themselves. But for our benefit, God uses the same means that men use in guaranteeing their promises to guarantee his own. Consider the following:
1. We use repetition to emphasize our earnestness and the truth of our claims. When a person says the same thing over and over, we get the impression that he is telling the truth, or at least that he wants us to believe that he is telling the truth. God, in order to show the truth and earnestness of his promises, does the same for us. He repeats them over and over. Every promise that God has made through Christ is a promise that he has repeated again and again. For instance, he is not satisfied with saying, “I will forgive your iniquity,” but has to add, “I will remember your sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:34). He says “I will remove your transgressions from you as far as the east is from the west. I will cast them into the depths of the sea” (Psalm 103:12; Micah 7:19).
2. We take an oath to guarantee our word. When a person testifies in court, he takes an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. God has done this for us as well. When Christ came to confirm God’s promises (2 Corinthians 1:20), he was commissioned to the work by an oath from God (Hebrews 7:21). And when God made a promise to Abraham, he confirmed it with an oath (Hebrews 6:13). Why did God do this? Owen offers this explanation:
“That his people, seeing him engaged by two such immutable things as his promise and his oath, may be assured that there is an utter impossibility that any one word of his should come short of its truth; or that they firmly resting upon it should be deceived thereby.”3. Another way that we confirm the truth of our promises is by signing a contract or covenant. When a person borrows money for a major purchase or enters into a legal agreement, he signs a contract. If ever he doubts the certainty of the transaction, he needs only to look at the contract to find assurance. God has done this as well to give us assurance with regard to his promises. To put an end to all doubt, he has confirmed all of his promises with a covenant contract (Hebrews 9:15). He has entered into a binding contract with us so that at every turn we can look to it and see his signature and seal.
4. Last of all, when a person wants to ensure his word, he backs it up with a down payment. In making an offer on a house, it is customary to put down earnest money. This shows that the buyer is serious in the offer that he has made. Or, in ancient days, men used to leave hostages as a pledge of their truth and fidelity. So, in Genesis 42:18-20, we read that Joseph required one of his brothers to remain in custody in Egypt while the rest returned to their father in Canaan. This measure was taken to ensure that they would return with Benjamin. God, in order to leave no room for question, has made use of this last means as well. Listen, again, to Owen:
"He hath given us a hostage to secure us of his truth, - one exceedingly dear to him, one always in his bosom, of whose honour he is as careful as of his own. Jesus Christ is the great hostage of his Father’s truth, the pledge of his fidelity in his promises."God has given us a hostage in Christ. He has also given us an earnest, his Spirit, to serve as a guarantee that the full accomplishment of his promises is certain.
From all this, it is evident, not only that there is truth in God’s promises, but that the truth of them is so confirmed that there is absolutely no reason to question him. There is no room for doubt as to the truth of God’s promises. Here we have a strong assurance for our faith and an unshakable foundation for our hope.
This post is adapted from John Owen, Works, vol. 8, The Steadfastness of the Promises and the Sinfulness of Staggering, 207-241.
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