Sermon Tone Analysis

God’s Promise of Newness

Introduction: The book I hold in my hand is called by many names: Holy Bible, God’s Book, Scripture, Inspired Word, Sword of the Spirit.

It could also be referred to as God’s Promise Book.

Surely we know that our God is a Promise Making God and He is a Promise Keeping God.

We can trust His promises.

We can trust His Word.

One of my favorite verses of Scripture is found in , “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ!” That’s a marvelous statement.

It means that because of what God has done in Christ we can depend on all of His promises.

We can stand on His promises.

We can live by His promises.

Because of His promises we have hope in a world where hope is often scarce.

We can trust His promises...we can trust this book!

One of my favorite verses of Scripture is found in , “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ!” That’s a marvelous statement.

It means that because of what God has done in Christ we can depend on all of His promises.

We can stand on His promises.

We can live by His promises.

Because of His promises we have hope in a world where hope is often scarce.

We can trust His promises...we can trust this book!

Illust.

I recently read a horrible story that is difficult to get out of my mind.

It is about a man who loved his son dearly, but maimed him for life because of his misguided attempt to toughen him against the hurts which life inflicts on all of us.

One thing he wanted the boy to understand above all else: he must trust nobody.

Nobody.

Illust.

I recently read a horrible story that is difficult to get out of my mind.

It is about a man who loved his son dearly, but maimed him for life because of his misguided attempt to toughen him against the hurts which life inflicts on all of us.

One thing he wanted the boy to understand above all else: he must trust nobody.

Nobody.

So when he came home one evening and his son bounded down the stairs to greet him, he stopped the boy abruptly on the landing.

He reminded his once more that people are not to be trusted.

Ever.

So when he came home one evening and his son bounded down the stairs to greet him, he stopped the boy abruptly on the landing.

He reminded his once more that people are not to be trusted.

Ever.

“Yes, Daddy.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“You can’t trust anybody, can you?”

“No, Daddy.”

“But you can trust Daddy, can’t you?”

“Oh, yes, Daddy.”

His Daddy then held out his arms and told the boy to jump, which is what the boy had been waiting for.

But when he jumped, his father stepped aside and let him fall with a crash to the floor.

“You see,” he said to his son, “You must trust nobody.”

So, because of the misguided counsel of his father, this young son fell and suffered for it the rest of his life.

His father could have taught him to only believe those who have proven their trustworthiness...those who have proven to be a keeper of promises that they make.

(from LeRoy Lawson, “The Lord of Promises)

“You see,” he said to his son, “You must trust nobody.”

So, because of the misguided counsel of his father, this young son fell and suffered for it the rest of his life.

His father could have taught him to only believe those who have proven their trustworthiness...those who have proven to be a keeper of promises that they make.

The Bible is a record of the promises God has made to His people and His faithfulness in keeping them.

From Genesis to Revelation we have the record of God’s Promises and His keeping of those promises.

The Bible is a record of the promises God has made to His people and His faithfulness in keeping them.

From Genesis to Revelation we have the record of God’s Promises and His keeping of those promises.

That’s why Peter wrote: “God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life...He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world cause by evil desires” (,).

That’s why Peter wrote: “God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life...He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world cause by evil desires” (,).

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ!” So, we gladly follow Him because whenever we have tested Him, we have found that He keeps His word.

Unlike like the cruel father in our story who trusted nobody, Jesus never steps aside to let us fall.

So we still sing the song that we learned years ago in Sunday School:

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ!” So, we gladly follow Him because whenever we have tested Him, we have found that He keeps His word.

Unlike like the cruel father in our story who trusted nobody, Jesus never steps aside to let us fall.

So we still sing the song that we learned years ago in Sunday School:

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,

Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call,

Resting in my Savior as my all in all—

Standing on the promises of God.

This morning we’re going to spend a few brief moments to consider one of God’s richest promises.

It’s found in , “Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.”

This morning we’re going to spend a few brief moments to consider one of God’s richest promises.

It’s found in , “Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.”

There are in that statement by the Apostle Paul several very important words.

There is the word “therefore.”

He uses that word no less than six times.

It means based on what was previously said “now I say this.”

It’s a very important word for understanding the train of thought of the writer.

Another important phrase is “in Christ.”

That is one of Paul’s favorite terms.

That’s our position.

Once we were outside of Christ or apart from Christ...but now that we have become a Christian we are “in Christ” which is a total change of position and status.

The word “creature” is also a very important word which would probably be better translated as “creation.”

Our God is a creating God.