The Promise Keeping God
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God HAS kept His promise
God HAS kept His promise
God’s People were under siege - 2 Kings 24:13
God’s People were under siege - 2 Kings 24:13
In we read how that Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Judah. Jehoiachin surrendered and was taken captive.
and carried off all the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king’s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold in the temple of the Lord, which Solomon king of Israel had made, as the Lord had foretold.
Nebuchadnezzar made Jehoicachin’s uncle, Mattaniah king over the now vassal state of Judah and changed his name to Zedekiah, which means Yahweh is Righteous.
And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.
ends by saying 2 things about Zedekiah:
2 kings 24:
He did evil in the Lord’s sight
He rebelled against the king of Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar thus ordered a seige of Jerusalem to bring it to utter destruction. Jeremiah was imprisoned for prophesying against Zedekiah. This is the context of the prophecy.
God had made a promise - Jeremiah 29:10
God had made a promise - Jeremiah 29:10
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up.
“For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
His promise included a time of suffering and exile. 70 years was a prophetic way of saying a lifetime.
Even though we read in Ezra and Nehemiah about the rebuilding and restoration (God moved King Cyrus to begin it) the Jewish Rabbinic literature shows that even in 1st century, known as 2nd Temple Judaism, there was still the sense that the people were still in exile awaiting deliverance and to be gathered by God’s Messiah
God kept His Promise - Jeremiah 33:15
God kept His Promise - Jeremiah 33:15
In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
The fulfillment of that promise is wholly connected to the promised Davidic Messiah, and was certain:
The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: “Thus says the Lord: If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night will not come at their appointed time, then also my covenant with David my servant may be broken, so that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne, and my covenant with the Levitical priests my ministers.
We often overlook that Jesus is the Messiah promised to the Jews
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
The prophet Simeon:
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
The nation of Israel failed as a people. The kings of both Israel and Judah failed to be the righteous rulers and protectors of the people. The temple priests failed to preserve the worship or the people.
In the midst of constant and continuing failure, God kept His promise by sending Jesus, the Righteous Branch of David.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
In the midst of constant and continuing failure, God kept His promise by sending Jesus, the Righteous Branch of David who will reign forever. Truly the government will be upon His shoulders
This is what I have come to love about Christmas: The Christmas Story as we call it is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
He us and will save
God IS keeping His promise
God IS keeping His promise
In those days Judah will be saved
Jesus did not rescue earthly Israel - Matthew 24:1-2
Jesus did not rescue earthly Israel - Matthew 24:1-2
Jesus did not rescue earthly Israel - Matthew 24:1-2
Jesus did not rescue earthly Israel - Matthew 24:1-2
Jesus plainly said that He did not come to reign as the earthly King of the Jews:
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
In fact, Jesus avoided this throughout His life:
Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
Jesus dissuaded His disciples from thinking in earthly terms
Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
Israel/Judah were under Roman rule when Jesus was born, continued to be so after His death, and 40 years later Jerusalem was completely destroyed
"It [Jerusalem] was so thoroughly laid even with the ground by those that dug it up to the foundation, that there was nothing left to make those that came thither believe it [Jerusalem] had ever been inhabited." - Josephus
it was so thoroughly laid even with the ground by those that dug it up to the foundation, that there was left nothing to make those that came thither believe it had ever been inhabited.
Josephus, Flavius, and William Whiston. The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1987. Print.
How then is God keeping His promise? - Romans 11:25-27
How then is God keeping His promise? - Romans 11:25-27
Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”
rom 11:25-27
Remember that just paragraphs earlier Paul already stated:
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,
Here he says all Israel, true Israel, God’s Israel is both Jews and Gentiles whose sins are taken away. The restoration of Israel is not an earthly, national fulfillment, but rather the continuing advancement of the Kingdom of Christ!
“For thus says the Lord: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to make sacrifices forever.”
Jesus is the everlasting King and Priest promised
God IS keeping His promise in saving sinners through the Gospel.
This is what I have come to love about Christmas: The Christmas Story is the beginning of the gospel.
The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus was purposed for the saving of Judah, the rescuing of hopeless sinners just like you and me. God is keeping His promise in that the gospel of the kingdom, is still being sent today.
The question is NOT if God will keep His promise, but rather are you a part of the rescued? Are you one who has joined the restoration? Is your soul secure in Christ? or will you remain a part of the rebellion against the God who said of His enemies:
They are coming in to fight against the Chaldeans and to fill them with the dead bodies of men whom I shall strike down in my anger and my wrath, for I have hidden my face from this city because of all their evil.
God HAS kept His promise in sending Jesus.
God IS keeping His promise in saving sinners through the Gospel.
God WILL keep His promise - Jeremiah 33:16
God WILL keep His promise - Jeremiah 33:16
Jerusalem will dwell securely
Jerusalem will dwell securely
Why are we secure in Christ?
Because our standing with God is based on the righteousness of Jesus
English Standard Version Chapter 33
And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
It is the righteousness of Jesus, His active obedience from birth to death; being tempted yet without sin that is accepted by the Father on our behalf. It was the perfect sacrifice that satisfied the Holy and Just wrath of God on our sin. Jesus; His life, death, and resurrection are sufficient!
What about future attacks?
We are protected in Christ.
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
rom 8:33-
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Father, Son, and Spirit are all unified in the keeping of God’s elect. There is no force in the universe that can penetrate that defense.
What about future failure?
for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Once God begins the saving work, namely at our conversion, He continues it. God does not awaken sinners to their need apart from intent to save. God does not save apart from intent to keep.
for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Since it is God’s work in us that prepares us for glory, and the Righteousness of Christ that is credited to us, our right standing with God is not ours to lose.
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
It matters not what transpires between coming to Christ and the last day. All who come to Christ WILL be raised on the last day.
for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
It matters not what transpires between coming to Christ and
We dwell securely who are in Christ!
The Righteousness of Christ in judgment
The Righteousness of Christ in judgment
The Righteousness of Christ in judgment
The Righteousness of Christ in judgment
The Righteousness of Christ in judgment
The Righteousness of Christ in judgment
Unlike Zedekiah, Jesus is the true Righteousness of God. Righteousness goes hand in hand with justice.
The same Justice of God that required and demanded Calvary to rescue us demands Hell for all who have not had the Righteousness of Christ imputed. This is right. This is just.
What will you have to offer to satisfy God’s Righteous demands?
If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
Or perhaps you are like the Rich Young Ruler of who claimed to have been righteous, (I’m fine. I’m better than some others I know. I’m good enough.) to have kept the commandments. And maybe like him, when you hear of the perfection and righteousness of Jesus Christ it cuts to your heart and you feel the weight and guilt of your sin, so you just go away sorrowful.
The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
And this is the name by which it will be called: The Lord is our righteousness.
God HAS kept His promise in sending Jesus, Messiah.
God HAS kept His promise in sending Jesus, Messiah.God IS keeping His promise in saving all who believe the gospel. God WILL keep His promise in that the Righteousness of Christ Jesus will impact every man, woman, and child. Either it will be obtained though faith and thus be the source of everlasting security, or else its absence will mean eternal condemnation.
God IS keeping His promise in saving all who believe the gospel. God WILL keep His promise in that the Righteousness of Christ Jesus will impact every man, woman, and child. Either it will be obtained though faith and thus be the source of everlasting security, or else its absence will mean eternal condemnation.
God IS keeping His promise in saving all who believe the gospel.
God WILL keep His promise in that the Righteousness of Christ Jesus will impact every man, woman, and child. Either it will be obtained though faith and thus be the source of everlasting security, or else its absence will mean eternal condemnation.
Either it will be obtained though faith and thus be the source of everlasting security, or else its absence will mean eternal condemnation.
God WILL keep His promise in that the Righteousness of Christ Jesus will impact every man, woman, and child. Either it will be obtained though faith and thus be the source of everlasting security, or else its absence will mean eternal condemnation.