If you’ve spent any time in the more charismatic sections of Christianity, you’ve likely heard about the promises of God. The promises are something that Christians often meditate on, recite, and think about. There are books and devotionals dedicated to the promises, and they can give a lot of comfort.
But what exactly is a promise in the biblical aspect? By asking this question, I’m aiming primarily at the time-frame in view. When we typically think of a promise, we envision something that is going to happen, but hasn’t happened yet. The time-frame may seem like a small detail, but it can have large implications.
Today we will explore what it means to have a biblical promise versus a biblical fact, and how a seemingly subtle difference can significantly influence our perspective of what we have in Christ.
God’s Blessings Relative to Time
When we come right to the heart of the matter, the main question is one of time. Has God made promises to bless us without fulfilling them yet, or are His blessings already given? How we answer this question can have a profound impact on our life. Consider that if you believe that God’s blessings aren’t available to you yet, then you are in a rather bleak condition today on this earth.
But what are the implications for us if the blessings of God are for us today? How would that reality of God’s blessings affect your life? So, let’s find out what the scriptures say about the blessings of God in relation to our current life on this earth. Let’s read Ephesians 1:18-21:
“ 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.”
Now, for the purpose of conciseness we are picking up at verse 15, though I encourage you to read the entire chapter during your private study time.
We see in verse eighteen that Paul is praying for the believers at Ephesus, and we can learn a great deal from what he is praying. Paul says in verse eighteen that he is praying for the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know… now, pause here and analyze what he is saying. Paul is not writing about works here, but knowledge and understanding.
This knowledge and understanding is not merely general information, or even knowledge about the old covenant Law, rules, regulations, or traditions; this is very specific knowledge being highlighted here, let’s read the rest of verse eighteen:
the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know…
… the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
The hope which is not worldly hope as we think of it… not a guess, not a maybe, not a gamble— but the confident assurance.
Paul also prays for the knowledge of the riches of the glory of the inheritance in the saints. There is a richness, a glory, and an inheritance in each of us; which is the fullness of God indwelling us via His Holy Spirit— and Jesus gets all of the honor in that. All of these these are a fantastic testimony to the finished work of Christ.
The Blessings of Christ on You
The scripture doesn’t end there, however. Verse nineteen continues with the connecting word and, letting us know that this is a continuation of the previous thought. The verse says Paul is also praying for the knowledge and understanding regarding the exceeding greatness of His power to us who believe! This exceedingly great power is according to the working of His mighty power… so this tells us that God has done a work, a work of His power which extends His same power to us! And as we look at it with this clarity, we can begin to see the bigger picture of what this verse is saying.
Paul is teaching the believers at Ephesus and us, about the effect that the finished work of Jesus Christ has on everyone who believes— and that effect is powerful!
Verse twenty confirms that this working of power occurred at the resurrection, and when Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Father in heaven. Furthermore, we can see in verse twenty-one that Jesus is far above all other power, rule, might, and dominion. He is above every name (and notice this last part) in this world and in the world to come.
Jesus has complete authority and power, over every kingdom, every name, and every entity. Not only up in heaven, but here, right now in this world; but He’s not just sitting on His throne in heaven hoarding that power for himself, He’s delegated that power to you as a representative.
In John 14:12 Jesus says that Truly, whoever believes on Him will do the same works as He does, and even greater because He goes to the Father. And that last bit is crucial because it highlights Jesus’ ascension and the giving of His Spirit which we read about in the book of Acts. But the most incredible place to read about your surety in Christ can be found two chapters ahead in John 16:23:
“And in that day you will ask me nothing. Truly, truly, I say to you, Whatever you will ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.”
You Stand in Christ
Most people do not realize that they are blessed now , they stand in Christ now, and this position gives them power now.
With the time remaining today, let’s examine John 16:23 in context to get a clear picture of what it is telling us, by reading John 16:22-27:
“ 22 And you now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man takes from you.
23 And in that day you shall ask me nothing. Truly, truly, I say to you, Whatever you shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
24 Till now have you asked nothing in my name: ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.
25 These things have I spoken to you in proverbs: but the time comes, when I shall no more speak to you in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly of the Father.
26 At that day you shall ask in my name: and I say not to you, that I will pray the Father for you:
27 For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.”
The entire conversion that Jesus is having with His disciples here is a short time before He goes to the cross. He warns them in verse twenty that they will be in deep sorrow; they are about to see Him tortured and killed. Yet Jesus doesn’t end with a hopeless narrative, look at what He says in verse twenty-two:
Jesus says, they would indeed see Him again, and at that time, they would have joy and henceforth, no-one would ever take that joy away! You might assume that He was talking about His second-coming, but the following verses make it clear that He’s actually speaking about His resurrection!
Look at verse twenty-three: And in that day (the day after His resurrection, after His work was finished) you shall ask me nothing. That’s strange! Why does Jesus say that you will not ask Him for anything? Will we stop receiving anything from God?
Not at all! But the manner of relationship will be changed because of His finished work! Because of His sacrifice, our position in His kingdom and family will be restored; His Spirit will indwell us, just as we read about earlier in this study.
Jesus continues on to say Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give it to you.
Now meditate on this, my friend. Before they would need to ask Jesus for things, and Jesus would respond. But now, Jesus doesn’t say to ask Him for things… instead, He says to ask the Father in His name! Do you see the difference? Do you see the change in relationship and authority?
Many Christians today are still asking Jesus to do things, and begging him to respond as if they are still cut off from the family tree! But Jesus already did everything! He already responded! He gave you Himself as the perfect sacrifice to restore you in the family of God! His Father, is now Your Father also!
So, what gives you the right to ask anything of God the Father in the name of Jesus? This is your union with Christ!
There’s no separation anymore! There’s no uncertainty! There’s no barriers! And there are no qualifiers or prerequisites! There’s no fear!
You are in unity with Christ. You are one with Him, because He has made it so. So what gives you the right to ask anything of the Father in the name of Jesus and have absolute certainty that it will be given to you? Jesus Himself does!
In verses twenty-six and twenty-seven, Jesus re-affirms this fact by saying again in that day (after His sacrificial death and resurrection) you will ask in My name, and I will not tell you I am praying for you (why not, Jesus?) Because there will be no need!
And as verse twenty-seven makes clear, all of this is ours, the very love of the Father for us on the inside, as mentioned here and again in John 17, because Jesus finished the work, and we believe on Him.
This is your union with Christ. And I will end today with the words of Galatians 2:20:
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Let this union with Christ be your living reality every single day. These are not promises waiting to be fulfilled, but facts that you can stand on right now, today.
Be blessed.