12 Promises to help deepen our trust in God

Evangelism is far more about trusting God’s promises than relying on our own abilities. Those who step out in faith to share their faith with others have learned to take God at his Word. God gave promises to Abram who by faith responded in obedience. God gives promises to believers and by faith they carry out God’s commission.

The Bible tells us that God prepares his children for specific purposes because they are created in Christ Jesus to do good works. Usually, he trains believers to trust his promises by providing difficult circumstances in life. It is God’s desire that his children deepen their trust in him. As marriages mature and strengthen as the trust in each other deepens, so it is with a believer’s relationship with God.

God prepared Abram to fulfill a huge purpose – to become the father of a new nation from which would come the birth of the Savior. To build in Abram a willingness to follow his call, God gave him a cluster of promises. This is how God works. He does not deal with people in terms of demands, but primarily in terms of promises. Faith is the hand that takes God’s promise and makes them his own.

There are many clusters of promises in the New Testament to help deepen the trust of believers. Here are twelve promises from Ephesians 1:3-14.

#1       God gives believers every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms (v. 3).

Why? Because believers – those who trust in him – are in Christ.

#2       God has already taken the initiative to provide salvation by choosing believers to receive him (v. 4).

When did God do that? Before the creation of the world.

#3       Believers are already holy and without fault in God’s sight (v. 4).

How did God do that? Because God chosen believers are in Christ who is perfect in every way.

#4       God has already adopted believers into his family (v. 5).

Why? Because God wants to. God is God and this brings him great pleasure.

#5       God has freely given believers his glorious grace (v. 6).

Why? Because God loves his one and only Son who now lives in believers.

#6       God has already purchased believers’ freedom from the slavery of sin (v. 7).

How did God do that? Christ being our substitute (blood) on the cross.

#7       All of a believer’s past, present, and future sins are forgiven (v. 7).

Why?  Because God is God and this is in accordance with the riches of his grace.

#8       God lavishes believers with all wisdom and understanding (v. 8).

Why?  Because God loves us even more than a doting father who lavishes gifts upon his children.

#9       God has revealed to believers the greatest mystery of the world – His plan of salvation (v. 9).

Why? God is God and this is according to his good pleasure and purpose.

#10     Believers were already chosen to be in Christ before they were even born (v. 11).

Why?  1. This is God’s plan and purpose for a believer’s life. 2. So that believers – through their hope in him — may bring him glory and praise.

#11     Believers are fully included and accepted by God (v. 13).

Why?  Believers have heard the truth of Christ and trust his promises.

#12     Believers have already been identified or sealed as God’s own child (v. 13).

Why?  1. So that believers are guaranteed to receive his inheritance. 2. So that believers can praise and glorify him.

Trust is what prompted Abram to step out in faith and go to the land God promised him. Trust is what prompts believers to step out in faith to carry out God’s commission.

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