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TEXTS WHICH DISCUSS THE PROMISE AND THOUGHT PROVOKING QUESTIONS
LUKE 24:49, "Behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
1) What was Jesus going to send? (It is easy to think that what Jesus was going to send was the Holy Spirit. However, in light of the overwhelming references to the promise, it is more appropriate to think that Jesus was sending the true intent of the promise upon believers. The Holy Spirit was never a promise.)
2) What promise had the Father given?
3) What would happen to demonstrate that the promise was being fulfilled?
4) In how many different ways could God demonstrate His power?
ACTS 1:4, "And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, 'which,' He said, 'you have heard from Me;'"
1) For what were the disciples to wait in Jerusalem?
2) What promise had the Father given?
3) Where is this same statement repeated?
ACTS 2:33, "Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear." (cf. Gal. 3: 14, "promise of the HS)
1) To what had Christ been exalted?
2) What did Christ receive from the Father?
3) What was the promise of the Holy Spirit? (NOTE: The phrase, "promise of the Holy Spirit" is the same as "promise of the Father" in Acts 1:4.
4) Where did Christ have to go in order to receive the fulfillment of the promise as it affected Him?
5) To demonstrate that the promise had been fulfilled, what happened according to this verse?
ACTS 2:39, "'For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.'"
1) How many promises did the Father fulfill in giving the Gospel of Christ?
2) Is the promise in v. 39 the same as the promise in v. 33?
3) To whom is the fulfillment of the promise extended?
4) Is there a limit on the number of people who may receive the fulfillment of the promise?
ACTS 7:17, "'but when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt'"
1) To whom had the promise originally been given?
2) The promise had four parts. When were they fulfilled?
3) Where were Abraham's children when it was time for the second part of the promise to be fulfilled?
ACTS 13:23, "'From this man's seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior - Jesus - '"
1) Whose seed is meant in this verse?
2) Who was Abraham's seed?
3) Why did God raise up this special seed?
4) What was fulfilled in bringing forth this special seed?
5) Who was the Seed?
6) For whom was the Seed presented as a Savior?
ACTS 13:32, "'And we declare to you glad tidings - that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: "You are my Son, Today I have begotten You."'"
1) Paul preached what message?
2) The message Paul preached was in fulfillment of what promise?
3) How had the promise been fulfilled?
4) What supporting scripture did Paul quote to prove his claim the Jesus was the fulfillment of the promise?
5) From what had Jesus been begotten? Is this the only way in which Jesus had been begotten by the Father? (cf. John 3: 16)
ACTS 26:6, "'And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.'"
1) Paul stood guilty and was judged because of preaching what?
2) What Paul preached was also interpreted by him as being what to Israel?
3) What does the promise offer?
4) What is the hope offered by the promise?
5) Is Paul specific as to what promise he was talking about?
ACTS 26:7, "'To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.'"
1) Who searched earnestly for the fulfillment of the promise?
2) According to Paul, what was the objective of the promise?
ROM. 4:13, "For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith"
1) The promise was not to be fulfilled in whom?
2) The promise was not to be fulfilled by what Law?
3) What is meant that Abraham "would be the heir of the world?"
4) Who is the real "heir of the world?"
5) What must one do in order to the "heir of the world?"
6) Is this inheritance "physical" or "spiritual?"
7) How does this compare with Matthew 5:6?
8) How does this compare with Galatians 3: 18?
ROM. 4:14, "For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect"
1) What law could not make one a true heir?
2) To become a true heir, what must one do?
3) Which law could not fulfill the true meaning of the promise?
4) Which law was intended to be the fulfillment of the true
meaning of the promise?
ROM. 4:16, "Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all."
1) The promise comes now by what means?
2) What guarantees the promise?
3) The inheritance of the promise is sure to how much of the true seed?
4) The true seed imitates whose faith?
5) In imitating true faith one becomes whose seed?
6) How many different ways can become one of Abraham's seed?
ROM. 4:20, "He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God."
1) What is the promise of God?
2) What other passages can you find where this phrase "promise of
God" is found? What does it mean in the other passages?
3) Why is Abraham's faith given as an example for believers?
ROM. 9:8, "That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed."
1) Who are no longer counted as the children of God?
2) Who are now counted as the children of God?
3) The children of God are also known by what other descriptions?
4) What makes one a child of God now?
ROM. 9:9, "For this is the word of promise: At this time I will come and Sara shall have a son."
1) The promise fulfilled in the Gospel was originally given to
whom?
2) Who was Sarah's son?
3) What is described as being a "coming of the Lord?"
cf. Romans 9: 24-29, "even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As He says also in Hosea: 'I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved. And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, "You are not My people," there they will be called "sons of the living God." Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: 'Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the
sea, the remnant will be saved. For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth.' And as Isaiah said before: 'Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We would have become like Sodom, and we would have been made like Gomorrah.'
1) Who are the "called?"
2) From what groups has the called come?
3) What would these people be called?
4) How many would be saved from fleshly Israel?
5) The remnant (the called) would be called whose son?
6) Is the fulfilling of the promise considered "the start" or
"the finish" of God's work?
7) Which work was being finished with the keeping of the promise?
8) Who is the "Lord of Sabaoth?"
9)What prophecy is quoted as being fulfilled here?
cf. Romans 9: 33, "As it it written, 'Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.'"
1) What names are given to Jesus in this verse?
2) What blessing would he receive who believes in Jesus?
3) Is this reference to Zion physical or spiritual in nature?
4) What is this Zion?
5) Where is Zion found?
6) Must one be in this Zion in order to find salvation?
7) To what city is Zion compared in other verses?
8) Where is this city?
9)Can one find salvation outside of this city?
cf. Romans 11: 26-28, "And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: 'The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.' Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers."
1) Israel's salvation was to be found in whom?
2) From whence was Israel's deliverer to come?
3) What would Israel's deliverer do for them?
4) Is this reference to Zion physical or spiritual in nature?
cf. Romans 9:33
5) In this reference to taking away the sins of Jacob, Paul said
he was speaking concerning what?
6) Israel's salvation would, therefore, be by what means?
GAL. 3:14, "that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
1) What blessing would come upon the Gentiles?
2) The blessing of Abraham would come upon the Gentiles through whom?
3) In whom must one find himself in order to receive this blessing?
4) What other expression in this verse refers to the blessing of Abraham?
5) The promise of the Spirit was to be received by what means?
cf. Gal. 3: 7-9, "Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham, and the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the nations by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, 'In you all the nations shall be blessed.' So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham." (cf. Hebrews 7: 28) .
1) Those who are of faith are whose sons? (How many different kinds of faith are there? cf. Eph. 4: 4-5)
2) How are nations justified?
3) All nations are to be blessed through what promise?
4) Is there justification for anyone apart from the promise to
Abraham?
4) Is faith and justification for the nations preached through any other message?
5) Can one's faith save him apart from the promise to Abraham?
cf. Gal. 3: 11, "But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for 'The just shall live by faith.'"
1) One simply cannot be justified by what law?
2) If one is to find justification it must be found by what law?
3) Justification by faith is available only through what law?
4) The just shall live by what?
5) Justification by faith is available only through what promise?
6) Can justification by faith come through any other means?
cf. Gal. 3: 14, "that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
1) What is the way the blessing of Abraham was meant to come upon
the Gentiles?
2) Considering the subject of this chapter and the context of this verse, what is the promise of the Spirit?
3) Who are the intended recipients of the promise of the Spirit?
4) Is there any other blessing to be received through Jesus?
cf. Gal. 3: 16-29, "Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, 'And to seeds,' as of many, but as of one, 'And to your Seed,' who is Christ.
1) The blessing of the promise is restricted to whom?
2) The great spiritual blessing through Christ can only come through what promise?
3) How many spiritual blessings come through Christ?
GAL. 3:17, "And this I say, that the law which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
1) What can the law of Moses not do?
2) How was the covenant (promise) confirmed before the law of Moses by God in Christ?
3) What covenant continues after the law of Moses was removed?
4) What cannot be made of no effect?
GAL. 3: 18, "For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
1) What inheritance comes by the promise?
2) How many inheritances are allowed by the promise? (NOTE: Inheritance is singular.)
GAL. 3: 19, "What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.
1) What purpose did the law serve?
2) What word suggests that the law of Moses has ended?
3) What event was to happen when the law of Moses was ready to end?
4) Jesus came in fulfillment of what?
5) Is there another reason given as to why Jesus came, except to fulfill the promise?
GAL. 3: 20, "Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.
1) Having fulfilled the promise, Jesus has been given what role?
2) What is the role of a mediator?
3) For whom is Jesus their mediator?
GAL. 3: 21, "Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which would have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.
1) What law could not bring the promise to fulfillment?
2) What kind of inheritance did the law give?
3) What was the ultimate purpose of the promise?
4) What two words are related to each other and describe the purpose of the promise?
5) What is the implied purpose of the law which is given in fulfillment of the promise?
GAL. 3: 22, "But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe."
1) To whom can the promise be given?
2) By what means is the promise to be given to those who believe?
3) Who are the intended recipients of the promise?
cf. Gal. 3: 25-27, "But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."
1) What law is meant in the phrase, "after faith has come?"
2) With the coming of the law of faith, what law has been removed?
3) The law that was removed is considered as having been a what?
4) One becomes a son of God by what means?
5) In order to become a son of God by faith one must also do what?
6) What system makes one a son of God?
7) Does the promise allow for one to become a son of God by any other means?
7) Can one become a son of God by any other promise?
GAL. 3:29, "And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
1) If one belongs to Christ he is also whose seed?
2) In one is Abraham's seed is also heir of what?
3) Is salvation granted to anyone other than Abraham's seed?
4) How does one receive salvation outside of the promise?
GAL. 4:28, "Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise."
1) Who are the children of the promise?
2) Heirs of the promise are also called what?
cf. Gal. 4: 29, "But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. (also read verse 23)
1) What two types of nature are discussed here?
2) Who was the one born of the flesh?
3) Who was the one born of the spirit?
4) Who is now represented by the flesh?
5) Who is now represented by the spirit?
6) What is the relationship of "born according to the Spirit" and
"the Jerusalem above"?
7) This representation of the flesh v. the spirit teaches what lesson for us today?
8) Does this have anything to do with the nature of the law of Moses v. the law of Christ?
9) How does this impact upon the way in which the prophecies of the Old Testament are to be interpreted? Does it make their interpretation literal or spiritual? (cf. Heb. 10: 1,2)
10) Does this give the promise a fleshly or spiritual fulfillment?
11) The Hope of Israel was tied to the promise. Does this make its fulfillment physical or spiritual?
12) The prophecies of ancient Israel are fulfilled in this Gospel (1 pet. 1:12) . does this make their fulfillment physical or spiritual?
13) The understanding of ancient Israel was limited to the fleshly, which things are described in the New Covenant as fleshly, shadow, and types. What should be the nature of our understanding of the same topics - fleshly or spiritual?
14) What does it mean that something is spiritual? Does it have an application to and fulfillment in that realm affected by the Spirit?
EPH. 1:13, "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." NOTE: "With" denotes the agent by which the sealing is accomplished, not the ingredients of the seal. (cf. 2 Timothy 2: 19)
1) How does the work of the Holy Spirit relate to the promise?
2) The sealing by the Holy Spirit comes only after what act from the believer?
3) The word of truth is also called what?
4) Ones salvation comes through what law?
5) This Gospel which saves is given in fulfillment of what?
NOTE:The NIV is in gross error on this verse. The Holy Spirit is not the seal but the agency effecting the seal.
EPH. 2:12, "that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world."
1) Give five ways God describes the Gentiles in this verse.
2) Did the covenants of promise apply to the Gentiles during the existence of fleshly Israel?
3) What were the covenants of promise?
4) The fulfillment of the covenants of promise reverses the five ways in which the Gentiles were separated from God. Can you state the opposite conditions?
5) What has brought hope into the world?
cf. Eph. 2: 13, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ."
1) In whom may one draw nigh unto God?
2) By what may one draw nigh unto God?
3) The ability to draw nigh unto God by the blood of Christ is in fulfillment of what promise?
4) Is there any hope or salvation offered separate from the fulfillment of the promise?
EPH. 3:6, "that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the Gospel"
1) One of Christ's intentions was to provide what blessing to the Gentiles?
2) How many bodies of saved people are allowed by the fulfillment of the promise?
3) Being in the one body entitles one to do what?
4) The promise is fulfilled in whom?
5) The fulfillment of the promise in Christ is through what?
6) How many different ways does the Gospel save?
cf. Eph. 3:8, "To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
1) What was to preached among the Gentiles?
2) The unsearchable riches is found in whom?
3) What made the message of grace possible?
v. 9, "and to make all people see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
1) How many people could be enabled to see what is the fellowship of the mystery?
2) What is the message of the word preached through Paul according to this verse?
3) How long has this message existed in the mind of God?
4) How many things were created through Jesus Christ?
v. 10, "to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, (cf. Romans 13: 1.) NOTE: The NIV is most accurate here.
1) When can the message be preached?
2) The message was to be preached also by whom?
3) To whom was the message to be preached?
4) What are the "principalities and powers?"
5) How are these in "the heavenly places?"
v. 11, "according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,"
1) The preaching of this message is according to what purpose?
2) Is the work of Jesus progressive or accomplished?
1 TIM. 4:8, "For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come."
1) Godliness carries with it the rewards of what promise?
2) How many stages of life are referred to here?
3) What is the life "that now is?"
4) What is the life "which is to come?"
5) Who can receive this promise? How many are there?
2 TIM. 1:1, "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus"
1) The promise of life comes through whom?
2) In many ways is this promise of life fulfilled?
HEB. 4:1, "Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it."
1) What additional blessing comes through the promise?
2) Whose "rest" is here described?
3) Where is this "rest?"
HEB. 6:12, "that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
1) What are the faithful said to inherit?
2) Even though "promises" is here plural, list the places where
they are said to be fulfilled.
3) Even though "promises" is here plural, list the number of
promises cited in the text.
4) How many inheritances are there?
cf. 6:13-15, "For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,
1) Which promise is explained here?
2) How secure was this promise made?
v. 14, "saying, 'Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.'
1) What oath did God make to Abraham?
2) What was the blessing?
3) In what way did God multiply Abraham?
4) Who are now Abraham's seed?
5) How many promises are named here?
v. 15, "And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise."
1) How much of the promise did Abraham personally obtain?
2) In what way did he obtain the rest of the promise?
cf. 6:17, "Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath."
1) To whom did God determine to show the immutability of His counsel?
2) Who are the heirs of the promise?
3) What is God's counsel in this verse?
4) God's counsel was confirmed by what?
5) What is God's oath?
cf. 7:6, "but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises."
1) Abraham received additional blessings from whom?
2) Who is the one who is here recorded as having blessed Abraham?
HEB. 9:15, "And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance." (READ: vv. 16-20; cf. Hebrews 7: 28) .
1) Jesus is described here as performing what role?
2) Jesus is the mediator of what covenant?
3) This covenant is in fulfillment of what?
4) Is there another covenant which is given in fulfillment of the promise?
5) The promise receives its power by which of Christ's actions?
6) The death of Christ was in fulfillment of what?
7) The death of Christ served to accomplish what?
8) Even though the promise to Abraham is spoken of as being plural (referring to past and present fulfillments) the promise of the inheritance is singular. Why?
9) Is there a promise of an eternal inheritance by any means other than through the promise?
10) What is the eternal inheritance according to this explanation of the promise to Abraham?
cf. 9:24, "For Christ has not entered the holy place made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us"
1) The promise of the eternal inheritance has followed Christ to where?
2) What does it mean for something to be a copy of the true?
3) What is the "copy" in this verse? Where is it?
4) What is the "true" in this verse? Where is it?
5) Which does God intend for those who are heirs of the promise
to inherit?
5) Jesus has gone into heaven to do what?
6) For whom does Jesus "appear in the presence of God?"
cf. 10: 19, 20, "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
1) To whom are these words addressed?
2) The redeemed may enter what?
3) Is the "holiest" a copy or the true?
4) Does the promise allow for the present day or end-time inheritance of the copy?
5) By what power do the redeemed enter heaven?
6) Does the power of the blood of Jesus enable one to enter any other inheritance? (Remember, that for one to enter another inheritance that is a fulfillment of the promise it must be described in the Bible and given as an alternate inheritance.)
7) Do you find in any text where the promise to Abraham is described as being fulfilled any description of an alternate inheritance (one not in heaven)?
v. 20, "by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,"
1) How is the new covenant described here?
2) How has this "way" been consecrated?
3) Is "way" singular or plural?
4) How many "ways" have been consecrated by the blood of Christ?
5) By what means was the way consecrated?
6) The veil of the temple (a copy) is compared to what (the true)?
HEB. 10:36, "For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise"
1) What is the Christian encouraged to do?
2) While enduring the Christian must also follow what?
3) What is the reward for endurance and obedience?
HEB. 11:9, "By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise."
1) Which of God's promises to Abraham is named here?
2) Who else is named as persons through whom the promise would be passed?
3) Since to be an heir is to be in line for an inheritance, how did Abraham, Isaac and Jacob inherit the promised land?
4) How have they inherited the Gospel fulfillment of that promise?
HEB. 11:39, "And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,"
1) In what way did these faithful men not receive the promise?
2) In what way did they receive them?
cf. 11: 40, "God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us."
1) How is the inheritance for us better than theirs?
2) With the redeemed receiving the inheritance, what effect does it have on those who originally received the promises?
2 PET. 3:4, "and saying,'where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."
1) Does the promise of the coming of Jesus have anything to do with the promise to Abraham?
2) When will this part of the promise be fulfilled?
2 PET. 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."
1) What promise has God vowed to keep?
2) Does the promise to Abraham have any connection with the coming judgment?
3) God's will for all men is that they should do what?
2 PET. 3:13, "Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells."
1) The promise goes beyond the coming of Christ and affects what?
2) Who is to inherit the "new heavens and new earth?"
3) Since Hebrews does not refer to more than one inheritance as fulfilling the promise, where is one to understand the new heaven and the new earth to be?
4) We have seen from previous references that "righteousness" is related to what? (cf. Gal. 3: 21)
1 JN. 2:25, "And this is the promise that He has promised us - eternal life."
1) John repeats the gist of the promise to the redeemed as being what?
2) Where is this eternal life to be lived according to the promise?
3) From previous verses, life is found in what city? (cf. Gal. 3:21) 1
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