The Oxford Dictionary defines a promise as “a declaration or assurance that one will do something or that a particular thing will happen.” Everet E. Storms said there are 7 959 promises made by God in Scripture. If you spend time praying one promise a day, it will last you 22 years! Caleb lived for forty years on one promise – that God would give him and his descendants the land of Canaan. Imagine how many years we can live on 7 959 promises?
How do we apply the promises of God to our lives?
It is important to correctly apply God’s promises to our lives. Promises in the Old Testament, e.g. God’s leading of Israel out of Egypt and into the Promised Land, must be viewed through the Cross of Jesus who delivered us from the kingdom of darkness and brought us into His kingdom of light. The promise in John 3:36 speaks to this, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!”
The Book of Peter says that God’s promises transform us into more than mere ‘flesh and blood’. Focusing on these promises literally has the power to form the image of Christ in us!
2 Peter 1:4 – “…by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
Following are some guidelines to pray ’15 Promises of the Cross of Jesus’ as we prepare our hearts for the time of Passover.
PROMISE 1: He is faithful and just
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)
PROMISE 2: He first loved us
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:18-19).
PROMISE 3: He transforms us
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18).
PROMISE 4: He delivered us from darkness
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13-14).
PROMISE 5: He wiped out all requirements against us
And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross (Colossians 2:13-14).
PROMISE 6: He brought us near again
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13).
PROMISE 7: He sanctified us
By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Hebrews 10:10).
PROMISE 8: He cleanses our conscience
…how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14).
PROMISE 9: He clothes us with salvation
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels (Isaiah 61:10).
PROMISE 10: He makes us children of God
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name (John 1:12).
PROMISE 11: He gives everlasting life
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16)
PROMISE 12: He keeps us from stumbling
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen (Jude 1:24-25).
PROMISE 13: He justifies us
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-2).
PROMISE 14: He saves us
But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES ON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.” (Romans 10:8-9, 11).
PROMISE 15: He removes all condemnation from us
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:1).
There are many more promises of the Cross applicable to believers. Why don’t you search them out yourself. Allow the Holy Spirit to fill your heart with thanksgiving to God our Father for sending His Son as the sacrifice for your sins. Let them inspire your lips to praise the Lord Jesus Christ, who willingly gave His life to save you from eternal death, reconciling you to God forever.
