We have taken an overview of our topic. Now we start with something we all find fairly easy to understand: the promise of God. In Ephesians 1:13-14, the Holy Spirit is called the "Holy Spirit of promise". We now summarize that promise.

(1) God Made a Promise

A Son was going to be born

For many centuries before Jesus was born, God had been making repeated promises about a Son who would bless the whole world with the way of salvation and peace. For example...

• He said this to Abraham (Gen 22:15-18)
• He said it through Isaiah (Isa 9:6-7)
• He said it through Micah (Mic 5:2-5)

He would become the great High Priest

This Son would not only rule forever as King on God's throne, but he would also forever be the Great High Priest who would offer himself —his own body and blood— as a sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. Note these points...

• God made this promise through David (Psa 110:1-4)
• This High Priest is God's Son Jesus Christ (Heb 5:5-8)
• He offered his own flesh and blood as a single eternal sacrifice for sins (Heb 7:23-28, Heb 8:1-6, Heb 9:11-14, Heb 10:14,19-22)

Believers in Him would be guaranteed everlasting life.

Those who would believe in Him, and keep his commandments, would be granted everlasting life.

• Jesus himself promised this (Jhn 3:16-21)
• Paul was sure of it (1Tm 1:15-17)
• John was clear about it (1Jn 2:25-29, 1Jn 3:14-23).

Index to the 14 points