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Hoekstra: How We Are to Respond to God’s Promises

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For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17)

How are we to respond to God’s promises of blessing?

Such promises are not automatically at work in every life that hears them. Some people respond correctly, while others respond improperly. Some enjoy the benefits of God’s promises, whereas others do not. In these two verses, we are given the necessary response to all that pertains to the gospel of grace. That response is faith. This would certainly include living by the promises of God.

Paul was unashamed of the gospel because he knew its effective character.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation.” The good news about Jesus Christ is essentially the grace of God proclaimed to man: “the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). This grace is God’s power poured out unto the saving of souls. This power is experienced by all who place their faith in the gospel, whether Jew or Gentile: “for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” The gospel is effective, because it holds forth God’s righteousness to sinful man, if he is willing to trust in the Lord. “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.”

The gospel is referred to in the Scriptures as a promise.

“And this is the promise that He has promised us-eternal life” (1 John 2:25). The gospel is often stated in the form of promises: “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved… whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 15:11 and Romans 10:13). These gospel promises are partaken of by faith. “The just shall live by faith.”

In addition to initial salvation, the good news of God’s grace includes many other promises from God.

“I will build My church…You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free…When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth” (Matthew 16:18; John 8:32; and 16:13). All of these promises are experienced by faith as well, because “the just shall live by faith”-continually, as well as initially.

O Lord God, I want to respond to Your promises properly. How gracious that You only ask me to trust in what You have promised to do. I do not want to ignore Your promises or doubt them. I want to live by relying upon every promise You have ever made. In Your faithful name I pray, Amen.

Comments

    • Amen Chris,(or Hoekstra)

      That is the proper prayer …to desire to respond to the Lord correctly, and to do that by faith. Trust. It’s one thing to hear the promises, or read the promises, or know and understand the promises. It’s completely another to respond properly.

      In the midst of our jaded culture, where darkness rules the air, we must persist in claiming, living faithfully the promises given us. By faith and through God’s grace, may we walk pleasing unto the Lord.

      Co -laboring,
      Breaux

  2. I’ve been studying Isaiah 60. What a glorious chapter and what glorious promises are within it. Not only for us as believers but also for those who will come to believe.

    What a wonderful day it will be when we see those we’ve prayed diligently for accept Christ. Our hearts will be filled with such joy. Salvation is not something to be jealously hoarded but something we should want for all mankind. If our heart is not right in that we want salvation for all mankind it is against God. Man may not accept the free gift of salvation but it should always be our hearts desire that they do. For this is the heart of God for all His creation.

    Below are some wonderful excepts from Matthew Henry’s commentary on this chapter.

    Isaiah 60
    What is the duty which the rising of this light calls for: “Arise, shine; not only receive this light, and” “be enlightened by it, but reflect this light; arise and shine with rays borrowed from it.” The children of light ought to shine as lights in the world. If God’s glory be seen upon us to our honour, we ought not only with our lips, but in our lives, to return the praise of it to his honour, Matt 5:16; Phil 2:15.

    Isaiah 60:8 “Who are these who fly like a cloud,
    And like doves to their roosts?

    How the conversion of souls is here admired. It is spoken of with wonder and pleasure: Who are these? We have reason to wonder that so many flock to Christ: when we see them all together we shall wonder whence they all came. And we have reason to admire with pleasure and affection those that do flock to him: Who are these? How excellent, how amiable are they! What a pleasant sight is it to see poor souls hastening to Christ, with a full resolution to abide with him!

    Who are these that fly as a cloud? Observe, how the conversion of souls is here described. It is flying to Christ and to his church, for thither we are directed; it is flying like a cloud, though in great multitudes, so as to overspread the heavens, yet with great unanimity, all as one cloud. They shall come with speed, as a cloud flying on the wings of the wind, and come openly, and in the view of all, their very enemies beholding them (Rev. 11:12), and yet not able to hinder them. They shall fly as doves to their windows, in great flights, many together; they fly on the wings of the harmless dove, which flies low, denoting their innocency and humility. They fly to Christ, to the church, to the word and ordinances, as doves, by instinct, to their own windows, to their own home; thither they fly for refuge and shelter when they are pursued by the birds of prey, and thither they fly for rest when they have been wandering and are weary, as Noah’s dove to the ark.

  3. Bob, you’re correct in this case, I read what I wanted into what you wrote. You know how it goes.

    We live our lives by GODS written word as our regenerated spirits are lead by the Holy Spirit and not lead by our carnal or nephesh selves.

    Our parents, Adam and Havah are unique in all creation. They new perfection and pure communion with the creator and then separation. Is the same perfection and pure communion with the creator available to us if we just have enough faith or does our flesh (Adam) get in the way?

    J.

    • Bob, let me remind you, again, that you are not required to reply to anything I write. Also remember to use 20-20 and use the entire WOG, because you forgot to include Mat 10:6 HNV in your referenced verses.

      “This life proves” While we live this life of proving, who’s rules do we prove by? (Rhetorical question), obvious answer – the rules YHWH provide to all mankind (Adam) found in the Torah.

      “vital to understand” – otherwise, what? Remember, Jhn 19:28-30 HNV, Rev 21:6 HNV. When Messiah said it is finished, that meant there was nothing else that need to be done or understood.

      J.

      P.s. We should not think we are above the fray.

  4. Mat 10:14, Mar 6:11, Luk, 9:5 Salvation is the Lamb, Jesus. There is no acceptable way. The requirement to be born again and the resurrection answer this question.

    • There is no other means or acceptable way. This life proves the heart for God or not. This is why it is so vital to understand that we are called by God, He has provided salvation yet the choice remains to discount or otherwise reject His call. Our God chose to create, He will not have any who do not choose Him. The expression of the heart, the spirit is choice. We can be sure of salvation at our last breath, until then there is the choice for the flesh, the rejection of God.

      • It’s my turn to pick on Bob. 🙂

        Bob you stated.
        “We can be sure of salvation at our last breath, until then there is the choice for the flesh, the rejection of God.”

        I tend to disagree. John 10:28-29; Jude 1:23-25 I don’t think that we can be reborn and then un-reborn. The question I think is rather are we indeed reborn. In other words once we truly become born again we cannot loose our salvation. We may stumble and go astray but Jesus is faithful to leave the 99 to bring the 1 who has gone astray back to Himself.

        I know this is very controversial but I stand firm on it and have studied it quite a bit. The issue to me seems to be whether we truly yield and make God Lord of Lords in our life. If we have I do not feel God is faithful to continue the work of sanctification in our lives.

  5. Oops!
    If we have I do not feel God is faithful to continue the work of sanctification in our lives.

    I meant: If we have I feel God is faithful to continue the work of sanctification in our lives.

    Sorry!

  6. Bob,
    I also would add the following as evidence of a once saved always saved view.

    2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 and 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
    But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

    Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
    2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
    Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.

    But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.

    Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

    • There would be no admonition to stand fast and hold the traditions or the contortions that attempt to question whether or not someone was actually reborn if once saved always saved were true. This was discussed at length late last year into this year so please look to those previous blogs rather than take up that string again. God is absolute, His salvation is not in question. The purity of God is severe and deadly for the flesh. Given these attributes of God there would be no sin, offense or unrighteousness if God did not allow choice. My God is faithful, He will protect beyond question, my choice for Him. Keep your heart fixed on Him.

      • STAND FAST

        2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 is the scripture you are sighting for your argument and it says just the opposite of the point you are attempting to make if read in context.
        13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, BECAUSE GOD FROM THE BEGINNING CHOSE YOU FOR SALVATION through sanctification by the Spirit and BELIEF IN THE TRUTH, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

        16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

        Stand fast in faith….1 Corinthians 16:13

        Stand fast therefore in liberty….Galatians 5:1

        Stand fast in one spirit….Philippians 1:27

        Stand fast in the Lord….Philippians 4:1;
        1 Thessalonians 3:8

        Stand fast ..God chose you for salvation….2 Thessalonians 2:13

        2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 is the scripture you are sighting for your argument and it says just the opposite of the point you are attempting to make if read in context.
        But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

        16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

        But you’re right about having gone over this before. 🙂

        Be blessed and well.

        • There wouldn’t be an everlasting consolation in once saved always in doubt.

          Just sayen! 🙂

        • Is once saved always saved necessary for salvation or a matter of doctrine? It would be clearly stated like, “you must be born again” or “repent and be baptized” if it were necessary.

        • Is it a matter of doctrine, or necessary for salvation? It would be clearly stated like, “you must be born again” or “repent and be baptized” if it were necessary.

        • Why is it necessary to confess our sins? God knows our heart.
          Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

          • The answer to “why is it necessary to confess our sins” is in Romans 10:1-9
            Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

            Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.” But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
            ~~~~~~~
            Salvation is not obtained through the doctrines of men but through the heart which calls on the Lord and makes Him the object of their lives. Yes, God knows our hearts before we pray but we pray for relationship with the Lord. You cannot have a relationship with someone you don’t speak with.

            Confession, repentance and works are not obilgations to be preformed for salvations sake. They are expressions of gratitude and the desire to have a right relationship with the Lord. Hebrews 4:1; Matthew 7 note the good and bad tree reference also; Hebrews 10

            I think you’re asking me if once saved always saved is a necessary attitude for salvation. That doesn’t really make much sense to me. Are you going to get to heaven and say I had no faith so here are my works just in case? That would mean you had faith in your works but not in His blood. I think James 2 addresses the question and James 2:10 kinda jabs at that question.

            What was Abraham doing when he took Isaac?
            What law called for human sacrafice?
            He was about to commit murder and break the law but he was obeying what God told him to do over mans law. Faith is the contradiction between infinite passion of inwardness and objective uncertainty. Abraham was willing to give up his rational understanding of moral law in obedience to God. He trusted that God would fulfill the promise made to him even if he slew his heir upon the alter. Yet we can’t fully trust His promise to us that is stated over and over and over again? Works will always accompany faith but it is not a more lofty approach to say it’s faith AND my works or I can’t know I’m saved until my last breath. That way of thinking can hurt the cause of Christ. Would you as a new believer get saved and then trust based on the fact that you might go to heaven depending on the timing of your death or whether you worked hard enough? We do a real head job on new believers with those kinds of attitudes and then we can’t even give a solution to the delimma we ourselves created and the bible goes so far to dispell.

    • Great article, as good as I’ve ever read concerning Church History and the reaction that discussing it evokes, presented in a clear and concise manner. Recommended reading for any follower of the Hebrew Messiah.

      A friend, author, translator and pastor of mine from many years ago.
      http://www.elijahnet.net/

      J.

    • Faith for the love of God is the blessing for Israel. What does Messiah say?
      Mat 23:39, Luk 13:35

    • The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, vol. 1, p. 306, quotes Hebrew scholar Dom Rembert Sorg as writing that hesed is “really the Old Testament reflex [reflected image, likeness, or reproduction] of ‘God is love.'” is offered by — John W. Ritenbaugh from a longer commentary on Gal 5:22
      Hesed is more complex, an especially rich word that is at times translated as “lovingkindness,” “mercy,” “love,” “grace,” and even “loyalty” and “devotion” in some modern versions. Some modern critics argue that the word suggests loyalty, something given because of obligation, because the writers sometimes use it in a context with a covenant relationship, such as God’s covenant with Israel or a marriage.
      Other scholars review the same material and agree that relationships are present (love almost necessitates a subject-object relation), but assert that hesed (love, mercy, kindness, etc.) is freely given. Freedom of decision to give is essential. The help given by the person showing mercy or kindness is done freely. This seems to be the correct usage because the other can reduce love, mercy, and kindness to a merely obligatory, mechanical, legal act rather than an act of free-moral agency of the heart.
      A Pharisee could meet the legal demands of a covenant obligation, but the New Covenant requires a spirit considerably higher (Matthew 5:20).

      • The commentary on Hesed is entirely from John W. Ritenbaugh. I did not specify that sufficiently in the comment just before this one. As there are various sects and churches in the Old and New Testaments the churches in Revelation are instructional for our world today. In all there is the record of human treatment of God. Rev 3:5

        • I need to make a correction.
          Works will always accompany faith but it is not a more lofty approach to say it’s faith AND my works AND I can’t know I’m saved until my last breath.

    • Bob,

      Your topic of discussion “hesed” may be a little “high church” for me, but I’ll take a try at what I feel is the gist of what you want to say.

      The GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Israel has a “Brit” with the nation Israel alone, Jer 31:31-37 HNV, no other nation, no other person. And as John Parsons pointed out – as long as we can see the sun, moon and stars we can be assured the nation Israel retains its place in God’s plan. I understand and agree “who so ever will”, but we are guests to it. We don’t lose out on any part of it, but we are guests none the same.

      The consistent thread that I find with NT / Replacement Theology is this;

      Whatever Promises in the WOG that are positive apply to the Church and whatever Promises in the WOG that are negative apply to Israel.

      The verses you site do not apply to the entire race of Jews, just those not of HIS faithful remnant. 1Ki 19:14 HNV, 1Ki 19:18 HNV.

      J.

  8. The cross is the place where ego’s go to die and the ego never dies without a fight. I think we can all learn from that. Be careful when adopting some scholar or theologians position on what the bible “really” means. The fact is the bible says what it means and means what it says and God promises us that the Holy Spirit will lead us into ALL truth. If we believe someones theory that person can be wrong and man has a tendency to want to disclose a lofty ideal and/or intellectual superiority for the sake of academia.

    There is a very good article by John Parson discussing the Replacement, Seperation (Dispensationalism) and Remnant Theology.

    I think it’s important to note the UNTIL in Mat 23:39, Luk 13:35 It is also important to realize that the church did not exist when Jesus spoke these words and the church itself was established by Jews and Paul continued to be a Jew throughout his life. Acts 23:6; Phil 3:5; Acts 18:18; Acts 21:23-24 Gentiles did not have to convert to Judaism to become Christians

    We tend to want to want to think that Israel will be grafted in rather than realizing it’s the other way around. The Church must remember that it is graciously grafted into the Olive Tree of ISRAEL and made partakers of the covenants given to Israel. In fact the only reference given to the New Covenant in the entire OT is found in Jeremiah 31: 31-37 where is explicitly stated that the Jewish people will continue to exist as a nation as long as there is a sun and moon seen in the sky! This is further confirmed in Paul’s teaching in Romans 9 through Romans 11. If Replacement theology is correct it teaches that God can change His mind about His promises and if He changed His mind about Israel He can change His mind about His promises to the Church.

    Israel and the Church by John Parson
    http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Israel/israel.html

    • Wow, so quick to judgment and how comes the accusation, where is the proof? The law does not save but convicts. Faith, then follows acts. Only Jesus saves. A favorite phrase is attributed whether accurate or not yet associating brethren with historical cruelties. I am non denominational and do attend any for a service or a time. Let us be quick to forgiveness and quicker yet to repent.
      Acts 20:24, Phl 3:13

      • Ohhhh! I’m not convicting you Bob. I’m so sorry it came off that way.

        Now I would (lovingly) disagree with your statement that the law convicts or rather I would say it is a mirror which reflects to us both what we SHOULD do and what we have done wrong. The Holy Spirit brings conviction not the law.

        I’m also non-denominational but I don’t mind pointing out truth’s wherever they may be found. I’d point to 1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 Corinthians 1:8-10; Galatians 5;1 Thessalonians 5:23-24;Titus 3:5-9

        Please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying works are not important they are. They are the fruit of the Spirit. The early church must have wrangled with this quite a bit also because it’s so heavily dealt with in the scriptures. But I feel that faith always proceeds works and that is a harder accomplishment. We tend to think that we can just obey but actually God wants much more from us. He wants works because of our faith. If I tell my son to go do his homework or I’ll punish him I come at it the wrong way. If I tell him to do his homework because there are marvelous things he will receive when he learns I’ve given him the better instruction.

        I’m so sorry if I hurt your feelings. It was not my intent. Please forgive me. I have learn so much from your comments I just feel VERY strongly about this issue.

        • I would add just one more thing. I’ve seen people all my life in many denominations who had works but no faith. They were always very judgmental and relied on their works and gave faith not much thought. I’ve also seen people who came to great faith and realized deep in their heart the enormous gift grace is and that they were totally undeserving. There works then became empowered and His glory filled their every action. You could see it all over them and they grabbed hold of grace and became grace to all around them. Grace is receiving what we do not deserve and mercy is not receiving what we do deserve. Allowing grace and mercy to engulf you and transform your life is a miracle from God and clinging to works can hinder that and others in so many ways.

      • This is but the current page of comments. Several recent pages contain the comments that faith is the first and most necessary component that came before the law. Please recall where all of the patriarchs were called by God, He does the work. None of them brought God into their life because of their own works. Salvation is only of God in the Lamb, Jesus who created everything and has also purchased everything. Look to what is presented before attributing that which has not been said. It is deception to explain what a person says or attribute to them that which they have not said themselves. Peace brethren.

  9. Jerry S.
    There are some VERY provocative and thrilling proclamations in Jer 31. It’s fascinating! If you read it from the devils point of view it may explain alot about what’s going on these days and what he is attempting to accomplish from then until now until the Rapture. If you read it from the point of view of the people of Israel it and Ezekiel 39:21-29 may explain why Paul was encouraged about Israel in Romans 11:11-15.

  10. Let me tag on to Grace and Works.

    “Grace” is not new to the New Covenant as if it was created and distributed at Acts 2 HNV. “Grace”, the Creators Grace is one of HIS attributes and has been at work since creation itself and before. Forgiveness, by GODS Grace, does not happen unless there is a messy, bloody sacrifice. For example(s), 1, Every time we breathe air in and out of our lungs, it is by GODS “Grace”, because HE is not obliged to provide the air (aren’t we glad HE does though). 2, once a year on the Day of Atonement the sins of the “entiiiiirrrre naaaaation” were placed on one messy, bloody sacrificed lamb. All any Jew had to do to receive forgiveness, righteousness, yes and even “Grace” was to have Faith that it was so and they were cleansed of their sin, just like we do with Messiah the Promised Lamb of God. Funny how that works, so simple, nothing complicated for us to understand in order to receive. A gift.

    J.

    P.s. I have not as of yet even implied anyone can receive the same as the above by working our way to it. Only by the BLOOD do we receive it.