an assurance given by God, in his word, of bestowing blessings
upon his people, 2 Pet. i, 4. The word in the New Testament is usually
taken for the promises that God heretofore made to Abraham, and the
other patriarchs, of sending the Messiah, and conferring his Holy Spirit
and eternal life on those that should believe on him. It is in this
sense that the Apostle Paul commonly uses the word promise, Rom. iv, 13,
14; Gal. iii, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 29. The promises of the new covenant
are called better than those of the old, Heb. viii, 6, because they are
more spiritual, clear, comprehensive, and universal than those of the
Mosaic covenant. The time of the promise, Acts vii, 17, is the time of
fulfilling the promise. The “children of the promise” are, 1. The
Israelites descended from Isaac, in opposition to the Ishmaelites
descended from Ishmael and Hagar. 2. The Jews converted to Christianity,
in opposition to the obstinate Jews, who would not believe in Christ. 3.
All true believers who are born again by the supernatural power of God,
and who by faith lay hold on the promise of salvation in Jesus Christ.
upon his people, 2 Pet. i, 4. The word in the New Testament is usually
taken for the promises that God heretofore made to Abraham, and the
other patriarchs, of sending the Messiah, and conferring his Holy Spirit
and eternal life on those that should believe on him. It is in this
sense that the Apostle Paul commonly uses the word promise, Rom. iv, 13,
14; Gal. iii, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 29. The promises of the new covenant
are called better than those of the old, Heb. viii, 6, because they are
more spiritual, clear, comprehensive, and universal than those of the
Mosaic covenant. The time of the promise, Acts vii, 17, is the time of
fulfilling the promise. The “children of the promise” are, 1. The
Israelites descended from Isaac, in opposition to the Ishmaelites
descended from Ishmael and Hagar. 2. The Jews converted to Christianity,
in opposition to the obstinate Jews, who would not believe in Christ. 3.
All true believers who are born again by the supernatural power of God,
and who by faith lay hold on the promise of salvation in Jesus Christ.