GOD'S PROMISES ARE FOR OVERCOMERS

We often hear religious people talk about the promises of God, as though they all automatically apply to them.  Yet is quite clear from biblical context, that God's promises to Israel, are quite different to those He made to the Church.  For instance, God promised that Israel would inherit a land of their own (Gen. 28:4; Ex. 23:30; Deut. 3:28; 16:20; Ps. 37:29, 34; Isa. 60:21; Ezek. 47:13), while His promises to His Church speak of a heavenly inheritance.  The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:4 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ."  And the Apostle Peter wrote:  "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Pet. 1:4-5). 

In addition, Israel seems to have missed two key factors in their receiving the Lord's promises to them:  1) they were inherited, and not something they earned; Israel certainly did not deserve God's favor, as can be seen throughout their sorry history!  And 2) in order to inherit something, there must be the death of the one bequeathing that which is to be inherited!  The writer of the Book of Hebrews wrote: 
"And for this cause (Jesus) is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.  For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.  For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth" (Heb. 9:15-17).

Yes, there has been much said about the promises of God, but seldom do we hear preached that in order to "qualify" for them, we must be "overcomers."  Only "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son" (Rev. 21:7).

So how does one become an overcomer?  The Apostle John wrote this in 1 John 5:4-5:  "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"

1 John 3:1-2 - "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God . . . . Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is."