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"And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith,
preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed"
(Gal. 3: 8).
"But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus
Christ might be given to them that believe" (Gal. 3: 22).
Here again the Scripture is placed upon the same level as that which "He saith".
Turning now to II Pet. 1: and 3: we find the closing verses of chapter 1: occupied
with the question of the inspiration of Scripture:--
"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed
in your hearts, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day
star arise: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private
interpretation: for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of
God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (II Pet. 1: 19-21).
What confirmation of the promises we have in these words.
It may be remembered that when we considered Peter's testimony to the "exceeding
great and precious promises" we found them closely associated with the "partaking of the
divine nature" (II Pet. 1: 4). We must now observe that, closely allied with that "divine
nature" is "divine power":--
"According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and
godliness" (II Pet. 1: 3).
Without this power, the promise would be of none effect. So, in the same chapter, the
apostle, speaking of the coming of the Lord, writes:--
"We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you
the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of His majesty"
(II Pet. 1: 16).
Another example of the association of promise and power is II Tim. 1: 1-7:--
"According to the promise of life . . . . . God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of
power . . . . ."
We glory, therefore, not only in the faithfulness of our God to all His promises, but we
glory also in His mighty power whereby all those promises shall be accomplished. He
Who is the "Power of God" is also the "Wisdom of God". In Christ faithfulness, ability
and wisdom meet, to the glory of God the Father and for the consolation of His people.