Promised

...separated to the gospel of God, which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures...

Romans 1:2, NKJV

At various times in his writings, Paul will refer to his calling as being from his mother's womb before he was born. It is a thought found also in David, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, and it implies a predestined purpose for individuals. For the first thirty years of his life, Paul's purpose was not realized in him. It took the encounter with Christ on the Damascus Road to set him on his way. Though separated eternally in the great plan of God, Paul was now in actuality separated from all other considerations save one--the gospel of God.

Note that it is here called "the gospel of God." God is the author of the good news. God is the source of the good news. He is the one who promised the good news before the message became reality. The prophets saw it afar off; they wanted to receive the revelation of grace and the gospel, but God reserved that revelation to come to mankind through Jesus Christ.

The gospel was a promise. God was the one who made the promise. The prophets communicated the promise. But we have received the promise.

When I think about a promise, it usually means a guarantee for the future--of guaranteed actions or fulfillments. It is a covenant and an oath, a contract, and this one has as promiser the God who cannot lie!

Jesus was the seal of the Promise. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of promise. The Word is the written contract of the promise.

I remember a little chorus I put together a few years ago. It goes like this:

What God has promised
that will He also do.
What God has started
He will complete in you.
For He is faithful and ever true.
What God has promised
He will do for you!
He works out all things
for the good of those who love Him
and are called according to His purpose.
If God be for us who can be against us.