Promises With Conditions and Promises Without

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)

A practical study of two kinds of promises in Scripture, and how confusing them causes unnecessary pain.

This famous promise is built on a hinge. Four things are asked of the people, and three things are promised by God. The word if governs the whole sentence, and the word then answers it.

That structure is common in Scripture, and it is not God being reluctant. Conditions are usually the very thing that makes the promise good for us: humility, prayer, seeking, and turning are not fees paid, they are healing in themselves.

Other promises carry no condition at all. God's faithfulness to His own character, His presence with His people, and the security of those in Christ do not rest on our performance.

Learn to tell them apart. Rest completely on the unconditional ones, and take the conditional ones seriously enough to actually do what they ask.

Key points

• Watch for 'if' and 'then' when reading a promise.
• Conditions are often part of the blessing itself.
• Rest on the unconditional; obey the conditional.

A prayer to close

Lord, I humble myself before You. I pray, I seek Your face, and I turn from what displeases You. Hear from heaven, forgive, and heal, according to Your word. Amen.