“For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” (Acts 2:39)

There are thousands of promises for you and your children found throughout the Bible. But there are only two kinds which fall in one of two categories, either unconditional or conditional. Learn to recognize them.

1)    Unconditional promises: They are exactly what they are without any conditions attached to them, period. No matter what you do, they cannot be undone. For example, here’s God’s unconditional promise about Israel: “Whoever blesses Israel will be blessed, and whoever curses Israel will be cursed.” (Num. 24:9, Gen. 49:9, Gen. 12:3). You read this promise and then decide which side you’re on. It should be a no brainer!

2)    Conditional Promises: They are activated by your obedience. You recognize them because they include words like “if” or “but”. Or at some point in the passage God asks you to be involved in some way. Pay close attention! For example, look at the “if’s” in the following: “Then Jesus told them, ‘I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.” (Matt 21:21-22 NLT)

So, in view of the above, what kind of a promise is the following?

“This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.” (1 John 2:35). That’s right, it’s unconditional!

Therefore

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:3-4)