UNDERWRITTEN BY LOVE

A thought came to me that I must pass on.

I am a member of an insurance company that promises to pay for any damage or loss to my property when I lay a claim. Some years ago, I would not have been able to have my car repaired after an accident had my vehicle not been insured.

The most important part of personal, property or medical insurance is that the company is underwritten by enough money to pay out the claims made against it. Insuring one’s possession with a company that has limited funds would be a huge risk.

Now let’s translate this thought into God’s “insurance company”. God has made hundreds of promises to those of us who have been born into His kingdom through the power of the Holy Spirit. We have citizenship in a realm that is outside and above the kingdoms of this world.

“4. God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 2:4-v6 NLT

This heavenly citizenship elevates us above the world and its evil systems and puts us under God’s personal supervision and control. We have direct access to the Father through Jesus, and all God’s promises are available to us as we ask in faith.  We are members of God’s “insurance company” that has limitless resources to meet our “claims”, no matter how big they are.

However, for us to have confidence that God will honour His promises, we need to know that His resources are sufficient to underwrite His promises.

God’s promises are contained in a legal contract with Jesus, His Son, signed in the blood of Jesus, in which we participate because we are “in Christ” through faith in Him. However, these promises would mean nothing unless they are underwritten by the One who has the resources to fulfil them.

What are the resources that underwrite God’s reliability and faithfulness to make good on all His promises? His character! What is the essence of His character?

Amazingly, I found this Scripture that perfectly captures this very concept.

“I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.”

Psalms 138:2 NLT

God’s name enshrines all that He is, expressed in the word “hesed”.

God’s character (name) is summed up in two words…

“… God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.”

1 John 1:5 NLT

“… God is love…”

1 John 4:16 NLT

These two words, holy/love, describe the essence of who God is. God has made many promises in His covenant and He will do what He has promised because He cannot lie. His holiness guarantees that He will always be reliable and faithful to honour His Word and His love guarantees that His promises are always for our good and for His glory.

The Bible often uses the Hebrew word “hesed” for God’s love, translated as “loving-kindness”. This is a covenant word, a love which is infallible and indestructible in the context of a legally-binding covenant made with His Son, which God cannot break.

Since we are “in Christ”, we also benefit from God’s promises in this covenant. Jesus guarantees that all God’s promises are “yes” in Him.

“20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.”

2 Corinthians 1:20 NLT

All God’s promises are a declaration of what He intends to do in response to our faith. When we embrace His promises and say the “amen”, standing with Him in what He plans to do, we can rest on His pledge because He is who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do.

There can, therefore, never be a greater guarantee that God underwrites His promises with His own character because He is holy/love.