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Believing God
In his book, Believing 12 Biblical Promises Christians Struggle to Accept , Dr. R.C. Sproul Jr. challenges Christians to take a second glance at the promises of God in the Bible in order to see anew the grandeur of what God has committed Himself to do for His people. Sproul explores twelve of the most significant promises in Scripture, methodically unpacking each divine pledge. He shows that while Christians may express trust in God’s words, they refuse, in numerous ways, to stake their lives on what He says. In the final analysis, the book functions as a mirror in which every reader with a teachable heart will see how he or she can more fully believe God. All Christians who appreciate careful biblical teaching and heartfelt passion for God will appreciate and benefit from this book.
139 pages, Hardcover
First published February 26, 2009
11 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
R.C. Sproul Jr.
43 books48 followersRobert Craig Sproul, better known as R.C. Sproul, Jr., is a Calvinist Christian minister and theologian and is the son of R.C. Sproul, a noted Reformed theologian and founder of Ligonier Ministries.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 30, 2017
Wow. This book was so good. I loved every page! Classic R.C. Jr.
September 2, 2013
A simple call to live a life of deliberate and active belief in the sure Word of a true and loving God. A much needed reminder of the blessing to be found in simply believing that what He says is true. Lord I believe, help my unbelief.
December 14, 2010
With,"Believing God: Twelve Biblical Promises Christians Struggle to Accept," Dr. R.C. Sproul Jr. makes a bold statement that, "Our problem in the evangelical church isn’t, I believe, that we aren’t trained well enough to grasp the hard teachings of the Bible, but that we are too worldly to believe the plain promises of the Bible. The difficulty isn’t that the Bible is esoteric, but that it is profligate. The problem isn’t that God speaks with a forked tongue, but that He speaks such incredible promises that we find them to be less than credible. The answer isn’t to run from what God speaks, but to run to it."
From there on, reading "Believing God" by R.C. Sproul Jr. was an experience of 161 pages of a simplistic yet detailed breakdown of twelve basic but significant, promises of our Father in Heaven; They are:
1. All Scripture Is Profitable (2 Timothy 3:16)
2. Our Heavenly Father Loves Us (1 John 3:1)
3. Confession, Forgiveness, and Cleansing (1 John 1: 9)
4. Wisdom for the Asking (James 1:5)
5. Children Are a Heritage (Psalm 127)
6. The Desires of Your Heart (Psalm 37:4)
7. Open Windows of Heaven (Malachi 3:10)
8. Mountains Cast into the Sea (Mark 11:22–24)
9. All Things Work Together (Romans 8:28)
10. He Has Overcome the World (John 16:33)
11. The Good Work Shall Be Completed (Philippians 1:6)
12. We Shall Be Like Him (1 John 3:2)
What Dr. Sproul delivers to us, is a look at how we can sometimes take something that is so simple and make it more complicated than it otherwise should be and oh how complicated can we make things sometimes or as the old adage goes, "Too many cooks in the kitchen".
I highly enjoyed reading "Believing God" Twelve Biblical Promises Christians Struggle to Accept",and felt that it is a hands down, challenging book that challenges the Christian follower to have a teachable heart, to be open and to be willing to look at twelve simplistic promises that can be found in the Bible but resisting the urge to reach over to the salt and pepper shakers and add more seasonings than what is already there.
It had me wishing that there was a study guide to go with it, but as I re-read "Believing God", I discovered that even in a small group, bible study setting, this will still even make an appropriate bible study, as well as a personal study/reading.
The book is challenging.
It is convicting.
It is enriching.
"Believing God" is a book that takes you out of a safe comfort zone and challenges you to don't look at His Word with a teachable heart and be prepared to not be dismissive, but be open, be willing and be honest.
As Sproul shares on page 26 of "Believing God", "We believe in reproof,as long as what we are being reproved for is wrong doctrine. We believe in correction, as long as we are having our doctrine corrected. Paul, however, is leading us somewhere. What we need is instruction in righteousness, which is rather a different standard of spiritual maturity than having our theological i’s dotted and t’s crossed. That means, in turn, that we do not believe this promise, because we have missed its point."
Running along the lines of,"‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9),", in "Believing God," R.C. Sproul shares a deep look at how ,"God is utterly unimpressed with our efforts to beat ourselves psychologically for our sins. What He wants is a true humility that will manifest itself as faith, as believing God.”,and how to approach our Heavenly Father from a common sense outlook versus a, whose wrong, whose right outlook.
I found myself having to re-read "Believing God" several times and in doing so, I found myself, not only just drawn into a basic breakdown of the twelve significant promises that R.C. Sproul wrote the book around, but a steadfast reminder to all of us how sometimes, we need to stop looking for the "i's" and "t's" that are crossed and just look at Him for Him.
The book delivers what it says that,"In the final analysis, the book functions as a mirror in which every reader with a teachable heart will see how he or she can more fully believe God. All Christians who appreciate careful biblical teaching and heartfelt passion for God will appreciate and benefit from this book".
"Believing God", isn't promoting a Pollyanna look at His word nor is it a pointing finger, but it is a careful look at how we can actually hurt our walk by helping the enemy by holding ourselves back by doubt and fear more than just trusting in our Father inI following Him.
On the other hand, "Believing God: Twelve Biblical Promises Christians Struggle to Accept" is a casual, daring but honest look at our Christian walk and a challenge to approach His word not with set opinions but rather be open with a teachable heart to His Word and grasp with joy and wonder at the freedom and grace of our Heavenly Father.
I was reminded that Jesus calls us to be child-like in our faith and not by being naive but truly open to His Word and what He holds for all of us and how we can sometimes go over the line and play in the hands of the enemy. The book had me wondering by the time I had finished it, do we have such doubt in ourselves about being able to understand His work that we might unintentional make it harder to comprehend our Father's promises than what is really there.
Challenging thought, but not so much as challenging as R.C. Sproul's called that part of us understanding and embracing includes a heavy dose of humility when reading God's Word.
Humility is expressed best not with flowery odes but through rather ordinary obedience.
Obedience is better even than the flattery of imitation. We ought to come to God’s law as King David did, delighting in it, meditating on it, and obeying it.
Too often, however, we “honor” God by creating our own law, making ourselves more pious than Him. God says, “Don’t eat,” and we say, “Don’t touch.” God says, “Give ten percent,” and we say, “Give twenty our heavenly father loves us 13 percent.” Like the Pharisees before us, we add to God’s law, then expect Him to pat us on the back. This problem of seeking a piety greater than God’s, however, gets no uglier than when we apply it to ourselves.
There are just too many gems to be glean from "Believing God: Twelve Bible Promises Struggle to Accept" that if you are open with a teachable heart and ready to be challenge in fully embracing and understanding our Father's promises, read, "Believing God: Twelve Biblical Promises Christians Struggle to Accept".
This isn't about doctrine. It isn't about legalism. It's about embracing God's promises for all of us.
[disclaimer]reformation[/disclaimer]
From there on, reading "Believing God" by R.C. Sproul Jr. was an experience of 161 pages of a simplistic yet detailed breakdown of twelve basic but significant, promises of our Father in Heaven; They are:
1. All Scripture Is Profitable (2 Timothy 3:16)
2. Our Heavenly Father Loves Us (1 John 3:1)
3. Confession, Forgiveness, and Cleansing (1 John 1: 9)
4. Wisdom for the Asking (James 1:5)
5. Children Are a Heritage (Psalm 127)
6. The Desires of Your Heart (Psalm 37:4)
7. Open Windows of Heaven (Malachi 3:10)
8. Mountains Cast into the Sea (Mark 11:22–24)
9. All Things Work Together (Romans 8:28)
10. He Has Overcome the World (John 16:33)
11. The Good Work Shall Be Completed (Philippians 1:6)
12. We Shall Be Like Him (1 John 3:2)
What Dr. Sproul delivers to us, is a look at how we can sometimes take something that is so simple and make it more complicated than it otherwise should be and oh how complicated can we make things sometimes or as the old adage goes, "Too many cooks in the kitchen".
I highly enjoyed reading "Believing God" Twelve Biblical Promises Christians Struggle to Accept",and felt that it is a hands down, challenging book that challenges the Christian follower to have a teachable heart, to be open and to be willing to look at twelve simplistic promises that can be found in the Bible but resisting the urge to reach over to the salt and pepper shakers and add more seasonings than what is already there.
It had me wishing that there was a study guide to go with it, but as I re-read "Believing God", I discovered that even in a small group, bible study setting, this will still even make an appropriate bible study, as well as a personal study/reading.
The book is challenging.
It is convicting.
It is enriching.
"Believing God" is a book that takes you out of a safe comfort zone and challenges you to don't look at His Word with a teachable heart and be prepared to not be dismissive, but be open, be willing and be honest.
As Sproul shares on page 26 of "Believing God", "We believe in reproof,as long as what we are being reproved for is wrong doctrine. We believe in correction, as long as we are having our doctrine corrected. Paul, however, is leading us somewhere. What we need is instruction in righteousness, which is rather a different standard of spiritual maturity than having our theological i’s dotted and t’s crossed. That means, in turn, that we do not believe this promise, because we have missed its point."
Running along the lines of,"‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9),", in "Believing God," R.C. Sproul shares a deep look at how ,"God is utterly unimpressed with our efforts to beat ourselves psychologically for our sins. What He wants is a true humility that will manifest itself as faith, as believing God.”,and how to approach our Heavenly Father from a common sense outlook versus a, whose wrong, whose right outlook.
I found myself having to re-read "Believing God" several times and in doing so, I found myself, not only just drawn into a basic breakdown of the twelve significant promises that R.C. Sproul wrote the book around, but a steadfast reminder to all of us how sometimes, we need to stop looking for the "i's" and "t's" that are crossed and just look at Him for Him.
The book delivers what it says that,"In the final analysis, the book functions as a mirror in which every reader with a teachable heart will see how he or she can more fully believe God. All Christians who appreciate careful biblical teaching and heartfelt passion for God will appreciate and benefit from this book".
"Believing God", isn't promoting a Pollyanna look at His word nor is it a pointing finger, but it is a careful look at how we can actually hurt our walk by helping the enemy by holding ourselves back by doubt and fear more than just trusting in our Father inI following Him.
On the other hand, "Believing God: Twelve Biblical Promises Christians Struggle to Accept" is a casual, daring but honest look at our Christian walk and a challenge to approach His word not with set opinions but rather be open with a teachable heart to His Word and grasp with joy and wonder at the freedom and grace of our Heavenly Father.
I was reminded that Jesus calls us to be child-like in our faith and not by being naive but truly open to His Word and what He holds for all of us and how we can sometimes go over the line and play in the hands of the enemy. The book had me wondering by the time I had finished it, do we have such doubt in ourselves about being able to understand His work that we might unintentional make it harder to comprehend our Father's promises than what is really there.
Challenging thought, but not so much as challenging as R.C. Sproul's called that part of us understanding and embracing includes a heavy dose of humility when reading God's Word.
Humility is expressed best not with flowery odes but through rather ordinary obedience.
Obedience is better even than the flattery of imitation. We ought to come to God’s law as King David did, delighting in it, meditating on it, and obeying it.
Too often, however, we “honor” God by creating our own law, making ourselves more pious than Him. God says, “Don’t eat,” and we say, “Don’t touch.” God says, “Give ten percent,” and we say, “Give twenty our heavenly father loves us 13 percent.” Like the Pharisees before us, we add to God’s law, then expect Him to pat us on the back. This problem of seeking a piety greater than God’s, however, gets no uglier than when we apply it to ourselves.
There are just too many gems to be glean from "Believing God: Twelve Bible Promises Struggle to Accept" that if you are open with a teachable heart and ready to be challenge in fully embracing and understanding our Father's promises, read, "Believing God: Twelve Biblical Promises Christians Struggle to Accept".
This isn't about doctrine. It isn't about legalism. It's about embracing God's promises for all of us.
[disclaimer]reformation[/disclaimer]
April 25, 2022
This book explained 12 promises which usually being neglected. This is also not a prosperity gospel, but what the Bible truly said.
October 23, 2025
Excellent
2025 A book by RC Sproul
2025 A book by RC Sproul
July 18, 2012
I bought this book at a very difficult time, in the middle of great turmoil and tragedy. Yes, it is just absolutely full of things that we have heard before...if we've been listening. And, yes, there's very little in there that I did not respond to with "I knew that." But there was also a lot of "I needed to hear that."
It is easy to 'know and not remember' the very basic truths of the faith. When you're in the middle of hellacious circumstances it is sometimes difficult to remember that everything that is swirling around you is there in God's kind providence. This book helped me to remember that in the midst.
If you're convinceed that your theology is precise enough, your worldview tight enough, don't pick it up. If, however, you realize that at times you need to have the simple and straightforward truth 'preached' to you, this is an excellent resource.
It is easy to 'know and not remember' the very basic truths of the faith. When you're in the middle of hellacious circumstances it is sometimes difficult to remember that everything that is swirling around you is there in God's kind providence. This book helped me to remember that in the midst.
If you're convinceed that your theology is precise enough, your worldview tight enough, don't pick it up. If, however, you realize that at times you need to have the simple and straightforward truth 'preached' to you, this is an excellent resource.
September 26, 2011
I am convinced I would like any book written by R.C. Sproul Jr. He is so interesting, knowledgable, and Biblically sound. I enjoy his insight on any topic and plan to read more of his books in the future. This book was very good. It was short but each chapter gave you a lot to chew on and to be encouraged by. Another great book from the Sproul tree.
October 14, 2011
As someone who's followed R.C. Sproul for a while, I purchased this book with the intention of really getting a lot out of it. I found it difficult to follow, incohesive and overall didn't get a lot out of it. It's not that the author isn't sound Biblically, it's just that the book fails to deliver anything extraordinary that hasn't been talked about many times before.
November 24, 2012
Loved it! This book really challenged me. Nearly every chapter revealed "blindspots" in my life where I have not truly been trusting and believing God. "Lord, I believe...help my unbelief!" has new meaning. In addition, I have been enjoying this book in the audiobook format on RefNet this week and that has been a double blessing! I will definitely be reading this book again.
June 27, 2020
Fascinante. El autor exhibe la incredulidad que tenemos hacia ciertas promesas que Dios nos ha hecho en su palabra. Es una llamada de atención al fariseismo cristiano y un recordatorio de que nuestro deseo, nuestro anhelo es ser cada vez más como Jesús, y que Dios nos ha prometido que así será
January 12, 2011
I have no words for how wonderfully encouraging this book is. Read it, read it, read it!
January 12, 2015
Potent reminders to not just read the promises of God in His word but live like we believe them.
December 11, 2014
Interesting but none of these are problems for me at this time in my life. The book did not speak to me. I may reread it at another time to see if maybe I missed the significance of this work.
April 24, 2021
Biblically Influenced spoilers which allow one to make quick steps to understanding one's relation to God. https://quizlet.com/521438618/believi...
June 20, 2022
Not bad - not particularly relevant but good
June 19, 2009
Believing God: Twelve Biblical Promises Christians Struggle to Accept by R.C. Sproul Jr. (2009)
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews