Neville Goddard Word Study: Promise

Executive Summary

The Promise is a core concept in Neville's teaching, distinct from The Law. It refers to God's inevitable promise to give Himself to every individual, culminating in the awakening to the full realization that you are God. This divine event is preordained and will be fulfilled in every being. Its origins are found in scripture, symbolized by the promise made to Abraham that he and Sarah would have a son, Isaac, in their old age.

Key Concepts

• The Promise is God's ultimate gift of Himself to every person.
• Its fulfillment is the awakening to the knowledge that you are God.
• It is symbolized in scripture by the promise made to Abraham of a son, Isaac.
• The fulfillment of the Promise is inevitable and is happening to every being, regardless of their actions.
• The Promise is a separate concept from "The Law," which is the principle of creating reality through imagination.

Detailed Explanation

The Promise is God's unbreakable pledge to every human being. Its ultimate fulfillment is the gift of Himself to the individual, an experience so profound that you awaken to the certain knowledge that you are God. This is not a reward to be earned but a divine inheritance that is being fulfilled in every person. All of God's promises as told in scripture find their complete fulfillment within you.

The biblical foundation for the Promise is the story of Abraham from the book of Genesis. Scripture tells of a promise made to Abraham, the "father of the multitudes," that he would have an heir. This promise is symbolized by the birth of his son, Isaac, to his wife Sarah when they were both of an impossible age for childbirth. This narrative is not literal history but a symbolic story representing God's promise to man. The promised "offspring" is described as singular, not plural, and is identified as Christ.

The Promise is distinct from The Law. The Law is the principle that imagination creates reality, a power that individuals can and must operate to shape the circumstances of their lives. One can use the Law to prosper and make life more comfortable. The Promise, however, does not need to be operated. Its fulfillment is coming regardless of any action on your part; it cannot be stopped or hurried. Because the Promise is so fantastic, it can be difficult to accept, so it is often more effective to first demonstrate the power of The Law, which can be proven through experience here and now.

Important Quotes

The Promise is that you are going to be God! That’s the Promise.

— Order Your Conversations Aright

His Promise is to give Himself to us, as though there were no others in the world – just you, because in giving Himself to you, there is no other.

— Secret Of Imagination

The promise was made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, offsprings, referring to many, but, referring to one, ‘And to your offspring,’ which is Christ.

— The Promise Fulfilled

There is a Law, and there is a Promise. The Promise is going to come, regardless, but while you are waiting for the Promise, you could make life more comfortable with the use of the Law, because the Law must be operated.

— Order Your Conversations Aright

Related Concepts

• The Law of Assumption: The Promise is frequently contrasted with The Law. The Law must be consciously operated through imagination and assumption to affect one's life. The Promise, however, is an act of grace that unfolds automatically and is not dependent on human will or effort.
• I AM: The fulfillment of the Promise is the ultimate realization of I AM. It is the moment you awaken to the knowledge that your own consciousness is the one and only God and Father of all.

Common Misunderstandings

• The Promise must be earned: The source material clarifies that the Promise is not a reward for good behavior or correct application of the Law. It is an inevitable event that is "going to come, regardless," and "you can’t stop" it.
• The Promise and The Law are the same thing: The teachings clearly separate these two concepts. The Law is a tool for this life; the Promise is a divine inheritance concerning your ultimate identity. Neville states he taught the Law long before he experienced or understood the Promise.

Practical Applications

The primary application related to the Promise is to understand its inevitability and, in that understanding, to use The Law to live more comfortably while awaiting its fulfillment. The sources suggest that by first proving the power of The Law in your own life, you may become more receptive to hearing about the fantastic nature of the Promise. There are no steps given to hasten the Promise, as its unfolding is preordained.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between The Law and The Promise?

The Law is the principle that imagination creates reality, which you must consciously operate to change your life. The Promise is God's inevitable gift of Himself to you, which will be fulfilled automatically without your effort.

Can I make the Promise happen faster?

The source material states the Promise is "going to come, regardless" and "you can’t stop" it, implying its timing is not under individual control.

What is the biblical basis for the Promise?

The Promise is first found in Genesis, made to Abraham. It is symbolized by the story of the birth of his son, Isaac, and is identified in Galatians as referring to a single offspring, which is Christ.