Errors of Alcoholics Anonymous: The Promises

"If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness."

The Bible tells us where Freedom and Happiness -- better yet, joy -- are found:

"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8: 36)

and

"11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." (John 15: 11)

Jesus spoke the second verse to His disciples, telling them to abide in Him, that they may bear much fruit, for without they, and we, can do nothing.

"We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others."


That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.

Of ourselves, we are useless (John 15: 5). In Christ, we can do all things (Philippians 4: 13)

We do not break free from fear by our own efforts, even when rehashing our past and working a series of steps. The Epistles outline the true source of every need, Jesus Christ:

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4: 19)

About our fears:

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4: 18)

We cannot reason or amend our way out of fear. His love, revealed to us at the Cross (1 John 4:16) is the love that leads us to overcome every fear.

We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.

The Holy Spirit indwelling every believer does a far better job of guiding and informing of us of the truth and right action in every situation:

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." (John 16: 13)

and

"But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." (1 John 2: 20)

and

"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. " (1 John 2: 27)

Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled among us - sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them." (AA, pg. 83-84)

The Promises of AA are not only not extravagant, they are weak and beggarly compared to the unsearchable riches man receives through Christ. We do not work for promises, for then they are no longer promises:

"And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." (Romans 11: 6)

and

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

"Not of works, lest any man should boast.

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. " (Ephesians 2: 8-10)

We cannot work for a promise, we cannot work for our salvation, so what makes any man think that he can earn anything else on his own? Through the Gospel, there is an exceedingly better way to reap the grace and goodness of God in our lives:

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 31-32)