As Christians, we like to look at examples.
When we think of courage, we look at David; for wisdom we look at Solomon; for strength Samson; and for faith we look to Abraham.
The thing is, there is one greater than these. God's faithfulness is greater than that of Abraham.
“God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, is faithful.” — 1 Corinthians 1:9
This simple verse is part of Paul's introduction to his first letter to the church at Corinth, but it is powerful, because it sums everything up. God made a promise thousands of years before Paul ever wrote to the church in Corinth. He had in mind from the beginning of what the plan of salvation would be, and he stuck with it.
I would like to say we are the same way, but we know it's not. What's the old saying, “even the best laid plans go awry.”
Not God's. He who knows the end from the beginning is faithful.
“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.” — Deuteronomy 7:9
For those who seek to follow God, he will remain faithful to them. God will not turn his back on those who keep his commands. What is that command? To believe that Jesus Christ allowed himself to be hanged on a cross; to believe that he rose again on the third day; to accept his as our personal savior; and to repent of our sins, nailing them to the cross of Christ.
That's our command, if we follow it, then God will be faithful to us.
“God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” — Numbers 23:19
As humans we live in linear fashion. Our life on earth has a beginning and it has an end. It follows a line in other words.
During that timeline we are always trying to gain an edge over those around us. Somehow we think that will bring us more, so we'll lie, cheat and steal - for nothing in the end because we will all meet the same fate.
God doesn't work that way. There is no beginning for him and there is no end. He exists outside of time and space, yet he took on human flesh in order to offer himself as a sacrifice for the sins of man for all time.
Way back in the garden God told Adam, Eve and Satan what was to come.
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” — Genesis 3:15
When Christ cried out “It is finished,” all the sins of the world from beginning to end had been paid. When he walked out of that tomb three days later, death was defeated and Satan's end was assured.
God made a promise. He made it to Adam and Eve. He made it to Abraham. He made it to Moses. He told the prophets a savior was coming. And wouldn't you know it, he showed up. Jesus Christ came and fulfilled the Law and the prophets.
There is no greater example of faith than that of our Lord Jesus Christ. Remember what I said, he allowed himself to be nailed to a cross. He allowed it.
With a word Christ could have slain the entire world, but instead he chose to give his life for it, because God the Father had made him a promise long ago, that he would raise him from death.
Charles Spurgeon summed up Christ's boundless love and faithfulness to those who would believe on his holy name.
“They may bind his hands, but his heart is not restrained from love; they may scourge him, but they cannot drive out of him his affection to his beloved; they may slanderously revile him, but they cannot compel him to say a word against his people; they may nail him to the accursed tree, and they may bid him come down from the cross, and they will believe on him, but they cannot tempt him to forsake his work of love; he must press forward for his people's sake until he can say, 'It is finished.' Oh! that tragedy upon Calvary was a going to the end indeed, when, having yielded up comfort, reputation, liberty, he gave up even his last rag of covering, and then resigned his breath. Standing, as it were, at the world's end, at the grave's mouth, and at hell's door, the cross of Jesus reveals love to the utmost end, and is a grand display of the immutability and invincibility of the affection of the heart of Jesus.”
Christ knew what had to be done, and he did it. If we were to take a trip somewhere, knowing that excruciating death would result from it, I seriously doubt any of us would go, but Christ did just that. He was faithful.
Now, even after having paid the full penalty for all people, he still is faithful. Follow Spurgeon's conclusion.
“We are not of those who have to deal with a vacillating Redeemer, who casts away his people for their sins, and rejects them for their backslidings, who loves his own today and hates them tomorrow — a Christ in whom I have no confidence, and in whose existence I do not believe; but we have to deal with one who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, one who never did flinch from his purpose, nor turn from his decree; and having to deal with such a one, let us not dishonor his name by wavering, and doubting and fearing. Cast yourselves to the Lord, ye mourners, and rejoice in him; lean yourselves upon him, ye burdened ones, and take up your psalm of praise this morning, and go on your way rejoicing.”
Christ is our rock and our foundation, build your house of faith on his faithfulness and he will deliver us to the end.
When we think of courage, we look at David; for wisdom we look at Solomon; for strength Samson; and for faith we look to Abraham.
The thing is, there is one greater than these. God's faithfulness is greater than that of Abraham.
“God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, is faithful.” — 1 Corinthians 1:9
This simple verse is part of Paul's introduction to his first letter to the church at Corinth, but it is powerful, because it sums everything up. God made a promise thousands of years before Paul ever wrote to the church in Corinth. He had in mind from the beginning of what the plan of salvation would be, and he stuck with it.
I would like to say we are the same way, but we know it's not. What's the old saying, “even the best laid plans go awry.”
Not God's. He who knows the end from the beginning is faithful.
“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.” — Deuteronomy 7:9
For those who seek to follow God, he will remain faithful to them. God will not turn his back on those who keep his commands. What is that command? To believe that Jesus Christ allowed himself to be hanged on a cross; to believe that he rose again on the third day; to accept his as our personal savior; and to repent of our sins, nailing them to the cross of Christ.
That's our command, if we follow it, then God will be faithful to us.
“God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” — Numbers 23:19
As humans we live in linear fashion. Our life on earth has a beginning and it has an end. It follows a line in other words.
During that timeline we are always trying to gain an edge over those around us. Somehow we think that will bring us more, so we'll lie, cheat and steal - for nothing in the end because we will all meet the same fate.
God doesn't work that way. There is no beginning for him and there is no end. He exists outside of time and space, yet he took on human flesh in order to offer himself as a sacrifice for the sins of man for all time.
Way back in the garden God told Adam, Eve and Satan what was to come.
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” — Genesis 3:15
When Christ cried out “It is finished,” all the sins of the world from beginning to end had been paid. When he walked out of that tomb three days later, death was defeated and Satan's end was assured.
God made a promise. He made it to Adam and Eve. He made it to Abraham. He made it to Moses. He told the prophets a savior was coming. And wouldn't you know it, he showed up. Jesus Christ came and fulfilled the Law and the prophets.
There is no greater example of faith than that of our Lord Jesus Christ. Remember what I said, he allowed himself to be nailed to a cross. He allowed it.
With a word Christ could have slain the entire world, but instead he chose to give his life for it, because God the Father had made him a promise long ago, that he would raise him from death.
Charles Spurgeon summed up Christ's boundless love and faithfulness to those who would believe on his holy name.
“They may bind his hands, but his heart is not restrained from love; they may scourge him, but they cannot drive out of him his affection to his beloved; they may slanderously revile him, but they cannot compel him to say a word against his people; they may nail him to the accursed tree, and they may bid him come down from the cross, and they will believe on him, but they cannot tempt him to forsake his work of love; he must press forward for his people's sake until he can say, 'It is finished.' Oh! that tragedy upon Calvary was a going to the end indeed, when, having yielded up comfort, reputation, liberty, he gave up even his last rag of covering, and then resigned his breath. Standing, as it were, at the world's end, at the grave's mouth, and at hell's door, the cross of Jesus reveals love to the utmost end, and is a grand display of the immutability and invincibility of the affection of the heart of Jesus.”
Christ knew what had to be done, and he did it. If we were to take a trip somewhere, knowing that excruciating death would result from it, I seriously doubt any of us would go, but Christ did just that. He was faithful.
Now, even after having paid the full penalty for all people, he still is faithful. Follow Spurgeon's conclusion.
“We are not of those who have to deal with a vacillating Redeemer, who casts away his people for their sins, and rejects them for their backslidings, who loves his own today and hates them tomorrow — a Christ in whom I have no confidence, and in whose existence I do not believe; but we have to deal with one who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, one who never did flinch from his purpose, nor turn from his decree; and having to deal with such a one, let us not dishonor his name by wavering, and doubting and fearing. Cast yourselves to the Lord, ye mourners, and rejoice in him; lean yourselves upon him, ye burdened ones, and take up your psalm of praise this morning, and go on your way rejoicing.”
Christ is our rock and our foundation, build your house of faith on his faithfulness and he will deliver us to the end.
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