04/22/Th – Yes and Amen

NT: “As God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes and no.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you — Silvanus, Timothy, and I — did not become “Yes and no.” On the contrary, in him it is always “Yes.” For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God. Now it is God who strengthens us together with you in Christ, and who has anointed us. He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.” (‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:18-22‬ ‭CSB)

During His sermon on the mount, Jesus taught to say what you mean and mean what you say – simply let your yes be yes and your no be no (Matthew 5:37). Paul had desired to visit the Corinthian church, but had to change his plans. Because of his change of plans, some in the Corinthian church accused Paul of being double-minded – of saying one thing, but intending another – of not truly seeking the leading of the Lord, but seeking his own convenience and comfort. If Paul was not completely straightforward in communicating his plans, how could they fully trust the things that he had taught them about the Lord?

In His defense, Paul explained that he made his plans with all sincerity and had a clear conscience. The fact that he had to change his plans was not a reflection on his trustworthiness. When Paul, Timothy and Silvanus (Silas) were in Corinth, they didn’t say one thing and do another… they weren’t misleading in their teachings about Christ… they didn’t proclaim things about the Lord that were not true. More important than Paul’s trustworthiness was Christ’s trustworthiness. Christ claimed to be the fulfillment of all the law and prophets. All the promises of God throughout all of scripture were fulfilled through Him. That was the Christ that Paul proclaimed, and Paul’s proclamation was not false nor misleading.

Through faith in Christ, every one of God’s promises is “Yes” to us. The promise of redemption: “Yes.” The promise of salvation: “Yes.” The promise of righteousness: “Yes.” The promise of a new heart after God: “Yes.” The promise of blessing: “Yes.” The promise of grace: “Yes.” The promise of eternal life: “Yes.” I could keep going, but I think you get the picture. Because those promises are fulfilled through Christ and not our efforts, we can say “Amen” (I believe, let it happen according to Your word) to everything God says “Yes” to. And if that wasn’t enough, God has placed His seal – His signet stamp – on us and given us a down payment of His fulfilled promises through the gift of the Holy Spirit. We don’t have to wonder if God is going to be true to His word – we can know. As we are in Christ by faith, God will be faithful to all His word to us – 100% guaranteed.

Psalms: “But you, Lord, be gracious to me and raise me up; then I will repay them. By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy does not shout in triumph over me. You supported me because of my integrity and set me in your presence forever. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and amen.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭41:10-13‬ ‭CSB)

David had apparently committed a sin that had brought about the Lord’s discipline in His life. Through that discipline, David had confessed His sin, repented and restored His relationship with God. However, there were people who spoke maliciously and deceitfully about him – telling people to not follow David for he had fallen out of God’s favor – that God was going to ruin him. Even one of his closest friends was speaking against him. It can be easy in a situation like that to begin doubting your faith in the Lord. The Devil, the enemy of our soul, does that all the time: when we are going through a challenging time, he will accuse God to us. He will tell us that God has abandoned us – that we can’t trust in God to deliver us – that we are beyond help. David did not allow the words of his enemies to move him away from faith into doubt and neither should we. David knew that the Lord would be gracious to him and raise him up. David knew – because he maintained his integrity before God – that God would not abandon him. He knew that his enemies would not get the upper hand – so instead of doubting the Lord, David praised the Lord and declared, “Amen and amen!” In Christ, all of the promises of God are “Yes” and we can, along with David, say, “Amen and amen.”

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that I never have to worry about the integrity of Your word and the surety of Your promises. I thank you that as I am in Christ by faith, all of your promises to me are “Yes.” And because of that, I can say, “Amen!” Help me, by Your grace, to have that same level of integrity: that I say what I mean and I mean what I say – that my yes is yes and my no is no, even to my own hurt. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.