1 Corinthians 1:9
In a world that is unstable, careless, dishonest, faithless, undependable, negligent, wavering, inconsistent, and ever-changing: culture, trends, weather, politics, and nations, it is refreshing to hear that GOD IS FAITHFUL.
Paul has not yet begun addressing the sin in the church of Corinth: the Las Vegas of Paul's day. A city overrun with immorality and sin, a town as unstable as the shifting sands of the coast. However, before he addresses the sin of this church, Paul wants to remind these believers who have experienced the grace of God and are called to His fellowship that GOD IS FAITHFUL.
Have you considered the depth of a statement like that? God is faithful. Always? Yes, always! When I am away from Him? Yes. When I am serving Him? Yes. When I am at my worst? Yes. When I am at my best? Yes. Yes. Yes! GOD IS FAITHFUL!
How comforting is that? Paul knew it would be, but in this passage of Scripture, he also uses it to prepare these believers for the admonishing that will soon follow. However, for now, GOD IS FAITHFUL! What does that mean exactly?
The Person - "God"
Paul begins by identifying the person he is referring to: God! God's faithfulness and immutability are central themes throughout the Bible. Hebrews 10:23 reminds us that God is worthy of our faith because He keeps His promises. In 2 Peter 3:9, we are reminded that God is patient and does not want anyone to perish but for everyone to come to repentance. And in 2 Timothy 2:13, we are assured that even if we are faithless, He remains faithful because He cannot deny Himself.
God's immutability is also emphasized in Scripture. In Genesis 15:4-17, God makes an unbreakable covenant with Abraham, demonstrating His unchanging nature and faithfulness. Hebrews 6:11-18 reaffirm this truth, stating that God's promises are like an anchor for our souls, firm and secure.
Despite God's unchanging attitude towards sin, His mercy endures forever. Malachi 3:6 tells us that God and His promises do not change. Psalm 136 has 26 verses. The Psalmist concludes each verse with "His mercy endureth for ever". God is merciful.
A final thought concerning the self-existence of God: If His self-existence were to change, it would become dependent existence. If His eternality were to change, it would become time; if His perfection changed, it would become imperfection. Therefore, God would no longer be God. This highlights the importance of God's immutability and self-existence in understanding who He is and why He is worthy of our faith and trust.
The Promise - "is"
The second part of Paul's encouraging declaration is the promise. Paul uses the auxiliary verb "is." Auxiliary verbs support sentences' main verbs—we will cover the main verb in the last section.
In this case, Paul assures the reader that God "is" always truthful and trustworthy. As it is written in the Bible, "God is not a man, that He should lie" (Numbers 23:19) and "in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began" (Titus 1:2). This means that we can always rely on God to keep His promises and to tell us the truth.
The following is a list of promises made in Scripture, both unconditional and conditional:
Unconditional Promises -
With God, All Things are Possible (Matt 19:26)
God is Not a Respecter of Persons (Acts 10:34)
Jesus's Gospel (John 3:16; 1 Cor 15:1-7)
Kingdom Reign of Jesus Christ (Rev 19:11-20:6)
Final Judgment (Dan 12:2; 2 Cor 5:10; Rev 20:11-15)
Conditional Promises
Salvation by Faith (Romans 10; Eph 2:8-9)
God's Rest (Matt 11:28)
Abiding In Christ (John 15)
Peace From God (Isa 26:3; Phil 4:6-7)
Strength From Christ (Phil 4:13)
God's Presence and Provision (Jam 4:8)
The Performance - "Faithful"
Lastly, we read the word "faithful." Trust, loyalty, and reliability are the building blocks of all strong relationships. These qualities are all encompassed in a single word: FAITHFUL.
In linguistics, the suffix "-ful" forms adjectives that mean "full of, having, and being characterized by" the noun it is attached to. For example, "faithful" means "full of faith" or "characterized by faith." This suffix often describes people with certain qualities, such as "trustful" or "hopeful." God is faithful because God's nature is to be faithful.
In the context of faith, certainty in God's faithfulness is often expressed in the Bible through verses such as Psalm 119:89-90 and Lamentations 3:22-23, emphasizing the unchanging and faithful nature of God's love and mercy towards his people.
Conclusion
As you strive to nurture and grow your relationship with God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ, it's important to remember that God is faithful because of His person, promises, and performance. God's unwavering commitment to faithfulness is a source of great joy and encouragement for those who believe.
Every day, we can find comfort in the fact that we serve a God who will never fail us and who will always be there for us. Let us hold on to this truth and allow it to fill our hearts with hope and peace.
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