Articles
God Is Faithful
God Is Faithful
The New Testament mentions that “God is faithful” or a slight derivation of that phrase many times, and it can be incredibly confusing to discern exactly what “faith” is in that context. While it is difficult to define exactly what faith entails, and even what it means that God is faithful, there is a basic understanding that it involves a level of trust. Here are four verses throughout the New Testament that state God’s faithfulness to His promises and outline the benefits of a Christian life.
Salvation in Christ
“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:9
One of the most common reasons we confess our faith is because we want to one day be with Christ in Heaven. This is not something to be ashamed of! We desire to be called good and faithful servants, and this passage reminds us that we are meant to be with Him. God trusts that we will answer the call to repent and be baptized, just as we trust that He will deliver us. God’s trust in our faithful lives is also shown here in reminding us that the Father sent His son Jesus to die for us, with the expectation that we will believe in Him and reap the rewards of everlasting life.
Protection from Satan
“But the Lord is faithful, who will establish and guard you from the evil one.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:3
Not only is our salvation by faith in Jesus Christ guaranteed because God is faithful, but so is our soul’s security and the permanence of His salvation. So long as we have faith that God will protect us from the evils of sin, God provides that safety. To be established by God is to have our whole identity in Him. Another way of saying this is that our faith in God has given us an unshakeable foundation in Him, and that no matter what the world has to tempt us, we will only strengthen our faith in God.
Aid against Temptation
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13
This passage goes hand in hand with 2 Thessalonians 3:3. When we are tempted to sin, God trusts that we will know the only way to escape is through Him and His Word. It is so easy to turn away and lose faith in God when we are tempted, and then we can be blinded to the obvious escape God provides! But God expects us to follow Him, just as we expect and know that He will never allow us to be put in a sinful situation beyond our ability to endure in Christ.
God’s faithfulness to his people is an unbreakable defense and an assured rescue.
Forgiveness of our Sins
“if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9
Here we realize the extent of God’s faithfulness towards us, and furthermore, why we ought to place our faith in Him. The door is always open to accept Christ, and God’s faithfulness to His promises ensures that He will wipe away our iniquities and lead us down the path of righteousness. However, this is not to say we can now do whatever we wish. Confessing of our sins requires us to change our behaviors and mindsets to match what God has commanded. As you go throughout this week, remember that by keeping your faith in God and remembering God is faithful, you are a) answering the call freely made to you, b) provided safety and steadfast protection from the dangers of Satan, c) guaranteed that you have the strength through God to not just survive in this world, but to build an even closer relationship with Him by turning to the Lord in our darkest times, and d) that our sins are forgiven and we are cleansed of all unrighteousness through the redeeming blood of Christ.
-Robert Grode
