MIF 20:2 (Mar-Apr 1988)
The Faithfulness of God
“Great is Thy faithfulness”
(Lamentations 3:23)
It is fitting for the Christian to bless the Lord at all times for His great faithfulness. The expression, “God is faithful,” occurs only a few times in the Scriptures, but the concept of His faithfulness is declared by every Biblical writer from Deuteronomy to 1 John. God’s ability to faithfully fulfill in due time the thousands of promises in His Word is assured by His omnipotence.
He is faithful to His holy nature in providing atonement for sin where He could have inflicted punishment instead. It is by His faithfulness that we are saved and have fellowship with one another, and with Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:9). He that promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23), but sometimes the wait for fulfillment is long and agonizing, and He gives us the patience to await every fulfillment. Unlike the promises of men, God never changes His mind, never forgets, and never disappoints, in time or eternity.
Of all the promises in the Word of God, one of the most personal and direct is in Hebrews 13:5, “… for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” And because of His absolute and eternal faithfulness we may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:6).
The Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “All the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him, Amen,” meaning all of His promises are or will be fulfilled surely and completely.
God’s righteousness and faithfulness are combined to forgive our sins and purify us from their pollution. “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).