Be Imitators of His Faithfulness (2 Corinthians 1:15-20)

Be Imitators of His Faithfulness

But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no.

2 Corinthians 1:18

Paul took seriously his responsibility to imitate Christ. He had been personally commissioned by Jesus to be His ambassador and His witness. Paul knew that he was to be an example to believers, newer and older alike, of the character of Jesus. For those Paul was teaching and training, he would be the living example to them of the ways of Christ. He wanted his life to mirror that of Christ to such a degree that he could tell those under his care, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ”(1 Corinthians 11:1). And In 2 Corinthians 1:17-20 to demonstrate his trustworthiness to the Corinthians he says, “But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no” (1:18). Changes in Paul’s plans had been used by the Corinthians to question Paul’s truthfulness and unwavering word. But Paul labors to show them that God is faithful, and just as He is faithful, so also Paul and his companions were faithful in their ministry and word to the Corinthians. 

“You may be asking why I changed my plan. Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”?As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver between “Yes” and “No.”For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says.For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory” (2 Corinthians 1:17-20 NLT).

In this passage, Paul speaks of the faithfulness of God with four statements: 1) He explicitly says, “God is faithful”(1:18); 2) Jesus does not waver (1:19); 3) He always does what He says (1:19); and 4) all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ (1:20). In His very character, God is faithful, steadfast and true. He is unchanging, there is no wavering or vacillating in Him. His faithfulness is so vast that the psalmist describes it as reaching to the skies (Psalm  36:5). This faithfulness is a shield and bulwark for the believer (Psalm 91:4). This faithfulness is evident in His words and deeds. His word is reliable, and He always does what He says. Always. Never has there been one exception where God has not done what He said He will do. Each morning we rise and each night we go to bed, He is fulfilling His Word. When we begin a new year or come to the end of one, He is faithfully fulfilling His Word to us. In both good and adversity, He is fulfilling His promises to work all things for our good, to conform us to the image of His Son, to bring beauty from ashes, and give us gladness instead of mourning. He performs the impossible and unexpected. He works and orchestrates all the details of our lives and of this world from generation to generation so as to bring about His Word and to remain faithful and true to His promises. “All His work is done in faithfulness” (Psalm 33:4). Every promise He has spoken to us in His Word is a firm and sure promise that He will bring it about. He always does what He says. 

Paul, knowing the extent of God’s faithfulness, had labored to live before the Corinthians as an imitator of Christ (2 Corinthians 1:12; 2:17) We are called to faithfulness as well. “Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness” (Psalms 37:3). Cultivate means to foster the growth of; to improve by labor, care, or study. We are to foster the growth of faithfulness in our lives. Faithfulness in our word. Faithfulness in our work. Faithfulness in our relationships, our ministries, our finances. Faithfulness in our walk with the Lord. “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much” (Luke 16:10). Are we faithful to do as we say, to live with integrity, to speak with gentleness, to be steadfast in our imitation of Christ? The Spirit will produce His fruit in us, including faithfulness (Galatians 5:22).

This talk of God’s faithfulness and Christ’s unwavering word and the fulfillment of God’s promises, Paul used to demonstrate his own faithful word to the Corinthians. So also, our lives and our words should reflect the holy character of God. What a wonderful testimony to be able to live a life that shows forth the faithful, holy, pure, just, loving character of God. Our lives should more and more mirror the Savior we claim to follow. We are called to imitate Him. Let us be His witnesses, living a life that reflects the loveliness of who He is, so we may be His fragrance, manifesting the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. What a joy will be ours when we hear our Savior say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).