The Faithfulness of God

[Arial]

One thing we must do if we want to keep our doctrine of God consistent with his own self proclamation as given to us in his Word, is to not begin to define what is meant by attributes or characteristics of God, by defining them for him from a human perspective. So to approach the topic of his faithfulness, we must not compare it to what it means for a human to be faithful. Faithfulness is not an attribute or characteristic of humans. And it is not a part of God or that has the possibility of not being faithful. Faithful is who he is. Faithfulness in humans is a command of God to and as, his image bearers.

It could be said, and truthfully, though not exclusively, that being unfaithful to the position and work that God gave Adam and Eve and through them all mankind, as stewards of and dominion over the creation in obedience to the commands implicit in man's being created in his image and likeness, was the first treason. Conversely it is faith that produces faithfulness (though not perfectly in the now but awaits a future fulfillment) by a union with the faithful and true Son, his righteousness imputed to them, their sins meeting God's justice on him at the cross.

What does it mean that God is faithful and what does Scripture reveal to us concerning this? Of course it means he will always do what he says he will do, and even more, that he is able to do it. It is a covenant relationship with mankind in which his very being as God, who is faithful and therefore cannot be unfaithful, is our surety and our trust, even in times of trouble and distress. We may not see it, we may even doubt it, but he never stops being faithful, no matter what anyone feels or thinks or does.

2 Tim 2:13 If we are faithless, he remains faithful---for he cannot deny himself.

Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

2 Thess 3:3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.

1 Cor 1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Deut 7:9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep is commandments, to a thousand generations

Numbers 23:19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

Lam 3:22-23 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

Ps 91:4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

1 Thess 5:23-24 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful. he will surely do it.

Isiah 25:1 O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

God is faithful because faithful is who he is.

 

[Fred]

Used in equality with the Lord Jesus (2 Thessalonians 3:3).

 

[Arial]

Used in equality with the Lord Jesus (2 Thessalonians 3:3).

It was supposed to be 2 Thess. I fixed it. Thanks.

 

[makesends]

One thing we must do if we want to keep our doctrine of God consistent with his own self proclamation as given to us in his Word, is to not begin to define what is meant by attributes or characteristics of God, by defining them for him from a human perspective. So to approach the topic of his faithfulness, we must not compare it to what it means for a human to be faithful. Faithfulness is not an attribute or characteristic of humans. And it is not a part of God or that has the possibility of not being faithful. Faithful is who he is. Faithfulness in humans is a command of God to and as, his image bearers.

Yet, (and not to depart from the purpose of the OP), no matter how we try, we can't talk without human words and human concepts. But you are dead right that we must not compare his attributes to our experience of them or what WE mean by them. (Existence itself should tell us this. His existence is not the same sort of thing as ours. Ours depends completely on his, and not the other way around. Ours does not define his.)

In the end, even for this, we are left depending on his mercy over our weak words and weak minds and weak hearts. Pray we do not trust ourselves here.

His faithfulness, to my reasoning, is so clinical and obvious that I fear my understanding cannot be right, nevermind insufficient. He is GOD, for crying out loud, and has set about to accomplish a certain thing, in which he cannot fail. And that necessarily includes everything it takes to get there, including the wills of these self-important fools that he loves.

Beats me. I just know he is going to do it, and it doesn't matter what I thought he was going to do.

I suppose it could be said that his Faithfulness is the groaning, pedantic, earthy, plodding outworking of his decree, in which outworking is shown his purity and power.