God makes His people faithful, so they can live faithfully

- The LORD is good!

- Let Us Reason Together for Resolution

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The doctrine that God will always do what he has said and fulfill what he has promised.

Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p. 1241). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.

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This means that God is reliable and faithful in his words. With respect to his promises, God always does what he promises to do, and we can depend on him never to be unfaithful to his promises. Thus, he is “a God of faithfulness” (). In fact, this specific aspect of God’s truthfulness is sometimes viewed as a distinct attribute: God’s faithfulness means that God will always do what he has said and fulfill what he has promised (; cf. ; ; et al.). He can be relied upon, and he will never prove unfaithful to those who trust what he has said. Indeed, the essence of true faith is taking God at his word and relying on him to do as he has promised.

Deuteronomy 32:4 KJV 1900

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: For all his ways are judgment: A God of truth and without iniquity, Just and right is he.

Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p. 195). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.

What is he saying?

(v. 21 a - 23) - THE UNFAITHFUL CITY Opening summary statement - the faithful city has become unfaithful, selling herself...how?

How they sold themselves #1 - They went from being full of justice to harboring people of violence (v. 21)

(22 a - b) Valuable metal has become refuse

(22 c - d) Valuable drink has been watered down

How they sold themselves #2 (v. 23) - The leaders yoked up with thieves

(23 c - d) Yoked up through bribery - a love for money

(23 e - h) They did not defend the needy

(v. 24 - 26) THE FAITHFUL GOD - THEREFORE, the Lord, the Lord Almighty [Yahweh], the mighty One of Israel - i.e. the One in total control, in total dominance...

He will comfort himself through righteous vengeance (v. 24 d - e)...how?

He will bring his hand against Israel (v. 25a)

TAKE AWAY: He will purge [refine] them of their rubbish (v. 25b)

TAKE AWAY: He will take away their impurities (v. 25 c)

He will restore:

(v. 26 a) Judges - Governmental figures

(v. 26 b) Counselors

(v. 26 c - 31) THE FAITHFUL GOD RESTORES THE UNFAITHFUL CITY - AFTERWARD, this is the Result and Summary of what took place

(26 c - d) It will be a city righteousness (not murderers) and not selling themselves to do wickedness - they will be faithful.

What was the process that took them from harlotry to faithfulness (Redemption through judgment and imputation of righteousness) [converts - penitent] (v. 27)

The impenitent will suffer eternally (v. 28 - 31)

Why is he saying this?

Israel was to be a nation that mediated the LORD to the nations. They had become unfaithful in this and the faithful LORD is going to bring just punishment upon them. NOTE: through this just judgment, God will redeem and restore the penitent ones to FAITHFULNESS!

What is the principle?

THE EXTENT OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS: God is so faithful that He works to restore unfaithful people to faithfulness. He does this at his own expense (it was the LORD who had invested in Israel to make them what they needed to be; so who loses investment when nations come in?), and He does this through redemption.

What is the redemptive application?

THE PROVISION OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS TO MEN - The LORD would use this exile to bring about the fullness of time. It was in the fullness of time that God would bring forth a Son. He was made under the law. What Israel failed in, when becoming unfaithful to the LORD by disobedience to the Law, Jesus, having been made “under the law” perfectly fulfilled the law.

Why? To redeem them that were under the law. That we might receive the adoption of Sons.

What’s the big deal? Because we are sons, we have receive the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry “Abba, Father.”

God has worked to make us faithful to him through redemption in Christ (the Faithful One)! Listen: ; ;

Colossians 1:2 KJV 1900

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:1 KJV 1900

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV 1900

God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

How does this personally apply to us?

As a person who has received such great redemption and imputation, how dare I return to a love relationship with anything or anyone else, meaning how dare I place any kind of hope or faith in anything or anyone else. See

Why should this matter to a member at GBC?

What are things today that faithful children become unfaithful in?

Unfaithful behaviors are only evidences of unfaithfulness in heart, but not all unfaithful behaviors prove unfaithfulness in heart.

What are some of these areas of caution?

Israel was indicted for bribery - It is safe to say that when we place greater faith in money over the LORD, this is unfaithfulness. -

Today, this looks like the Christian who treats their source of income with ultimate importance because of the money.

Today, this looks like the Christian who treats their healthcare as of ultimate importance.

Today, this looks like the Christian who is willing to sacrifice for their pleasure, but they are unwilling to deny themselves for their Savior.

We save and sacrifice for vacation and think that our tithes somehow balances the equation with God.

What are ways that we should respond?

Revisiting and believing again that we were purged from our old sins -

Admitting and repenting of the weak and beggarly elements that we’ve returned to. Having been made faithful, these are areas we live unfaithfully.

A genuine trust in the Spirit & His Word to continue to the work of Christ being formed in us. This is the formation of the ultimate faithful One.