Sermon Tone Analysis

*God is Faithful*

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

 

“Who Wrote Whom?”

 

\\ Just a line to say I’m living,

that I’m not among the dead.

Though I’m getting more forgetful

and mixed up in the head.

I got used to my arthritis,

to my dentures I’m resigned.

I can manage my bifocals,

but I sure do miss my mind.

For sometimes I can’t remember

when I stand at the foot of the     stairs,

If I must go up for something,

or have I just come down from    there.

And before the fridge so often,

my poor mind is filled with doubt,

Have I just put food away,

or have I come to take some out?

And there’s time when it is dark

with my nightcap on my head,

I don’t know if I’m retiring,

or just getting out of bed.

So, if it’s my turn to write you,

there’s no need for getting sore,

I may think that I have written,

and don’t want to be a bore.

So, remember that I love you,

and wish that you were near.

But now it’s nearly mail time

so I must say good‑bye, dear.

There I stand before the mailbox,

with a face so very red.

Instead of mailing you my letter,

I had opened it instead.

¾ Anonymous

\\  

 

 “God is faithful!”—three

words that spell comfort, confidence and courage in a world of fatefulness, faithlessness and fearfulness.

They were addressed to a church that was passing through a period of extreme crisis.

In chapter after chapter Paul had to deal with matters of faith and order that were seriously wrong, but in spite of this he could declare, “God is faithful.”

What a motto to take into the days, weeks and months of an unknown future.

!

I.

This Is a Faithfulness That Is Related to God’s Character

·         “God is faithful . .

.” (1:9).

Character is the description of the traits or qualities of a person of type.

The word “character” means “an engraving instrument.”

As applied to God, “faithfulness” is that which supremely marks Him or “engraves” Him in the history of human experience.

It is an attribute and an activity of God which we can both trace and trust.

A.  Faithfulness Is an Attribute of God’s Character

God is absolutely reliable, firmly constant and not given to arbitrariness or fickleness.

Scripture is replete with figures of speech that represent this divine stability and steadfastness.

In the Old Testament we read of the extensiveness of God’s faithfulness: “. . .

thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds” (Ps.

36:5); therefore, man cannot outstretch it!

We further read of the everlastingness of God’s faithfulness: “Thy faithfulness is unto all generations” (Ps.

119:90); therefore, man can never outlive it!

We also read of the /exceedingness/ of God’s faithfulness: “[The Lord’s mercies] are new every morning” (Lam.

3:23); therefore, man can never outmatch it!

To understand this attribute is to discover the key to every other attribute of God.

Whatever the Spirit reveals in the Word concerning our God we can add—He is faithful!

B.  Faithfulness Is an Activity of God’s Character

One of the distinctive doctrines of Holy Scripture is that of God’s “covenant-loyalty.”

The frequent combination of words that are used in the Old Testament to describe God’s faithfulness denote a determined, almost stubborn, steadfastness toward His people and His covenant (Gen.

24:27, 49; Exod.

34:6; Ps. 40:11; 136, etc.).

When we consider God’s faithfulness to Israel throughout her generations in times of storm and calm, we must say, “God is faithful . . .

which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him” (see 1:9; Deut.

7:9).

This is why we cannot do anything else but trust Him.

A boy was crossing the ocean with his father.

During the voyage the ship ran into a storm and was tossed about in such a fashion that everyone was stricken with fear.

But it was quite different with this little fellow.

He sat still with eyes directed toward a certain spot.

At last someone went up to him and asked him how it was that he was so unperturbed.

“I have my eyes on that window,” said the lad, “and I can see my father on the bridge.”

Then he added, “My father is the captain of this ship and he has steered her through many storms.”

In like manner, we have a faithful Captain who is Master of all the winds and waves of life.

When we think of God’s character we are reminded that faithfulness is both an attribute and an activity of His nature and power.

!

II.

This Is a Faithfulness That Is Related to God’s Call

·         “God is faithful, by whom ye were called . .

.” (1:9).

Because of the attribute and activity of God’s faithfulness, men and women are called to a quality of life which is otherwise totally impossible and even unthinkable.

As we examine the Word of God we discover that it is:

\\ A.  A Life of Redemptive Provision in Christ

·          “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).

Because we are sinners by birth, by choice and by practice, it is quite impossible to live in fellowship with God and our fellow man.

And yet we are told: “. . .

if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

This divine provision is not to encourage us to sin— God forbid—but rather to enable us not to sin; for the Son of God who shed His precious blood at Calvary for our reconciliation now reigns in victory to save us by His indwelling life.

But if and when we do stumble and fall, He, in response to our genuine confession and repentance, “. . . is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

B.  A Life of Corrective Protection in Christ

·         “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor.

10:13).

The context here finds Paul recounting the temptations that faced the children of Israel in the past, and therefore the children of God in every age.

He gives a word of caution: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor.

10:12).

Christians can be so cocksure of their acceptance in Christ that they neglect their dependence on Christ; so Paul insists on the need for vigilance.

But Paul also gives the way of conquest: “. . .

God is faithful, who will . . .

with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor.

10:13).

He speaks of God’s permissive faithfulness.

God is always aware of the circumstances associated with every temptation and will never allow any testing outside of His permissive will.

He knows just how much we can bear and will never permit temptation beyond that point.