2 Corinthians 1:15-24: a reflection

15In this confidence, I was determined to come first to you, that you might have a second benefit, 16and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and to be sent forward by you on my journey to Judea. 17When I therefore planned this, did I show fickleness? Or the things that I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be the “Yes, yes” and the “No, no?” 18But as God is faithful, our word toward you was not “Yes and no.” 19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not “Yes and no,” but in him is “Yes.” 20For however many are the promises of God, in him is the “Yes.” Therefore also through him is the “Amen”, to the glory of God through us. 21Now he who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, 22who also sealed us and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts. 23But I call God for a witness to my soul, that to spare you, I didn’t come to Corinth. 24We don’t control your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your joy. For you stand firm in faith.

Defending himself against a charge of fickleness, Paul lifts our eyes to a greater faithfulness: that all of God's promises find their Yes in Christ. As God is faithful, Paul says, our word to you was not Yes and no. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, was not Yes and no, but in him is Yes. For however many are the promises of God, in him is the Yes. God is not fickle, saying Yes one moment and no the next; his promises are all confirmed and fulfilled in Christ, in whom every promise of God finds its Yes. Whatever God has promised, he affirms and keeps in Christ; his promises are sure, not wavering. This shows God's faithfulness: all his promises are Yes in Christ. God's promises are all Yes in Christ, not wavering. In Christ, every promise of God is affirmed and kept. God is faithful; his promises find their Yes in Christ. God's promises are sure and confirmed in Christ.

Notice the great truth Paul reaches for: that in Christ, all God's promises are Yes. God is not like an unreliable person who says one thing and does another, promising and then failing, saying Yes and no. God is faithful; and all his promises find their Yes, their confirmation and fulfillment, in Christ. Whatever God has promised, he keeps; and he keeps it in Christ, in whom every promise is affirmed and made sure. This is a great comfort and ground of confidence. We can be tempted to doubt God's promises, to wonder whether he will really keep his word, whether the good things he has promised will really be ours. But Paul assures us that God is faithful, that his promises are not Yes and no, wavering and uncertain, but all Yes in Christ, sure and confirmed. We can rest our confidence on God's promises, knowing that in Christ they are all Yes, that God will keep every word he has spoken. God's promises are sure in Christ; we can rest our confidence on them. Every promise of God is Yes in Christ, not wavering. We can trust God to keep every word, for his promises are Yes in Christ. God is faithful; his promises will not fail.

That is worth resting in, for all God's promises are Yes in Christ, sure and confirmed, and we can rest our confidence on them. We can doubt God's promises, wondering whether he will really keep his word; but Paul assures us that God is faithful, that his promises are not Yes and no but all Yes in Christ, affirmed and kept in him. God will keep every word. When you are tempted to doubt God's promises, remember that in Christ they are all Yes. Rest in the truth that all God's promises are Yes in Christ, sure and confirmed, so that we can rest our confidence on them and trust God to keep every word he has spoken; for we can be tempted to doubt God's promises, to wonder whether he will really keep his word and whether the good things he has promised will really be ours, treating God as though he were fickle, saying Yes one moment and no the next, but Paul assures us that God is faithful and that all his promises find their Yes, their confirmation and fulfillment, in Christ, in whom every promise is affirmed and made sure, so that God's promises are not wavering and uncertain but sure, and we can ground our confidence on them, knowing that in Christ they are all Yes and that God will keep every word he has spoken.

Lord, defending himself against a charge of fickleness, Paul lifts our eyes to a greater faithfulness: that all of your promises find their Yes in Christ. As God is faithful, Paul says, our word to you was not Yes and no. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, was not Yes and no, but in him is Yes. For however many are the promises of God, in him is the Yes. You are not fickle, saying Yes one moment and no the next; your promises are all confirmed and fulfilled in Christ, in whom every promise of yours finds its Yes. Whatever you have promised, you affirm and keep in Christ; your promises are sure, not wavering. Show me the great truth Paul reaches for: that in Christ, all your promises are Yes. You are not like an unreliable person who says one thing and does another, promising and then failing. You are faithful; and all your promises find their Yes, their confirmation and fulfillment, in Christ. Whatever you have promised, you keep; and you keep it in Christ, in whom every promise is affirmed and made sure. This is a great comfort and ground of confidence. I can be tempted to doubt your promises, to wonder whether you will really keep your word, whether the good things you have promised will really be mine. But Paul assures me that you are faithful, that your promises are not Yes and no, wavering and uncertain, but all Yes in Christ, sure and confirmed. Let me rest in that, for all your promises are Yes in Christ, and I can rest my confidence on them. When I am tempted to doubt your promises, help me remember that in Christ they are all Yes, Lord, sure and confirmed, and trust you to keep every word you have spoken, for you are faithful and your promises will not fail.