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What does it mean that God is faithful?


God’s faithfulness refers to his self-loyalty and his loyalty to his entire creation. He will not (indeed, he cannot) change his character nor fail to perform all he has promised.

Thus, he will always do what he has promised to do! This of course is not the case with human beings. There are (at least) three reasons why we do not do what we have promised to do:

A. We might decide we simply don’t want to do it.
B. We might be unable to do it.
C. We might forget about doing it.

But none of these human frailties and failures apply to God.

A. He never changes his mind! (Rom 11:29).
B. He is able to keep all his promises! (Eph 3:20; Phil 1:6).
C. He always remembers! (Pss 9:12; 105:8; Isa 49:15).

What Christian has not heard:

God said it!
I believe it!
That settles it!

In light of God’s faithfulness, however, the second part of the saying is totally unnecessary and out of place. In reality, it should read: God said it, and that settles it (whether I believe or not)! One of the darkest moments in Israel’s history occurred in August of 586 BC. A brokenhearted Jeremiah viewed the city of Jerusalem being systematically and ruthlessly destroyed by the invading Babylonian warriors. Jeremiah recounted his travail and testimony:

A. His travail (Lam 3:1–3, 7–8, 18).
B. His testimony (Lam 3:21–25, 31–32).

God’s faithfulness is clearly demonstrated in the Bible.

A. In nature (Gen 8:22; Ps 119:90; Col 1:17).
B. In keeping his promises to his friends:

1. Adam —He promised Adam that someday a Savior would come from the seed of a woman. (Cp. Gen 3:15 with Gal 4:4.)


2. Abraham—He promised Abraham he would father a son in his old age. (Cp. Gen 15:4; 18:14 with Gen 21:1–2.)


3. Moses— He promised Moses that Israel would not leave Egypt empty-handed. (Cp. Exod 3:2 with Exod 12:35–36.)


4. Joshua—He promised Joshua glorious victory. (Cp. Josh 1:1–5 with Josh 23:14.)


5. David—He promised David a king would come from his line who would rule eternally. (Cp. 2 Sam 7:12–13 with Luke 1:31–33.)


C. In keeping his warnings against his enemies:

1. Ahab— He warned wicked King Ahab that because he had murdered godly Naboth, the very location “where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood.” (Cp. 1 Kgs 21:17–19 with 1 Kgs 22:34–38.)


2. Jezebel—He warned wicked Jezebel that the wild dogs of Jezreel would someday eat her dead body beside the city wall. (Cp. 1 Kgs 21:23 with 2 Kgs 9:30–37.)


D. In times of temptation (1 Cor 10:13).
E. In chastening his children (Ps 119:75; Heb 12:6).
F. In forgiving our sins (1 Jn 1:9).
G. In answering our prayers (Ps 143:1).
H. In keeping the saved saved (1 Cor 1:8–9; 1 Thes 5:23–24; 2 Thes 3:3).
I. In defending his people (1 Sam 12:22; 2 Tim 2:13).

God defended the city of Jerusalem against its enemies on at least three occasions:

1. In the days of King Asa (2 Chr 14:9–15).


2. In the days of King Jehoshaphat (2 Chr 20:1–25).


3. In the days of King Hezekiah (2 Kgs 19:32–35).


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