Tag: Faithful is He

Faithful is He – Part 3

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

1Thessalonians 5:24-28 Faithful is he that called you…

Just as God is faithful, we are called to faithfulness and are equipped by the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23): But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

‘Faith’ [Greek: pistis] is confidence, faithfulness, trust, and a pledge of good faith. Used 244 times. Translated belief (2Thess. 2:13); fidelity (Tit. 2:10); assurance (Acts 17:31); and faith 239 times (Heb. 11:1-39; 12:2; etc.). Here it means fidelity or faithfulness in contrast to the Lord who is faithful (2Thess. 3:2-3).

The word “believe” denotes the act and process of faith. It comes from the Greek verb pisteuo which occurs 248 times in the New Testament. This use of the present tense indicates that faith must be continued in to receive its benefits (Acts 14:22; Eph. 6:16; Col. 1:23; 2:5-7; 1Thess. 5:8; 1Tim. 2:15; 3:9; 6:12; 2Tim. 3:8; 4:7; Tit. 1:13; Heb. 10:23-38; 2Pet. 1:5-10). It can be lost (Luke 8:13; 1Tim. 1:19; 4:1; 5:8, 12; 6:10, 21; 2Tim. 2:18; 3:8; Jude 1:3; Rev. 2:13). Faith means: To be persuaded of (Rom. 4:17-22; 8:38-39; 2Tim. 1:12). Place confidence in (Eph. 3:12; Php. 1:6; Heb. 3:6, 12-14; 10:35; 1Jn. 3:21; 5:14). The substance or conviction of things hoped for, the assurance of things not seen (Heb. 10:19-38; 11:1, 6; Rom. 4:17; 8:24). Absolute dependence upon and reliance in the Word of God and of Christ (Matt. 8:8-10; 15:28; Rom. 10:17; Heb. 11:1 – 12:3). Full surrender, yieldedness, and obedience to all known truth (Rom. 1:5; 6:11-23; 16:26; Jas. 2:14-26; 2Cor. 10:4-7; Heb. 11:6). Trust wholly and unreservedly in the faithfulness of God (Matt. 6:25-34; 12:21; Luke 12:28-31; Eph. 1:13; 1Tim. 4:11; 6:17; 1Cor. 10:13). Give one’s self over to a new way of life (Rom. 1:17; 6:11-23; 8:1-16; 2Cor. 10:4-7; Gal. 5:16-26; Col. 3:5-10; Heb. 12:1-15; Tit. 2:11-14; 1Jn. 1:7; 2:6; 3:8-10; 4:17; 5:1-5, 18). The attribute of God and restored faculty of man whereby both can bring into unseen existence things (Rom. 4:17; Gal. 5:22; Matt. 17:20; 21:22; Mark 9:23; 11:22-24; Luke 17:6; Heb. 11:1-40). The whole body of revealed truth (Luke 18:8; Jude 1:3; Rom. 10:17; 1Tim. 4:1, 6; 6:10; 2Tim. 3:16-17). Joyful faith in, and acceptance of Christ as the substitute for sin and our Saviour whereby one receives salvation (Mark 16:16; Acts 4:12; 10:43; Rom. 1:16; 3:24-31; Eph. 2:8-9); access into grace (Rom. 5:2); fulfilment of the promises (Heb. 6:12); the Holy Spirit (Gal. 3:14); righteousness (Rom. 4:1-25; 9:30, 32; 10:6; Php. 3:9); sonship (Gal. 3:26); healing (Jas. 5:14-16; 1Pet. 2:24); eternal life (John 3:15-18, 36; 5:24; 6:47); and answers to every prayer (Matt. 7:7-11; 21:21; Mark 11:22-24; Luke 18:1-8; John 14:12-15; 15:7, 16).

Faithful is He – Part 2

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

1Thessalonians 5:24-28 Faithful is he that called you…

We note ten attributes of God from Psalm 36:4-9: Mercy – high as the heavens (Ps. 36:5). Faithfulness – far-reaching as the clouds. Righteousness – high as mountains (Ps. 36:6). Justice – deep as the abyss. Preservation – universal as existence. Kindness – excellent (Ps. 36:7). Providence – complete (Ps. 36:8). Satisfaction – rivers of pleasure (Ps. 36:9). Life – the fountain of life. Light – the source of truth.

Psalm 40:10 reads as follows: “I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation…” His faithfulness here refers to the fulfilment of the covenants and promises through Jesus Christ and His great salvation (John 1:16-17; Rom. 3:2; 9:4-5; 2Cor. 1:20).

The faithfulness of God is eternal – unto all generations. This is another scripture stating eternal generations of natural people (Gen. 8:22; 9:12; Isa. 9:6-7; 59:21; Dan. 2:44-45; 7:13-14, 18, 27; Luke 1:32-33; Rev. 11:15; 21:3-7; 22:4-5).

Two great qualities of the Messiah (Isa. 11:5 – His righteousness (Heb. 1:9) and faithfulness (Heb. 2:17; Rev. 1:5).

To be continued…

Faithful is He – Part 1

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

1Thessalonians 5:24-28 Faithful is he that called you, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. The first epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens. 

‘Faithful is he’ – Twelve times God and Christ are called faithful (Deut. 7:9; Isa. 49:7; 1Cor. 1:9; 10:13; 2Thess. 3:3; Heb. 10:23; 11:11; 1Pet. 4:19; 1Jn. 1:9; Rev. 1:5; 3:14; 19:11).

God is faithful and will not let one endure more temptations than he can bear (1Cor. 10:13-14), nor will He allow one to be lost without doing all in His power to save him (John 3:16; 1Tim. 2:4; 2Pet. 3:9; Rev. 22:17). If a man falls into sin or is lost it is his own responsibility. He has not taken God’s way, as the psalmist did (Ps. 119:30, 173). As a last resort, God may allow trouble and even permit satan to afflict with disease to bring a man back to righteousness (Job 33:14-29).

‘Brethren, pray for us.’ Constantly Paul asked for the prayers of the saints. He recognized their prayers as more valuable than all their wealth and help otherwise.

‘Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.’ This was an Eastern custom and was used amongst believers.

‘I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.’ A reason for this is not clear unless there may have been some danger of it not being read to all the believers of the Christian congregations, or perhaps local groups in and around Thessalonica.

‘Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.’ Paul begins and ends the epistle with a statement about the grace of Christ.

To be continued…