Lesson 8

1. Today we will study "The Faithfulness Of God."

2. The Bible affirms:

• God is Spirit. (Jno. 4:24).

• God is light. (1 Jno. 1:5).

• God is love. (1 Jno. 4:8)

• The Bible also affirms, "God is faithful." (1 Cor. 10:13).

3. We are living is an age of unfaithfulness!

• In the business world, a man's word is, with exceedingly rare exceptions, no longer his bond.

• In the social world, marital infidelity abounds on every hand and many change mates as often as trade cars.

• In the religious realm, thousands who claim to love the truth make no scruple to attack and deny it.

• Even the best of people cannot claim complete immunity from this fearful sin.

• All of us have been unfaithful to Christ and His word.

• All of us have broken promises to others and have been guilty of unfaithfulness.

4. How wondrous and refreshing for us to behold One who is faithful, faithful in all things, faithful at all times.

1. The Old Testament praises God for His faithfulness. (Deut. 7:9; 32:4; Josh. 23:14; Psa. 89:1,2,8; 36:5; Lam. 10:22,23).

2. The New Testament exalts God for His faithfulness. (2 Tim. 2:13; Jno. 8:26; 2 Pet. 3:9; Rev. 15:3).

3. These scriptures and others extol God for His faithfulness.

• Far above all finite comprehension is the unchanging faithfulness of God.

• Everything about God is great, vast, incomparable.

• He never forgets, never fails, never falters, never forfeits His word.

4. He fulfills every promise, every prophecy, every threat.

1. Very early in the history of man God said. (Gen. 8:22).

• Every year that comes furnishes a fresh witness to God's fulfillment of this promise.

• These things will continue until the end. (2 Pet. 3:10).

2. In Genesis l5 we find that Jehovah declared unto Abraham. (Gen. 15:13-16).

• Centuries ran their weary course and Abraham's descendants groaned in Egyptian slavery.

• Had God forgotten His promise?

• No, indeed. (Exod. 12:41).

 3. Though Isaiah the prophet God declared. (Isa. 7:14).

• These words were spoken more than 700 years before Christ's coming.

• Had God forgotten His promise?

• No, indeed. (Matt. 1:18-25; Gal. 4:4).

1. God is faithful to His word. (Heb. 6:13-19).

• God's word is absolutely sure.

• He will not break His promises.

• Finite men often break promises because of (1) forgetfulness (2) Change of altitudes (3) Inability to fulfil promises (4) Death and (5) for a variety of others reasons.

• The infinite, all-powerful, all-knowing God of heaven cannot and will not break His promises.

2. God will help us overcome temptation. (1 Cor. 10:13).

3. God is faithful in preserving His people. (1 Cor. 1:9).

• God does not preserve His people against their will.

• God does not teach "once saved always saved."

• He does bless and keep those who draw near to Him. (Jas. 4:7,8).

4. God is faithful in disciplining His people. (Heb. 12:5,6).

5. God is faithful to forgive us. (1 Jno. 1:9).

• God is faithful in what He withholds, no less than in what He gives.

• He is faithful in sending sorrow as well as in giving joy.

• Psalm 119:75

6. God is faithful in glorifying His people. (2 Tim. 1:12).

• Christ will come again. (2 Pet. 3:9).

• He will receive us to Himself. (Jno. 14:1-3).

1. The apprehension of God's faithfulness will preserve us from worry. God will take care of us.

2. The apprehension of God's faithfulness will check our murmuring.

• The Lord knows what is best for each one of us, and the realization that God is faithful to give us the best should silence our complaining.

• God is pleased when we praise Him and express gratitude to Him even when we have trials and chastenings. We show our trust in Him and His faithfulness.

3. The apprehension of God's faithfulness should create greater confidence in Him.

• We recognize God is faithful and has never broken a promise.

• We recognize God loves us and He is always working for our good.

4. May we thank God every day for His faithfulness. May we put our implicit trust in God and exclaim God's faithfulness to all. (Heb. 13:5,6).

5. In the next lesson we will study "The Patience of God."

• This is a lesson that is much needed.

• Probably less has been written and taught on this than on the other excellencies of the Divine character.