On Being Consistent

…our word toward you was not yea and nay. —2 Corinthians 1:18

In 2 Corinthians 1:18-20, Paul defends himself against those who accused him of being inconsistent.  He said, “As God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.” In other words he was saying, “I am not ‘yes’ one day and ‘no’ the next. I want to be as consistent as God is.”

Paul adds in verse 19 that Jesus Christ “was not yea and nay, but in him was yea,” that is, God is perfectly consistent—He is always “Yes.”

Paul concludes by assuring us, “all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (v. 20).  For example, we say to God, “Lord, did You promise to never leave me or forsake me, and work all things for my good?”  God answers, “Yea.”  Then we say, “Amen”—then so be it!  We claim the promise based on God’s “Yea.”

This equation works for all God’s promises to us today. They are all “yes” in Christ, and through us is the “Amen” to the glory of God!

May we all be as consistent with our promises as God is with His.