As we turn the corner on another year, graduation from high school or college will become reality for many students and their parents. Often, graduates hear the age-old question: “What are your plans?”
It is a logical question I suppose. Sometimes, however, the answer doesn’t come immediately after graduation. And while some students have a definite plan for life, we all know plans often change for various reasons. That’s why, in this ever-changing world, it is wonderful to know God never changes!
In this passage, the Corinthian church had leveled criticism toward Paul because he changed his travel plans. He had planned to visit the Corinthians on his way from Macedonia, but plans changed. Perhaps the Corinthian believers came up with this criticism on their own, or perhaps false teachers and opponents of Paul planted the idea in their minds. In any case, the Corinthians accused Paul of making plans and promises and not following through.
Paul had good reasons for changing his plans. (He goes into detail about his reasons in later chapters.) Paul chose not to come for the benefit of the Corinthians. And these believers never should have questioned the man responsible for bringing the gospel to them and establishing the church. Rather than mounting a personal defense, Paul simply explained his change of plans by offering three reminders about the character of God.
1. God is faithful (verse 18). Like Paul, I am glad to remind you God is faithful. I lean heavily on that truth myself. The Bible stresses the faithfulness of God to His people repeatedly. Consider a few examples:
Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations (Deuteronomy 7:9).
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he (Deuteronomy 32:4).
For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds (Psalm 108:4).
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for he is faithful that promised) (Hebrews 10:23).
If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2:13).
Paul’s emphasis in this passage was on God’s covenant faithfulness to us. The only way faithfulness is demonstrated is over time, in good times and in bad times.
At the beginning of a marriage when the couple says their vows, much is said that can be boiled down to “I am going to be faithful to you.” But those vows are tested or proven in the future. “The proof is in the pudding,” as the old saying goes.
Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park was named in 1870 by an expeditionary group after they observed the geyser’s predictable nature. Each year, millions of visitors watch Old Faithful in action. However, the activity of the geyser has altered slightly over time. These days, the geyser erupts twenty times per day. But prior to an earthquake in 1959, Old Faithful erupted 21 times per day. While it still provides a pretty good example of consistency and faithfulness, this natural wonder doesn’t compare to God’s faithfulness.
When it comes to God, His faithfulness is never in question. He is always present, always keeping His Word.
2. Jesus fulfills God’s promises (verses 19-20). Perhaps the clearest demonstration of God’s faithfulness is found in Christ’s fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies. In essence, the entire Old Testament anticipates the coming of Jesus. This goes beyond predictive promises fulfilled by His life, death, and resurrection. The entire sacrificial system pointed the people to Christ’s once-and-for-all sacrifice. Jesus fulfills all the prophecies and promises offered in the Old Testament. He not only fulfilled past promises, but he also secures present and future promises for believers. Promises like:
In Christ I have the promise of forgiveness of sins.
In Christ I have the promise of eternal life.
In Christ I have the promise of peace.
In Christ I have the promise of the Holy Spirit.
In Christ I have the promise of a glorified body.
In Christ I have the promise of seeing my loved ones again.
In Christ I have the promise He will never leave me
nor forsake me.
In Christ I have the promise of being in His presence forever.
Paul did not elaborate or enumerate the promises of God fulfilled in Christ. He simply asserted they find their “yes” in Jesus.
We live in an age of passwords. We all have email accounts, billing accounts, banking accounts, and online shopping accounts. Have your ever forgotten a password? Of course you have; we all have. You’ve had the experience of being denied access after entering an incorrect password.
When it comes to the promises of God, access is always granted through one name — the name of Jesus. Through His sinless life, His substitutionary death, and His resurrection, He has secured the “promises of God in him” (verse 20).
3. The Holy Spirit establishes us (verse 21). This is stated in the present tense. God is presently working to establish us in Christ, to strengthen our faith, to give us an even firmer footing. Of course, when it comes to sanctification and spiritual growth, we have a role to play. Yet, any growth we see in our lives, any deepening of our roots and strengthening of our faith, is a result of the gracious and steady work of the Holy Spirit within.
As Free Will Baptists we believe in the possibility of apostasy — the teaching that it is possible for genuine believers to reach a point through the deceitfulness of sin where they walk away from the faith altogether. We believe this based on clear warning passages in the Bible. In my judgment, Free Will Baptists have often emphasized the warning passages while downplaying or minimizing the other side — passages about the keeping power of God. We find one here, where Paul encouraged the Corinthian believers that God establishes us in Christ.
His words call to mind passages such as Philippians 1:6: “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Or remember Philippians 2:12-13: “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
Throughout the New Testament, we find descriptions of what the Holy Spirit has done and continues to do in our lives:
He anointed us (1 John 2:27). His presence equips us for life, ministry, and service. He has made us a kingdom of priests, meaning we can all approach God through Christ; we no longer need an earthly priest. Through His anointing, we all have been gifted by the Spirit to serve Him in the world.
He sealed us (2 Corinthians 1:22). In Paul’s day, authorities would place a wax stamp or seal on something to authenticate it or to make it official. Today, we think of going to a notary; you walk away with a document bearing a visible seal. Through His Spirit, God put His stamp of ownership upon us.
He secured us (2 Corinthians 1:22). In essence, the Holy Spirit made a down payment, a guarantee of our place in God’s eternal Kingdom. Each year we tend to go on vacation — we love the beach — right after school is out. To secure a good spot, we make reservations early in the year, sending a deposit to secure our place. Recently, I caught myself looking up a restaurant to try, even though our vacation is still two months away. The down payment has me looking forward to what I will enjoy soon.
In a much greater spiritual sense, the Holy Spirit is our guarantee, our downpayment on our future possession of eternal glory, where we will fully understand what it means to be one of God’s children.
Paul had good reasons for his change of plans. However, when accused of being unstable, wishy-washy, and unreliable, Paul didn’t jump immediately to a personal defense. Instead, he pointed the Corinthians toward the unchanging nature of God.
Your plans may change, but God is faithful, Jesus secures God’s promises, and the Holy Spirit works within us in anticipation of eternity. When your plans change, remember God doesn’t.
About the Columnist: Dr. Barry Raper pastors Bethel FWB Church near Ashland City, Tennessee. He also serves as program coordinator for ministry studies at Welch College. Barry and his wife Amanda have five children.
