{"id":831,"date":"2023-07-12T20:32:18","date_gmt":"2023-07-12T20:32:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chministries.org\/?p=831"},"modified":"2024-05-14T08:55:34","modified_gmt":"2024-05-14T13:55:34","slug":"finding-god-faithful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chministries.org\/blog\/finding-god-faithful\/","title":{"rendered":"God\u2019s promises for faithfulness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Fruit of the spirit: Faithfulness<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve spent any significant time in Scripture, you\u2019ve almost certainly encountered the word \u201cfaith\u201d (or pistis<\/em> in Hebrew). As mentioned several hundred times, both our faith in Jesus and<\/em> God\u2019s faithfulness toward us are vital to our relationship and understanding of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does the Bible say about faithfulness? As one of the\u00a0fruits of the Spirit, the fruit of faithfulness requires firmness in conviction and the keeping of promises. As\u00a0Hebrews 11:1 [ESV]\u00a0explains that faith is\u00a0\u201cthe assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0But to understand how the Holy Spirit works faithfulness in us, we must understand how God Himself is faithful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The covenants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From the very beginning of His Word, we see God’s promises in the Bible coming to fruition.\u00a0Joshua 21:45 [NIV]\u00a0states,\u00a0\u201cNot one of all the LORD\u2019s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Similarly,\u00a01 Thessalonians 5:24 [ESV]\u00a0says,\u00a0\u201cHe who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The covenants of God are one of the ways He shows Himself faithful. The major biblical covenants of God are the Abrahamic, Davidic, and New Covenants\u2014the three that promise the coming of Jesus\u2014and the Noahic and Mosaic Covenants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Abrahamic Covenant, <\/strong>God promises Abraham and his descendants land, children, and blessings. God showed His faithfulness by blessing his barren, 90-year-old wife, Sarah, with a son and preserving that son and his future descendants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He fulfilled the rest of His covenant in bringing Abraham to the Promised Land and bringing redemption through Jesus. Abraham also showed his faithfulness by trusting God\u2019s promises\u2014even nearly sacrificing his promised son, Isaac, on the altar. God honored his faithfulness and provided an alternative option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Davidic Covenant, <\/strong>God promises to bless David\u2019s line with the Messiah. This promise was fulfilled with the coming of Jesus, a direct descendant of David.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the New Covenant,<\/strong>\u00a0God promised to free His people from the Law by Jesus\u2019 death and resurrection. This covenant would bring God’s forgiveness of sin, renewed hearts, and access to God through prayer. The fulfillment of this covenant was also the fulfillment of the Davidic and Abrahamic Covenants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Mosaic Covenant,<\/strong> God establishes His Law with the people of Israel after He led them out from under the slavery of the Egyptian pharaohs. This covenant promised blessings if the Israelites were obedient and curses if they were disobedient. Throughout the Old Testament, you can see how God keeps this promise through the various struggles Israel encounters whenever they stray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Noahic Covenant, <\/strong>God renews creation and promises never to destroy Earth again with a worldwide flood. This promise came in the form of a rainbow, the symbol of God\u2019s covenant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God provides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no greater testament to God\u2019s provision than sacrificing His own Son for our sins so we can have everlasting life. But beyond that, God is faithful in providing for us in the day-to-day. God may not always provide in the way we anticipate, but He provides nonetheless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Matthew, there are several references in Scripture on faithfulness as Jesus explains how our heavenly Father cares for us:<\/p>\n\n\n\n