What does "our message to you is not 'Yes' and 'No'" teach us? Context: Why Paul Mentioned “Yes” and “No” • In 2 Corinthians 1:15-17 Paul had planned a double visit to Corinth, but circumstances forced a change. • Critics claimed his word could not be trusted, implying he said “Yes” one moment and “No” the next. • He answers in v. 18: “But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not ‘Yes’ and ‘No.’ ” • The reliability of Paul’s message rests on God’s own faithfulness; to doubt the messenger is to question the God who sent him. Certainty Rooted in God’s Nature • Malachi 3:6: “For I, the LORD, do not change.” • Hebrews 6:17-18: God “confirmed it with an oath… it is impossible for God to lie.” • Psalm 119:89: “Your word, O LORD, is everlasting; it is firmly fixed in the heavens.” • Because God is unchanging, His Word cannot waffle between affirmation and denial. A Single, Unmixed Gospel Message • 2 Corinthians 1:19-20: “For the Son of God, Jesus Christ… was not ‘Yes’ and ‘No,’ but in Him it has always been ‘Yes.’ For all the promises of God are ‘Yes’ in Christ.” • Every divine promise finds its fulfillment in Jesus; nothing is partial, tentative, or revoked. • The cross and resurrection shout God’s unqualified “Yes” to redemption, adoption, and eternal life. Integrity Expected of God’s People • Matthew 5:37: “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ ” • James 5:12 repeats the command, adding that anything beyond plain truth invites judgment. • Numbers 23:19: “God is not a man, that He should lie… Has He said, and will He not do it?” • Believers who represent an unchanging God must speak with the same clarity and honesty. Practical Takeaways • Rely on God’s promises without hesitation; He never sends mixed signals. • Speak plainly—avoid manipulative half-truths or convenient vagueness. • Let plans and commitments be framed by prayerful dependence on God’s steadfast character. • Evaluate every teaching and decision against the clear “Yes” of Christ’s finished work. Key Passages for Further Reading |
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