◄ What Does 2 Corinthians 1:20 Mean? ►

Paul had a deep spiritual burden for the believers in Corinth, and this letter was written soon after he wrote his first, disciplinary epistle, where petty arguments, sexual immorality, spiritual immaturity, worldly carnality and an absence of godly love were vigorously addressed.

He had planned to visit these believers, following his earlier, forthright epistle, for he wanted to rebuild their trust in him, by restating his God-ordained authority.. and so Paul wasted no time in explaining the reason for his delayed visit.

In his customary introductions, which, as always, included the lovely salutation, "grace and peace to you,"  Paul used himself as a role model, to show that the comfort and grace of God, brought him amazing consolation and strength, in the midst of his severe suffering and persecution - and Paul assured his listeners that the Lord is no respecter of persons and would provide the same comfort and strength for each one of them.

Paul had obviously experienced many difficulties and much oppression, but his main purpose was not to highlight his own problems but to exalt the name of the Lord and proclaim the goodness of God. Paul's main purpose was to give God his sincere thanks and praise for His comfort, His help, and His many precious promises.

It was the Lord to Whom Paul pointed as the anchor of his soul and source of his stability. It was God who had supported and sustained His bondservant over the previous months and years. It was Christ Jesus, his Saviour, Who had fulfilled His many promises, and provided Paul with His sufficient strength that was at the heart of his message to these believers.

Paul was eager to communicate to his readers that the message he taught about the Lord Jesus was steadfast, sure, unalterable, and reliable. He stressed that God's promises are altogether true and His Word stands fast forever.

Paul wanted these believers to believe God's Word in their hearts and experience in their lives the Lord's never-failing riches of His grace, and so he wrote: "For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are YES! For ALL God's promises are certain and sure in Jesus,... and so through Him we can say 'Amen,' to the glory of God."

The boundless love of God is such that His promises never fail in Christ, and we can rejoice with exceeding great joy, and say Amen, to the glory of God. No matter how many promises the Lord has made, we have an assurance that not one will ever fail.

The Lord Jesus came to earth as the sin substitute for mankind, and fulfilled all that the Father ordained so that we could be set free from the curse of sin, by faith in Him. It is for this reason, we also utter AMEN, when we consider the many precious promises, that have been carried out in Christ, on our behalf.

May we never forget that Christ's sacrifice on the Cross, stamped the authority of God on His promises to us, for all the promises of God in Christ are YES, and in Him AMEN - to the glory of God, forever and ever.

Heavenly Father, how blessed we are to be called Your children and to know that Christ took the punishment for our sins, so that in Him we could be the recipients of Your many precious promises - by faith. Thank You that all Your promises have been validated through Christ, knowing that in Him, they are YES and AMEN, to Your praise and glory. Thank You for Your Word, which is a lamp to our feet, a light to our path, and a testimony of Your great love for us. Thank You in Jesus' name AMEN.