For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
All of God's promises are made certain and fulfilled in Christ Jesus alone, and not outside of him, so they must be laid hold upon in him. What Paul preached was not yes and no, but in Christ was yes, with every promise in him yes and in him Amen to the glory of God. God means exactly what he says, with no perhaps about his power to fulfill what he has promised, for his word in Christ is certain, dependable, firm, settled and unchanging rather than contradictory. Those promises become yes and Amen when people comply with their conditions by obedient trust, repentance, forsaking sin, and coming to Jesus just as they are to rest on his merits. They are to be honored by believing them at face value and taking God at his word in childlike faith, and then proclaimed in a clear decided manner without wavering between yes and no.
Words and Setting
The Jesus Christ preached among believers, the Son of God, was not yes and no, but in him was yes, and all the promises of God in him are yes and in him Amen to the glory of God. The word of God in Christ is therefore consistent and assured, not divided between yes and no and not uncertain, but affirmed and fulfilled in him as yes and amen. His promises are completely faithful and certain and are to be honored by believing them, not treated with indifference, not held off while waiting for further evidence, and not set aside to seek advice from distant human help when the mighty Counselor has declared that he that asks receives.
The verse stands in Paul's assurance to the Corinthians of God's faithfulness in Christ, affirming that his preaching of Christ from God's word was sure and consistent and was not retracted after being affirmed. His message was always firm Yes and Amen, never changing to No after saying Yes. That firmness was wrought through a multitude of revelations and wonderful visions to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed, which substantiated his faith and accompanied his preaching with irresistible power and immovable weight of evidence, with glory given not in self-exaltation or claim of faultless character but in humbling self before God and representing Christ's life.
The teaching about Christ centers on Christ and him crucified as the foundation of the gospel and points to salvation in Christ alone. It remains distinct from customs and ceremonies not essential to faith, while doctrine must be presented with him at its center and applied to people's lives, including practical instruction for daily life and the need for conversion to God.
Promises Confirmed in Christ
All the promises of God hold true only in Christ Jesus, not outside of Him, and are made sure, certain and fulfilled in Him, so they must be laid hold upon in Him. Laying hold upon them in Christ opens a new chapter of faith and purifies away everything that comes between the soul and God, so that one on trial for life comes forth purified. That certainty comes with clear evidence of His continual presence and unfailing love, with tender compassion to the contrite, strength for the tempted, bearing up through infirmity and danger, and a very present help in trouble to those kept close to Him in obedience where Satan cannot pluck them away, so that failure and defeat are overcome. This certainty provides the means to resist and overcome temptation by gaining knowledge of the word and why resistance is required, for God delivers the godly out of temptation and restrains the enemy's power coming through human agencies, so that no obedient soul seeking His help seeks in vain. By faith believers may grasp every promise because the promises are firm and unchangeable in Christ Jesus and will never be broken or altered. That faith which believes them must be cultivated under every circumstance and brought into practical life, for without it it is impossible to please God.
Christ Himself is the assurance of every promise, for as God with us He guarantees deliverance from sin and gives power to obey God's law. He is the glory of the whole plan of redemption, and every promise is in and through Him, so that those who come to Him with sincere repentance confessing sins find pardon in Him and in Him are preparing for the brightness of heaven's glory, unknown by the world but given abundant recognition in the courts above. The eye of faith sees in Jesus the substitute and surety for men and the ever-living witness that God is true, and the glory of God's verity, truth, lovingkindness and tender compassion beaming in the face of Jesus Christ ends doubt. God will never break His oath, falsify His word, or alter what has gone out of His mouth.
In giving Jesus to the world God gave all heaven with Him, securing adoption into His family. Christ's present work as High Priest, Advocate, Intercessor and representative in the heavenly courts secures for believers all that His mediation obtains and secures all things that God has promised. Because Jesus appears in the presence of God with His own blood for the guilty, His blood cleansing from all sin those who accept Him as personal Saviour and His suffering and death as the penalty due the transgressor standing as a perpetual propitiation, He is entitled to assure all who seek Him. For His sake the prayers of penitent seekers who come acknowledging Christ as Saviour are yea and amen, which means their sins are blotted out and the holy oil is bestowed upon them.
All the promises are sure and fulfilled in Christ unto the glory of God, and not one good thing He has spoken fails those with whom He has dealt mercifully. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth to those who keep His covenant and His testimonies, for in His love and in His pity He redeemed His people.
God Faithful and Unchanging
God’s word in Christ is affirmative and consistent, yea and amen rather than yea and nay, meaning it is certain, truthful, dependable, firm, settled, binding, eternal and immutable. It is not uncertain or contradictory, but assured and positive, calling for obedience to the expressed will of God without doubting or wavering, as the eternal interest of the soul is involved in earnest cooperation with the divine will. The Word is to abide within and be treasured in the heart as a priceless treasure, God’s best gift as the expression of His own wisdom. Conflicting private theories that contradict one another cannot all be presented as God’s leading.
God means exactly what He says, with no perhaps or if about His requirements or His power to fulfill what He has promised. His living Word is positive and ample assurance backed by Himself, for promises are worth what the maker is worth, and He stands behind them and distinctly pledges Himself to answer prayer and invites to prayer. His resources cannot be exhausted, and those who take Him at His word and do their part will see what He will do in their behalf. What Christ promises He wills to do and will do, so His word is to be taken at face value and taken hold of by faith to bring His power right into the life, giving spiritual vitality, muscle and sinew, rich grace and fullness of blessing, fitness for work, and daily confidence in pleading for the Spirit. Faith therefore has no grounds for hypothetical excuses because God’s word is dependable, but trusts His power, acts on His promises, relies wholly on His faithfulness and applies them in every circumstance, through which He works out His purposes, sanctifies the character, and brings a purified life.
He is always the same, ever mindful of His covenant and keeping truth forever with no unfaithfulness in Him, and His truth endures to all generations so that heaven and earth will pass away but not one word of His will fail. Unlike man, whose apostasies show how little dependence can be placed in him, God is certain and dependable, so people are always to look to God and not lean on human promises like broken reeds or carry wants to men as if fellow men can be trusted but the Lord cannot. Distrust grieves the Spirit, while honoring the Lord by believing His Word and coming to the heavenly Father as a child comes to an earthly parent to ask for what is needed, trusting in the Lord forever, honors Him because He alone is to be depended on. Coming into right relationship with Him makes people light-bearers to others, and all ministers in all churches are to bear decided testimony to this certainty.
God does not contradict Himself, change, or say yea and then nay, and He never begins a good work and then undoes it by ordering the opposite. When He approves plans His word is yea and amen and does not change, and His blessing rests on efforts carrying out arrangements laid after prayerful consideration. He does not tear down what He has established as truth, so changing leaders and tearing down what was once advocated as truth goes against His steady faithful character, resists the working of His Spirit, destroys confidence and dependence others can place in such persons, and unless they turn they will die. His word to His faithful people is firm certainty rather than mixture, so His directions are to be followed whatever the result may be, while to those who will not hear His voice His message comes in vain, and because they trusted in themselves and did not repent at His rebuke or heed His reproof they shall be surprised, fall, and be taken by the enemy. His true messages are certain, consistent and dependable and bear divine credentials, coming only through a pure holy channel whose spirit and power sanctifies the heart, purifies thoughts and cleanses hands, while messages mixing truth with falsehood, contradicting themselves, proving untrue, coming in rapid words through an impure channel and weaving in human ideas and accusations do not come from Him and must be dropped with purification by obeying truth before harmony is possible.
God’s law is a transcript of His character and remains yea and amen throughout the eternal ages, perfect and unalterable without variableness or shadow of turning. Not the smallest jot or tittle was ever given over to be manipulated, the first intimation of change met a decided no, and rebellion over it led to battle in heaven and expulsion of Satan with his sympathizers, proving He has not abolished His law. Counterfeits including a false Sabbath instituted by the man of sin who thought to change times and laws do not bear God’s signature and cannot annihilate His truth even if endorsed by all the sons and daughters of Adam, though Satan has invented thousands of counterfeit errors made to resemble truth as nearly as possible. Because the Word and its claims are certain, binding and unchanging, ministers must preach it with clearness and tell the people the binding claims of God’s law instead of confusing minds with interpretations that make it of none effect.
The word of God alone is certain, dependable, unchangeable, infallible, firm, eternal and immutable and is to be taken just as it reads, while no man’s asserted ideas or positions are infallible. Claiming infallibility for human positions is dangerous and itself shows fallibility and proves fallibility. Human opinions about interpretation are many and varied and human commentaries disagree, but the Book remains as it is written and its great and blessed facts remain the same, and the Scriptures are not changed to suit men’s ideas. The inspired word does not say yes and no on the same point, so it forbids leaving the plain word for scientific books, strange theories and a wrong train of thought that would mislead souls, and forbids twisting scriptures into long fine-threaded arguments without proofs that people cannot understand and that carry no light. Such study under Satan’s influence is not safe because others will accept the misleading theories at loss of their souls, and the only safe course is to give up wrong thinking and stand on the foundation laid by Him who is true and righteous; likewise the different theories and peculiar views of independent minds each claiming to be especially taught, impressed and led by God cannot all be right, and none justifies setting private judgment against the judgment of the church.
That certainty gives many confirmations of the position and understanding of the sanctuary which figures so prominently in the Word, and no explanation of one scripture is to deny its truth. The definite instruction and promises given to Israel that the richest blessings were in store if they kept His commandments stand firm, because He is the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments. His yea and amen includes His declaration that He will honor those who honor Him by faithfully observing the day He set apart as holy, for though He is love He will not excuse willful disregard of His commands and there remains a decided difference between His disciples and worldlings, between one who serves God and one who serves Him not. The instruction given directly to the representative men of Israel was spoken by the same Christ who afterward stood at the head of the race as divine-human Saviour, and those words on reaching the standard of righteousness and advancing in conquest are spoken to believers today as verily as to Israel and are to be brought into service. The light on health reform kept before God’s people for many years is settled and unchanging, a firm yes rather than wavering yes and no, requiring settled unwavering principles in obedience and forbidding drifting with unsettled principles warped by impulse that misrepresent professed truth and do lasting injury to the soul.
Conditions That Fulfill Promises
All promises are yes and amen in Christ when the conditions of salvation are met by obedient trust, for they are not yes and no but become certain to those who comply with what is plainly required. The faith that lays hold of them must be the right kind of believing faith, cultivated under every circumstance and brought into practical life, since without such faith it is impossible to please God. That obedient closeness is itself the evidence of continual presence and unfailing love, showing tender compassion to the contrite, strength for the tempted, and upholding through infirmity and danger. Kept close in the path of obedience where Satan cannot pluck them away, believers find a very present help in trouble through whom failure and defeat are overcome.
God receives sinners when they repent and forsake their sins, so that He can work with their efforts in seeking perfection of character. The whole purpose in giving His Son for the sins of the world is that people might be saved from sin and not in transgression and unrighteousness. This requires giving up sin, leaving it and hating it, washing the robe of character and making it white in the blood of the Lamb. What He hates He proposes to remove, but the sinner must cooperate with Him, accepting the righteousness of Christ by faith so that the divine will works together with the human.
The pledged promise to pardon transgressors of the law stands firm and certain in Christ and secures full and free salvation. It is for all who give up hope of paying for salvation or earning it and who come to Jesus just as they are, unworthy and sinful. They come resting on His merits, pleading His pledged word, confessing sins and seeking pardon. To receive it they must look away from themselves to Christ.
Believing the word as yes and amen means trusting Christ rather than relying on human advisers or giving Him only casual acknowledgment. Merely nominal belief in Christ as the Son of God does not bring assurance of the promise. Those who do not believe remain under condemnation.
Help Secured by Promises
All the promises are made certain in Christ to the glory of God, and that certainty is clear evidence of His continual presence and unfailing love. It comes as tender compassion to the contrite, strength for the tempted, and bearing up through infirmity and danger. Kept close to Him in the path of obedience where Satan cannot pluck them from His hands, believers find Him a very present help in trouble, so that failure and defeat are overcome through Him. Those who turn to God in trouble gain strength from His promises and receive the efficiency of the Holy Spirit in every time of need, instead of having a feeble experience by making flesh their arm and turning to erring human beings for aid. Those who stop trusting their own efficiency and men prove this certainty by experience, finding close companionship with the Lord, growing knowledge of Him, and love burning more brightly on the altar of the heart.
Because God is faithful to what He has promised, no obedient soul who seeks His help will seek in vain. This certainty provides the means by which temptation may be resisted and overcome, learned by gaining knowledge of the Word and why God would have resistance, for God delivers the godly out of temptation and effectually restrains the power of the enemy that comes through human agencies. Every provision has been made because human strength alone must fail against Satan and divine power is necessary, so in every emergency and trial the soul is to flee to the stronghold and ask in faith for the Holy Spirit and it shall be given. The conditions plainly given by Christ must be complied with, and the soul must be educated to lay hold and hold fast the rich promises with individual faith cherishing that what He has promised is received from Him, so that every weary, burdened, heavy-laden soul that comes and asks receives, for God will be everything He is allowed to be and obedience brings assurance.
The promises can be relied on in faith when asking for divine help in temptation, emergencies, and trials, and those who ask in faith receive the help they need. In sickness, weakness, trembling and helplessness the believer presents the case to the Lord in prayer, asks for healing, believes He will do the very things asked, and is comforted by His grace while holding the promise. Prayer in Jesus' name carries full assurance that God has heard, including prayer for the Great Physician to remove physical exhaustion and impart life-giving power and strength to speak and labor for Him. Prayer for the conversion of unbelieving family members is answered as they step forward to draw nearer to God and receive Christ, and those who ask in faith prove the promise true and grow in faith in Christ who secures the promises. God distinctly pledges Himself to answer prayer and invites to prayer, His living Word is positive and ample assurance, His resources cannot be exhausted, and those who take Him at His word and do their part will see what He will do in their behalf. He guides those who stay humble and earnestly seek to know their duty, and strength will be given equal to the day because His promises are sure to be fulfilled.
Taking hold of the sure promises without slackness brings the help God raises up to rebuild the old waste places and to provide for emergencies among His people, enabling every soul who works in harmony with the Lord to do a strong, united work as laborers together with God. Labor in poor and hindered fields will not prove a failure to those who refuse to lose hold, for trying hindrances prove a blessing by giving opportunity to redeem the past, and when workers are fully proved He brings them forth refined as gold tried in the fire. The burden is to be cast upon Him in full assurance that He who promised is faithful and will never fail those who put their trust in Him, bringing help in due time when earnest efforts must pause for lack of help. All the promises are yes and amen for victory when labor is done in harmony and unity in accordance with His Word, so presenting to God the sure word of His promises enables prevailing with no failure from unsteady walking. Taking by living faith His mercy, knowledge and power lets His salvation be seen, as faith is talked, the full privilege of faith is exercised, the promises are honored, and the Lord is proved to mean just what He says. The rainbow of the covenant around the throne with the mercy seat beneath is the living assurance of acceptance with the Father as long as His throne endures for whoever avails himself of the provisions of mercy and appropriates the merits of Christ's life and death.
Taking Hold in Faith
Christ's promises are completely faithful and certain and are to be honored by believing them at face value, not treated with indifference, not held off while waiting for further evidence, and not set aside to seek advice from distant human help when the Mighty Counselor has declared that he that asks receives. What He promises He wills to do and will do, with no perhaps or if in His word, so His word is to be taken hold of by faith to bring His power right into the life. Mere nominal belief in Christ as Son of God does not bring assurance of the promise, and those who do not believe remain under condemnation. That certainty is to be met with living, working faith even when it may appear like presumption, rebuking unbelief, self-sufficiency and sluggish backwardness, requiring advance, stronger hold on the divine arm, and mixing the promise with faith lest one come short of it.
Believers can come to the heavenly Father as a child comes to an earthly parent to ask for what they need, trusting in the Lord forever in childlike faith that they shall receive. Promises are worth what the maker is worth, and God stands behind His, always the same, ever mindful of His covenant, keeping truth forever with no unfaithfulness in Him, His truth enduring to all generations while heaven and earth will pass away but not one word of His will fail. That certainty forbids doubting His word even when an answer is not returned at once, and calls for steady trust, rejoicing and thankful prayer. God's people should be taught to turn to God when in trouble and gain strength from His promises and receive the efficiency of the Holy Spirit as present help in every time of need, instead of having a feeble experience by making flesh their arm. Instead of turning in test and trial to erring and inefficient human beings for aid, they are to turn to God and seek from Him, proving by experience when they stop trusting their own efficiency and men that He is a very present help, bringing precious experience, encouragement to ask and ask again for power for service, close companionship with the Lord, growing knowledge of Him, and love burning more brightly on the altar of the heart.
The certainty of the promises rests on God's promise and not on changing feelings, so even when believers lack the joy they would like to feel they are to act from principle rather than be governed by varying emotions. One filled with sorrow is not to try to adjust all difficulties but to fasten the eyes on the Sun of Righteousness, turn the face to the light and to the throne of God, keep faith from wavering, put the hand in the hand of Christ, and fight the good fight of faith at any cost, however severe, and lay hold on eternal life. Faith can take God as refuge, trust Him implicitly, travel through trials, endure temptations, bear and live under disappointments and forbidding providences, and hold firm even when waves of trial roll and the soul feels sinking beneath billows that speak of death. The eye of faith sees in Jesus the substitute and surety and ever-living witness that God is true, with the glory of His verity, truth, lovingkindness and tender compassion beaming in Christ's face to end doubt, for He will never break His oath, falsify His word, or alter what has gone out of His mouth, and while human expectations may fail there is no failure in His promises, so depending on power above every human power gains victory with the comfort of grace and the assurance of not being alone but having a Comforter.
Laying hold upon the promises in Christ, where alone they hold true and not outside of Him, opens a new chapter of faith and purifies away everything between the soul and God so that one on trial for life comes forth purified. Believing gives spiritual vitality, muscle and sinew, rich grace and fullness of blessing, fitness for work to be done, and daily confidence in pleading for the Spirit that He will help. In an emergency such as the work in Switzerland over erecting a school building and meeting place, when every effort had been made and opposing minds blocked the way, taking hold means praying, refusing to give up or waver, asking to be taught what to do, trusting Him to keep what is committed and strengthen faith, and holding on with one mind until unbelief is brushed away wave after wave by the Spirit and every point is carried. The mighty assurances in Christ and His word are to be leaned upon, taken hold of, made the strong testimony, honored, proved, talked in faith, and repeated aloud as the words of Christ, especially when a strong spirit of unbelief is brought in by evil agencies assembling to counterwork the Spirit, instead of catching up and repeating discouraging human words.
They are given for encouragement in emergency, depression, discouragement and disappointment over spiritual lack, to be claimed when halting and disaffection appear, enabling prevailing with no need for failure from unsteady walking, so that taking by living faith His mercy, knowledge and power lets His salvation be seen. Those who have received His tokens, blessings, riches of grace and great light must open the door of the lips to thanksgiving, praise, refreshing words and words of hope and courage that impart grace to others, instead of evil surmisings, evil feelings, faultfinding and speech against one another that creates stumbling blocks to perdition. They must respond with gratitude, tenderness, sympathy, compassion and love that breaks every yoke and lets the oppressed go free, for man interposing himself turns aside mercy and increases suffering, want and woe, and unless grace is revealed for grace the rich grace will be removed. People should not lean on human promises like broken reeds or carry wants to men as if fellow men can be trusted but the Lord cannot, and should not grieve the Spirit by distrust but honor Him by believing. When received and believed, God's word is accepted as yes and amen by every earnest seeker, who finds it true and certain, is turned from error to an understanding of present truth, and receives blessing in rich measure through converted workers.
Proclaiming With Certainty
Those through whom God works magnify the truth as entrusted talents by imparting what has been received and speaking the truth in love in a clear decided manner to enlighten others, in sincerity and humility without exalting self, supposing infallibility, seeking to rule, or exercising severity and dominion over faith and consciences, remembering that only God can impress the mind and purify the heart. Ministers do not set themselves up as lords over faith and consciences, for no man is placed as god over God's people and no conference president or leader may claim arbitrary power to forbid or permit as he chooses or become a law unto the church, since all are under the rulership of Christ. Instead they avoid all severity they can, labor by kindly persuasion to promote joy and lead from errors, and fulfill duty by faith through Christlikeness rather than authority.
God's servants are to open the word and show its certainty distinctly, laboring in Christ's stead with unceasing vigilance and diligence for souls, following up every advantage and bringing the mind to decision before the first powerful impression of the Spirit wears away. They are to teach biblical truth clearly and in the Spirit's power just as the Bible and Christ teach it, with no new views, human theories, conjectures, sophistries, or theories contrary to the word, because God's word rather than human assertions or traditions is the sure ground to present. Those who have the light must first talk with God until the burden is laid on the soul by the Spirit, then proclaim truth in its purity with clearness and fervency so no tares are mingled with the seed and it commends itself to men and women of good judgment.
The message for this time must be yes and amen in clear distinct testimony with a certain sound and not a muffled message, bearing living testimony that truth is the test of character, with God's people rooted, grounded, undivided and with an undivided message proclaiming the truth that brings the crisis. At camp meetings with the world as the field the first, second and third angels' messages must blend as a complete whole, losing no force but increasing in intensity under the Holy Spirit until the earth is filled with light and power to prepare a people for the great crisis. Heaven's yes and amen must bring up the rear of every movement for God or the worker will lose the reward of success, for truth stated calmly and clearly enters the mind and becomes part of the nature with sound thoughts bearing influence in a new divine channel while the Spirit remolds the character, so every effort must be weeded of strong extravagant expressions leading to overaction.
God's instruction is firmly affirmed and his designated course is certain and unchanging, so workers must follow it with settled principles remembering God and eternity and guarding spiritual and physical health even when tempted by family or impulse to do otherwise. They must not drift with unsettled principles warped by impulse that misrepresent professed truth, mold the work wrongly, and do lasting injury to the soul, for such wavering misrepresents the truth professed while truth that appeals to reason gives decided influence for right. God's work is firm and settled and not to be trifled with, and the principles of his word are certain and binding to be carried out in life by cultivating moral sensibilities and putting them into practice. Obedience to his expressed will is the highest incentive involving the eternal interest of the soul, letting the word abide within as a priceless treasure of his wisdom with no doubting and no wavering.
Because God's word is certain, ministers must preach its binding claims with clearness, including the law as the transcript of his character, instead of confusing minds with interpretations that make it of none effect. They must bear decided testimony in all churches presenting truth so as to work a decided inward-to-outward reformation transforming character, for dependence is always to be placed on God and his word while man cannot be depended on, and all labor for souls will be null and void without that transforming presentation. Pure truth unadulterated with man's spirit and finite ideas must not be held back for fear stirred up by contentious subjects. Mere scholastic attainment and book knowledge even by diligent study does not give the experience that prepares for present and future life or trains self and other minds.
Faith has no grounds for hypothetical excuses because God's word is dependable with no perhaps or if about his requirements or his power to fulfill what he has promised, but trusts his power, acts on his promises, relies wholly on his faithfulness and applies them in every circumstance. Through this he works out his purposes, sanctifies the character, and brings a purified life that gives him glory. Conflicting private theories cannot all be presented as God's leading when they contradict one another, and individuals of independent minds each claiming to be especially taught, impressed and led by God with different theories and peculiar views cannot all be right, so none justifies setting private judgment against the judgment of the church or drawing away from the body.
Changing leaders and tearing down what was once advocated as truth goes against God's steady faithful character, resists the working of his Spirit, destroys confidence and dependence others can place in such persons, violates right relationship that makes people light-bearers, and unless they turn they will die. True messages from God are certain, consistent and dependable and bear divine credentials, coming only through a pure holy channel whose spirit and power sanctifies the heart, purifies thoughts and cleanses hands. Messages mixing truth with falsehood, contradicting themselves, proving untrue, coming in rapid words through an impure channel and weaving in human ideas and accusations do not come from him and must be dropped with purification by obeying truth before harmony is possible.
In the last days the education of the people is to be firm reliance upon the certain sufficient full and complete word, studying from cause to effect, discerning the spirit of everything claiming to be a direct message from heaven including self-styled prophets, understanding what to endorse and set aside, and refusing to turn from the word to human agencies and a lower standard. The certainty of God's declaration rebukes unbelief, self-sufficiency and sluggish backwardness and requires those with great light, truth and evidence to take him at his word with living working faith even when it may appear like presumption, advance, hold the divine arm more strongly, and mix the promise with faith lest they come short of it. Uniting with Christ brings full abundant grace and salvation that makes people true earnest self-sacrificing workmen preparing the way for the Lord's coming, as God's promises, warnings, mercy and fatherly dealing with Israel are understood, heeded and gratefully appreciated under the Holy Spirit's gracious influence instead of left unheeded through lack of spiritual understanding and failure to improve privileges.
God's directions are to be followed whatever the result may be, for to those who will not hear his voice his message comes in vain, and because they trusted in themselves and would not repent at his rebuke or heed his reproof they shall be surprised, fall and be taken by the enemy. The Lord's work must be yes and amen and not yes and no, firm decisive and ever advancing in the narrow path, firm and settled and binding and therefore not to be trifled with. The word fulfilled in Christ brings the help that enables every soul working in harmony with the Lord to do a strong united work, rebuilding the old waste places and providing for emergencies, with all promises yes and amen for victory when labor is done in harmony and unity according to his word so that presenting his sure word enables prevailing with no need for failure from unsteady walking. Faith in the word brings fulfillment of his promises when reliance is placed on God and not on the word of man, for what Christ promises he wills to do and will do, so taking hold of his word by faith brings his power into the life.
All of God's promises are made certain and fulfilled in Christ Jesus alone, and not outside of him, so they must be laid hold upon in him. What Paul preached was not yes and no, but in Christ was yes, with every promise in him yes and in him Amen to the glory of God. God means exactly what he says, with no perhaps about his power to fulfill what he has promised, for his word in Christ is certain, dependable, firm, settled and unchanging rather than contradictory. Those promises become yes and Amen when people comply with their conditions by obedient trust, repentance, forsaking sin, and coming to Jesus just as they are to rest on his merits. They are to be honored by believing them at face value and taking God at his word in childlike faith, and then proclaimed in a clear decided manner without wavering between yes and no.
Words and Setting
The Jesus Christ preached among believers, the Son of God, was not yes and no, but in him was yes, and all the promises of God in him are yes and in him Amen to the glory of God. The word of God in Christ is therefore consistent and assured, not divided between yes and no and not uncertain, but affirmed and fulfilled in him as yes and amen. His promises are completely faithful and certain and are to be honored by believing them, not treated with indifference, not held off while waiting for further evidence, and not set aside to seek advice from distant human help when the mighty Counselor has declared that he that asks receives.
The verse stands in Paul's assurance to the Corinthians of God's faithfulness in Christ, affirming that his preaching of Christ from God's word was sure and consistent and was not retracted after being affirmed. His message was always firm Yes and Amen, never changing to No after saying Yes. That firmness was wrought through a multitude of revelations and wonderful visions to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed, which substantiated his faith and accompanied his preaching with irresistible power and immovable weight of evidence, with glory given not in self-exaltation or claim of faultless character but in humbling self before God and representing Christ's life.
The teaching about Christ centers on Christ and him crucified as the foundation of the gospel and points to salvation in Christ alone. It remains distinct from customs and ceremonies not essential to faith, while doctrine must be presented with him at its center and applied to people's lives, including practical instruction for daily life and the need for conversion to God.
Promises Confirmed in Christ
All the promises of God hold true only in Christ Jesus, not outside of Him, and are made sure, certain and fulfilled in Him, so they must be laid hold upon in Him. Laying hold upon them in Christ opens a new chapter of faith and purifies away everything that comes between the soul and God, so that one on trial for life comes forth purified. That certainty comes with clear evidence of His continual presence and unfailing love, with tender compassion to the contrite, strength for the tempted, bearing up through infirmity and danger, and a very present help in trouble to those kept close to Him in obedience where Satan cannot pluck them away, so that failure and defeat are overcome. This certainty provides the means to resist and overcome temptation by gaining knowledge of the word and why resistance is required, for God delivers the godly out of temptation and restrains the enemy's power coming through human agencies, so that no obedient soul seeking His help seeks in vain. By faith believers may grasp every promise because the promises are firm and unchangeable in Christ Jesus and will never be broken or altered. That faith which believes them must be cultivated under every circumstance and brought into practical life, for without it it is impossible to please God.
Christ Himself is the assurance of every promise, for as God with us He guarantees deliverance from sin and gives power to obey God's law. He is the glory of the whole plan of redemption, and every promise is in and through Him, so that those who come to Him with sincere repentance confessing sins find pardon in Him and in Him are preparing for the brightness of heaven's glory, unknown by the world but given abundant recognition in the courts above. The eye of faith sees in Jesus the substitute and surety for men and the ever-living witness that God is true, and the glory of God's verity, truth, lovingkindness and tender compassion beaming in the face of Jesus Christ ends doubt. God will never break His oath, falsify His word, or alter what has gone out of His mouth.
In giving Jesus to the world God gave all heaven with Him, securing adoption into His family. Christ's present work as High Priest, Advocate, Intercessor and representative in the heavenly courts secures for believers all that His mediation obtains and secures all things that God has promised. Because Jesus appears in the presence of God with His own blood for the guilty, His blood cleansing from all sin those who accept Him as personal Saviour and His suffering and death as the penalty due the transgressor standing as a perpetual propitiation, He is entitled to assure all who seek Him. For His sake the prayers of penitent seekers who come acknowledging Christ as Saviour are yea and amen, which means their sins are blotted out and the holy oil is bestowed upon them.
All the promises are sure and fulfilled in Christ unto the glory of God, and not one good thing He has spoken fails those with whom He has dealt mercifully. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth to those who keep His covenant and His testimonies, for in His love and in His pity He redeemed His people.
God Faithful and Unchanging
God’s word in Christ is affirmative and consistent, yea and amen rather than yea and nay, meaning it is certain, truthful, dependable, firm, settled, binding, eternal and immutable. It is not uncertain or contradictory, but assured and positive, calling for obedience to the expressed will of God without doubting or wavering, as the eternal interest of the soul is involved in earnest cooperation with the divine will. The Word is to abide within and be treasured in the heart as a priceless treasure, God’s best gift as the expression of His own wisdom. Conflicting private theories that contradict one another cannot all be presented as God’s leading.
God means exactly what He says, with no perhaps or if about His requirements or His power to fulfill what He has promised. His living Word is positive and ample assurance backed by Himself, for promises are worth what the maker is worth, and He stands behind them and distinctly pledges Himself to answer prayer and invites to prayer. His resources cannot be exhausted, and those who take Him at His word and do their part will see what He will do in their behalf. What Christ promises He wills to do and will do, so His word is to be taken at face value and taken hold of by faith to bring His power right into the life, giving spiritual vitality, muscle and sinew, rich grace and fullness of blessing, fitness for work, and daily confidence in pleading for the Spirit. Faith therefore has no grounds for hypothetical excuses because God’s word is dependable, but trusts His power, acts on His promises, relies wholly on His faithfulness and applies them in every circumstance, through which He works out His purposes, sanctifies the character, and brings a purified life.
He is always the same, ever mindful of His covenant and keeping truth forever with no unfaithfulness in Him, and His truth endures to all generations so that heaven and earth will pass away but not one word of His will fail. Unlike man, whose apostasies show how little dependence can be placed in him, God is certain and dependable, so people are always to look to God and not lean on human promises like broken reeds or carry wants to men as if fellow men can be trusted but the Lord cannot. Distrust grieves the Spirit, while honoring the Lord by believing His Word and coming to the heavenly Father as a child comes to an earthly parent to ask for what is needed, trusting in the Lord forever, honors Him because He alone is to be depended on. Coming into right relationship with Him makes people light-bearers to others, and all ministers in all churches are to bear decided testimony to this certainty.
God does not contradict Himself, change, or say yea and then nay, and He never begins a good work and then undoes it by ordering the opposite. When He approves plans His word is yea and amen and does not change, and His blessing rests on efforts carrying out arrangements laid after prayerful consideration. He does not tear down what He has established as truth, so changing leaders and tearing down what was once advocated as truth goes against His steady faithful character, resists the working of His Spirit, destroys confidence and dependence others can place in such persons, and unless they turn they will die. His word to His faithful people is firm certainty rather than mixture, so His directions are to be followed whatever the result may be, while to those who will not hear His voice His message comes in vain, and because they trusted in themselves and did not repent at His rebuke or heed His reproof they shall be surprised, fall, and be taken by the enemy. His true messages are certain, consistent and dependable and bear divine credentials, coming only through a pure holy channel whose spirit and power sanctifies the heart, purifies thoughts and cleanses hands, while messages mixing truth with falsehood, contradicting themselves, proving untrue, coming in rapid words through an impure channel and weaving in human ideas and accusations do not come from Him and must be dropped with purification by obeying truth before harmony is possible.
God’s law is a transcript of His character and remains yea and amen throughout the eternal ages, perfect and unalterable without variableness or shadow of turning. Not the smallest jot or tittle was ever given over to be manipulated, the first intimation of change met a decided no, and rebellion over it led to battle in heaven and expulsion of Satan with his sympathizers, proving He has not abolished His law. Counterfeits including a false Sabbath instituted by the man of sin who thought to change times and laws do not bear God’s signature and cannot annihilate His truth even if endorsed by all the sons and daughters of Adam, though Satan has invented thousands of counterfeit errors made to resemble truth as nearly as possible. Because the Word and its claims are certain, binding and unchanging, ministers must preach it with clearness and tell the people the binding claims of God’s law instead of confusing minds with interpretations that make it of none effect.
The word of God alone is certain, dependable, unchangeable, infallible, firm, eternal and immutable and is to be taken just as it reads, while no man’s asserted ideas or positions are infallible. Claiming infallibility for human positions is dangerous and itself shows fallibility and proves fallibility. Human opinions about interpretation are many and varied and human commentaries disagree, but the Book remains as it is written and its great and blessed facts remain the same, and the Scriptures are not changed to suit men’s ideas. The inspired word does not say yes and no on the same point, so it forbids leaving the plain word for scientific books, strange theories and a wrong train of thought that would mislead souls, and forbids twisting scriptures into long fine-threaded arguments without proofs that people cannot understand and that carry no light. Such study under Satan’s influence is not safe because others will accept the misleading theories at loss of their souls, and the only safe course is to give up wrong thinking and stand on the foundation laid by Him who is true and righteous; likewise the different theories and peculiar views of independent minds each claiming to be especially taught, impressed and led by God cannot all be right, and none justifies setting private judgment against the judgment of the church.
That certainty gives many confirmations of the position and understanding of the sanctuary which figures so prominently in the Word, and no explanation of one scripture is to deny its truth. The definite instruction and promises given to Israel that the richest blessings were in store if they kept His commandments stand firm, because He is the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments. His yea and amen includes His declaration that He will honor those who honor Him by faithfully observing the day He set apart as holy, for though He is love He will not excuse willful disregard of His commands and there remains a decided difference between His disciples and worldlings, between one who serves God and one who serves Him not. The instruction given directly to the representative men of Israel was spoken by the same Christ who afterward stood at the head of the race as divine-human Saviour, and those words on reaching the standard of righteousness and advancing in conquest are spoken to believers today as verily as to Israel and are to be brought into service. The light on health reform kept before God’s people for many years is settled and unchanging, a firm yes rather than wavering yes and no, requiring settled unwavering principles in obedience and forbidding drifting with unsettled principles warped by impulse that misrepresent professed truth and do lasting injury to the soul.
Conditions That Fulfill Promises
All promises are yes and amen in Christ when the conditions of salvation are met by obedient trust, for they are not yes and no but become certain to those who comply with what is plainly required. The faith that lays hold of them must be the right kind of believing faith, cultivated under every circumstance and brought into practical life, since without such faith it is impossible to please God. That obedient closeness is itself the evidence of continual presence and unfailing love, showing tender compassion to the contrite, strength for the tempted, and upholding through infirmity and danger. Kept close in the path of obedience where Satan cannot pluck them away, believers find a very present help in trouble through whom failure and defeat are overcome.
God receives sinners when they repent and forsake their sins, so that He can work with their efforts in seeking perfection of character. The whole purpose in giving His Son for the sins of the world is that people might be saved from sin and not in transgression and unrighteousness. This requires giving up sin, leaving it and hating it, washing the robe of character and making it white in the blood of the Lamb. What He hates He proposes to remove, but the sinner must cooperate with Him, accepting the righteousness of Christ by faith so that the divine will works together with the human.
The pledged promise to pardon transgressors of the law stands firm and certain in Christ and secures full and free salvation. It is for all who give up hope of paying for salvation or earning it and who come to Jesus just as they are, unworthy and sinful. They come resting on His merits, pleading His pledged word, confessing sins and seeking pardon. To receive it they must look away from themselves to Christ.
Believing the word as yes and amen means trusting Christ rather than relying on human advisers or giving Him only casual acknowledgment. Merely nominal belief in Christ as the Son of God does not bring assurance of the promise. Those who do not believe remain under condemnation.
Help Secured by Promises
All the promises are made certain in Christ to the glory of God, and that certainty is clear evidence of His continual presence and unfailing love. It comes as tender compassion to the contrite, strength for the tempted, and bearing up through infirmity and danger. Kept close to Him in the path of obedience where Satan cannot pluck them from His hands, believers find Him a very present help in trouble, so that failure and defeat are overcome through Him. Those who turn to God in trouble gain strength from His promises and receive the efficiency of the Holy Spirit in every time of need, instead of having a feeble experience by making flesh their arm and turning to erring human beings for aid. Those who stop trusting their own efficiency and men prove this certainty by experience, finding close companionship with the Lord, growing knowledge of Him, and love burning more brightly on the altar of the heart.
Because God is faithful to what He has promised, no obedient soul who seeks His help will seek in vain. This certainty provides the means by which temptation may be resisted and overcome, learned by gaining knowledge of the Word and why God would have resistance, for God delivers the godly out of temptation and effectually restrains the power of the enemy that comes through human agencies. Every provision has been made because human strength alone must fail against Satan and divine power is necessary, so in every emergency and trial the soul is to flee to the stronghold and ask in faith for the Holy Spirit and it shall be given. The conditions plainly given by Christ must be complied with, and the soul must be educated to lay hold and hold fast the rich promises with individual faith cherishing that what He has promised is received from Him, so that every weary, burdened, heavy-laden soul that comes and asks receives, for God will be everything He is allowed to be and obedience brings assurance.
The promises can be relied on in faith when asking for divine help in temptation, emergencies, and trials, and those who ask in faith receive the help they need. In sickness, weakness, trembling and helplessness the believer presents the case to the Lord in prayer, asks for healing, believes He will do the very things asked, and is comforted by His grace while holding the promise. Prayer in Jesus' name carries full assurance that God has heard, including prayer for the Great Physician to remove physical exhaustion and impart life-giving power and strength to speak and labor for Him. Prayer for the conversion of unbelieving family members is answered as they step forward to draw nearer to God and receive Christ, and those who ask in faith prove the promise true and grow in faith in Christ who secures the promises. God distinctly pledges Himself to answer prayer and invites to prayer, His living Word is positive and ample assurance, His resources cannot be exhausted, and those who take Him at His word and do their part will see what He will do in their behalf. He guides those who stay humble and earnestly seek to know their duty, and strength will be given equal to the day because His promises are sure to be fulfilled.
Taking hold of the sure promises without slackness brings the help God raises up to rebuild the old waste places and to provide for emergencies among His people, enabling every soul who works in harmony with the Lord to do a strong, united work as laborers together with God. Labor in poor and hindered fields will not prove a failure to those who refuse to lose hold, for trying hindrances prove a blessing by giving opportunity to redeem the past, and when workers are fully proved He brings them forth refined as gold tried in the fire. The burden is to be cast upon Him in full assurance that He who promised is faithful and will never fail those who put their trust in Him, bringing help in due time when earnest efforts must pause for lack of help. All the promises are yes and amen for victory when labor is done in harmony and unity in accordance with His Word, so presenting to God the sure word of His promises enables prevailing with no failure from unsteady walking. Taking by living faith His mercy, knowledge and power lets His salvation be seen, as faith is talked, the full privilege of faith is exercised, the promises are honored, and the Lord is proved to mean just what He says. The rainbow of the covenant around the throne with the mercy seat beneath is the living assurance of acceptance with the Father as long as His throne endures for whoever avails himself of the provisions of mercy and appropriates the merits of Christ's life and death.
Taking Hold in Faith
Christ's promises are completely faithful and certain and are to be honored by believing them at face value, not treated with indifference, not held off while waiting for further evidence, and not set aside to seek advice from distant human help when the Mighty Counselor has declared that he that asks receives. What He promises He wills to do and will do, with no perhaps or if in His word, so His word is to be taken hold of by faith to bring His power right into the life. Mere nominal belief in Christ as Son of God does not bring assurance of the promise, and those who do not believe remain under condemnation. That certainty is to be met with living, working faith even when it may appear like presumption, rebuking unbelief, self-sufficiency and sluggish backwardness, requiring advance, stronger hold on the divine arm, and mixing the promise with faith lest one come short of it.
Believers can come to the heavenly Father as a child comes to an earthly parent to ask for what they need, trusting in the Lord forever in childlike faith that they shall receive. Promises are worth what the maker is worth, and God stands behind His, always the same, ever mindful of His covenant, keeping truth forever with no unfaithfulness in Him, His truth enduring to all generations while heaven and earth will pass away but not one word of His will fail. That certainty forbids doubting His word even when an answer is not returned at once, and calls for steady trust, rejoicing and thankful prayer. God's people should be taught to turn to God when in trouble and gain strength from His promises and receive the efficiency of the Holy Spirit as present help in every time of need, instead of having a feeble experience by making flesh their arm. Instead of turning in test and trial to erring and inefficient human beings for aid, they are to turn to God and seek from Him, proving by experience when they stop trusting their own efficiency and men that He is a very present help, bringing precious experience, encouragement to ask and ask again for power for service, close companionship with the Lord, growing knowledge of Him, and love burning more brightly on the altar of the heart.
The certainty of the promises rests on God's promise and not on changing feelings, so even when believers lack the joy they would like to feel they are to act from principle rather than be governed by varying emotions. One filled with sorrow is not to try to adjust all difficulties but to fasten the eyes on the Sun of Righteousness, turn the face to the light and to the throne of God, keep faith from wavering, put the hand in the hand of Christ, and fight the good fight of faith at any cost, however severe, and lay hold on eternal life. Faith can take God as refuge, trust Him implicitly, travel through trials, endure temptations, bear and live under disappointments and forbidding providences, and hold firm even when waves of trial roll and the soul feels sinking beneath billows that speak of death. The eye of faith sees in Jesus the substitute and surety and ever-living witness that God is true, with the glory of His verity, truth, lovingkindness and tender compassion beaming in Christ's face to end doubt, for He will never break His oath, falsify His word, or alter what has gone out of His mouth, and while human expectations may fail there is no failure in His promises, so depending on power above every human power gains victory with the comfort of grace and the assurance of not being alone but having a Comforter.
Laying hold upon the promises in Christ, where alone they hold true and not outside of Him, opens a new chapter of faith and purifies away everything between the soul and God so that one on trial for life comes forth purified. Believing gives spiritual vitality, muscle and sinew, rich grace and fullness of blessing, fitness for work to be done, and daily confidence in pleading for the Spirit that He will help. In an emergency such as the work in Switzerland over erecting a school building and meeting place, when every effort had been made and opposing minds blocked the way, taking hold means praying, refusing to give up or waver, asking to be taught what to do, trusting Him to keep what is committed and strengthen faith, and holding on with one mind until unbelief is brushed away wave after wave by the Spirit and every point is carried. The mighty assurances in Christ and His word are to be leaned upon, taken hold of, made the strong testimony, honored, proved, talked in faith, and repeated aloud as the words of Christ, especially when a strong spirit of unbelief is brought in by evil agencies assembling to counterwork the Spirit, instead of catching up and repeating discouraging human words.
They are given for encouragement in emergency, depression, discouragement and disappointment over spiritual lack, to be claimed when halting and disaffection appear, enabling prevailing with no need for failure from unsteady walking, so that taking by living faith His mercy, knowledge and power lets His salvation be seen. Those who have received His tokens, blessings, riches of grace and great light must open the door of the lips to thanksgiving, praise, refreshing words and words of hope and courage that impart grace to others, instead of evil surmisings, evil feelings, faultfinding and speech against one another that creates stumbling blocks to perdition. They must respond with gratitude, tenderness, sympathy, compassion and love that breaks every yoke and lets the oppressed go free, for man interposing himself turns aside mercy and increases suffering, want and woe, and unless grace is revealed for grace the rich grace will be removed. People should not lean on human promises like broken reeds or carry wants to men as if fellow men can be trusted but the Lord cannot, and should not grieve the Spirit by distrust but honor Him by believing. When received and believed, God's word is accepted as yes and amen by every earnest seeker, who finds it true and certain, is turned from error to an understanding of present truth, and receives blessing in rich measure through converted workers.
Proclaiming With Certainty
Those through whom God works magnify the truth as entrusted talents by imparting what has been received and speaking the truth in love in a clear decided manner to enlighten others, in sincerity and humility without exalting self, supposing infallibility, seeking to rule, or exercising severity and dominion over faith and consciences, remembering that only God can impress the mind and purify the heart. Ministers do not set themselves up as lords over faith and consciences, for no man is placed as god over God's people and no conference president or leader may claim arbitrary power to forbid or permit as he chooses or become a law unto the church, since all are under the rulership of Christ. Instead they avoid all severity they can, labor by kindly persuasion to promote joy and lead from errors, and fulfill duty by faith through Christlikeness rather than authority.
God's servants are to open the word and show its certainty distinctly, laboring in Christ's stead with unceasing vigilance and diligence for souls, following up every advantage and bringing the mind to decision before the first powerful impression of the Spirit wears away. They are to teach biblical truth clearly and in the Spirit's power just as the Bible and Christ teach it, with no new views, human theories, conjectures, sophistries, or theories contrary to the word, because God's word rather than human assertions or traditions is the sure ground to present. Those who have the light must first talk with God until the burden is laid on the soul by the Spirit, then proclaim truth in its purity with clearness and fervency so no tares are mingled with the seed and it commends itself to men and women of good judgment.
The message for this time must be yes and amen in clear distinct testimony with a certain sound and not a muffled message, bearing living testimony that truth is the test of character, with God's people rooted, grounded, undivided and with an undivided message proclaiming the truth that brings the crisis. At camp meetings with the world as the field the first, second and third angels' messages must blend as a complete whole, losing no force but increasing in intensity under the Holy Spirit until the earth is filled with light and power to prepare a people for the great crisis. Heaven's yes and amen must bring up the rear of every movement for God or the worker will lose the reward of success, for truth stated calmly and clearly enters the mind and becomes part of the nature with sound thoughts bearing influence in a new divine channel while the Spirit remolds the character, so every effort must be weeded of strong extravagant expressions leading to overaction.
God's instruction is firmly affirmed and his designated course is certain and unchanging, so workers must follow it with settled principles remembering God and eternity and guarding spiritual and physical health even when tempted by family or impulse to do otherwise. They must not drift with unsettled principles warped by impulse that misrepresent professed truth, mold the work wrongly, and do lasting injury to the soul, for such wavering misrepresents the truth professed while truth that appeals to reason gives decided influence for right. God's work is firm and settled and not to be trifled with, and the principles of his word are certain and binding to be carried out in life by cultivating moral sensibilities and putting them into practice. Obedience to his expressed will is the highest incentive involving the eternal interest of the soul, letting the word abide within as a priceless treasure of his wisdom with no doubting and no wavering.
Because God's word is certain, ministers must preach its binding claims with clearness, including the law as the transcript of his character, instead of confusing minds with interpretations that make it of none effect. They must bear decided testimony in all churches presenting truth so as to work a decided inward-to-outward reformation transforming character, for dependence is always to be placed on God and his word while man cannot be depended on, and all labor for souls will be null and void without that transforming presentation. Pure truth unadulterated with man's spirit and finite ideas must not be held back for fear stirred up by contentious subjects. Mere scholastic attainment and book knowledge even by diligent study does not give the experience that prepares for present and future life or trains self and other minds.
Faith has no grounds for hypothetical excuses because God's word is dependable with no perhaps or if about his requirements or his power to fulfill what he has promised, but trusts his power, acts on his promises, relies wholly on his faithfulness and applies them in every circumstance. Through this he works out his purposes, sanctifies the character, and brings a purified life that gives him glory. Conflicting private theories cannot all be presented as God's leading when they contradict one another, and individuals of independent minds each claiming to be especially taught, impressed and led by God with different theories and peculiar views cannot all be right, so none justifies setting private judgment against the judgment of the church or drawing away from the body.
Changing leaders and tearing down what was once advocated as truth goes against God's steady faithful character, resists the working of his Spirit, destroys confidence and dependence others can place in such persons, violates right relationship that makes people light-bearers, and unless they turn they will die. True messages from God are certain, consistent and dependable and bear divine credentials, coming only through a pure holy channel whose spirit and power sanctifies the heart, purifies thoughts and cleanses hands. Messages mixing truth with falsehood, contradicting themselves, proving untrue, coming in rapid words through an impure channel and weaving in human ideas and accusations do not come from him and must be dropped with purification by obeying truth before harmony is possible.
In the last days the education of the people is to be firm reliance upon the certain sufficient full and complete word, studying from cause to effect, discerning the spirit of everything claiming to be a direct message from heaven including self-styled prophets, understanding what to endorse and set aside, and refusing to turn from the word to human agencies and a lower standard. The certainty of God's declaration rebukes unbelief, self-sufficiency and sluggish backwardness and requires those with great light, truth and evidence to take him at his word with living working faith even when it may appear like presumption, advance, hold the divine arm more strongly, and mix the promise with faith lest they come short of it. Uniting with Christ brings full abundant grace and salvation that makes people true earnest self-sacrificing workmen preparing the way for the Lord's coming, as God's promises, warnings, mercy and fatherly dealing with Israel are understood, heeded and gratefully appreciated under the Holy Spirit's gracious influence instead of left unheeded through lack of spiritual understanding and failure to improve privileges.
God's directions are to be followed whatever the result may be, for to those who will not hear his voice his message comes in vain, and because they trusted in themselves and would not repent at his rebuke or heed his reproof they shall be surprised, fall and be taken by the enemy. The Lord's work must be yes and amen and not yes and no, firm decisive and ever advancing in the narrow path, firm and settled and binding and therefore not to be trifled with. The word fulfilled in Christ brings the help that enables every soul working in harmony with the Lord to do a strong united work, rebuilding the old waste places and providing for emergencies, with all promises yes and amen for victory when labor is done in harmony and unity according to his word so that presenting his sure word enables prevailing with no need for failure from unsteady walking. Faith in the word brings fulfillment of his promises when reliance is placed on God and not on the word of man, for what Christ promises he wills to do and will do, so taking hold of his word by faith brings his power into the life.