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Bible Facts

Yes and Amen Christianity

From the “Bible Facts” Newspaper Column, by Ian Kurylyk, August 2012

"But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay" (II Corinthians 1:18)

The Apostle Paul had had to change his plans that he made about visiting the church at Corinth.  There were people there that were only too glad to turn it into an opportunity to criticize him.  Oh, with Paul its yes, yes, and then its no, no, they would say.

Paul responded to this accusation of instability by reminding them of the character of the message he had brought to them when he came to Corinth preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  (Our word toward you was not yea and nay.)

This is a warning of a kind of Christianity that has no absolute promises.  It tells folk they might get to heaven, but there are no certainties – no promises.  Or it teaches of a salvation that is yes (yea) today, but you could lose tomorrow (nay).

Paul preached salvation through Christ and it was a message of certainty.  To trust Him is an absolute yes.  “For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea” (II Corinthians 1:19).  How could anyone be content with a “yes and no” or “maybe” message of eternal life?  How can anybody face eternity without finding a sure way of salvation?

Bible Christianity is based on an absolute promise.  “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (II Corinthians 1:20).  The Scriptures contain many  promises of God.  The way to make God’s promise of eternal life yours for sure, and for good, is to believe in His Son.  It is through Him salvation is made personal.  The promises of God are not “yes and no” in Jesus Christ but are “yes and amen”.  The matter of the welfare of your soul is settled in the Saviour.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).