Message
The Amen
2 Corinthians 1:18-22
Key Verse 1:20
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
When we study the word of God in the Bible, there are so many messages and promises. Some people might think that some of these messages and promises apply to themselves, while others do not. Maybe they become confused. Maybe one person has an inferiority complex and he thinks that some of the promises in the Bible just sound too great that surely they don’t apply to him. Others who might want to keep on enjoying their sinful pleasures might accept some promises in the Bible. Maybe they like the promise of the Kingdom of God, yet, they won’t accept other the promises of God, like the promise of judgment and salvation. All of God’s promises are true and unchanging, however. In this passage, when Apostle Paul is writing to the Church in Corinth, it appears that they were having problems accepting all of the promises of God as true.
In vs. 18 and 19 Paul says, “But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not ‘Yes’ and ‘No.’ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not ‘Yes’ and ‘No,’ but in him it has always been ‘Yes.’”
Here Paul is assuring the believers in the Corinthian Church that the answer to all of God’s promises is “yes”. The key point Paul is making in vs. 18 and 19 is that the promises of God are all yes, “in Him.” In Him. “In Him” means “in Christ”. How does someone become in Him or in Christ? To be in Jesus, one needs to believe in Jesus.
Again in vs. 20 Apostle Paul says, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.” Here it says, clearly that in Christ the answer to all of God’s promises is “Yes.”
In the second part of the verse we see the word Amen. What does the word ‘Amen’ mean? Amen means simply “So be it” or “Let it be done”. In this verse the Amen is referring to the word of God. In John 1:1b it also tells us that the word of God and God are the same. When God speaks, not a single word is dropped. Each word God speaks is completed. Each promise God has issued has and will be completed, because God is the Amen.
One promise I really like is found in Matthew 18:20, “20For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” There was a time when my wife and I both lost our jobs. We were trying to get by with two kids, paying rent, and paying all of our other bills and debts on two unemployment checks. It didn’t even come close. So my wife Doris and I prayed together. We even had our daughter join in our prayer, and maybe even one time our 2 year old son let out a prayer. After the first time we all prayed together I got a job interview within days, and began working about a week later at a very decent job where I am still working. This job is pays better and is closer to our home than the one I lost. Thank God for his promises which are all “yes” in Christ.
In the last part of vs. 20 it makes the point that preaching the word of God brings glory to God. So you can feel confident that when you teach the word of God to a college student, or someone else you are bringing glory to God. Also to teach the word of God is also the very best way to be in Jesus or ‘In Him’. To teach the word of God and work to raise disciples, with the intent to save as many people as possible into the Kingdom of Heaven in addition to dying on cross as the Lamb of God, was the key point of Jesus ministry.
Vs. 21 says, “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He appointed us.” The point here is that when we are in Jesus, we stand firm by God’s power. If you are wealthy, you can buy a variety of insurance plans to hopefully protect you from all the tragedies and hardships that might come your way. Yet just think how during the recent severe rains, many people’s homes were damaged or destroyed. Many people lost everything. Yet, in Jesus we stand firm by God’s power. God is our insurance plan. He covers everything.
Vs. 21b, 22 says, “He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” By anointing us, basically God has equipped us with the power we need to do the work he has planned for us to do. Just to name a couple of examples from the Bible, remember in OT, how Samuel anointed King David and even his predecessor with oil even though Saul failed. . God’s anointing equips one with the power needed to do God’s work. Jesus the promised Messiah servant of God is called the Anointed One. In the same way, when we are called to be a child of God, and live as his servants, God equips us by His anointing.
Also God puts his seal of ownership on us. We are God’s children. We each have parents, and we live in this world, but we are God’s children.
Lastly when it says that he put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, the Spirit Paul is referring to is the Holy Spirit. In the passage, it says that this Spirit is a deposit from God. Basically, this deposit from God is kind of his down payment in our hearts, securing for us our final destiny in heaven. Also through the Holy Spirit we can get a glimpse of what is to come.
During this conference we will study and learn several promises of God. The ultimate promise is the promise of Jesus resurrection. So when we listen to God’s word, let’s not have a yes and no attitude, but let’s have an attitude that all of God’s promises are yes in Christ.
One Word: God’s promises are yes in Christ.