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Faithfulness
“Faithfulness”
The Greek word, translated “faith” (KJV) and “faithfulness” (NKJV), is “pistis.” Thayer defines the word as “conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with it…relating to God…the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ…relating to Christ…a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God…the religious beliefs of Christians…belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith in the same…fidelity, faithfulness…the character of one who can be relied on” (Thayer, 849).
So, does this word, as used in Gal. 5:22, refer to the conviction that there is a God and trust in Him? Or, is it best translated “faithfulness” (as the NKJV, ESV, ASV, and others have done)? I believe that “faithfulness” best fits the context of things that will result from a Spirit-led life.
Faithfulness Is A Characteristic Of God
Just as other attributes we have noted, faithfulness is also a characteristic of God that must be imitated (Eph. 5:1). “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:9). “But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No” (2 Cor. 1:18). “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13). “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
What does it mean for God to be faithful? We can always be sure that God will do exactly what He says He will do. God cannot lie (Tit. 1:2). In the area of temptation, we can be certain that we can overcome any temptation that comes our way. Why? We can have this hope because God is faithful and will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear. In the area of forgiveness, God has promised that He will forgive our sins (provided we do our part). Though we must try to live our lives following the pattern set by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we will sin (1 John 1:8, 10). Without the forgiveness of God, we would be hopeless once again. However, thanks be to God! We can have confidence in the knowledge that God is faithful to His promise to forgive!
If our God was unfaithful…. In contrast to faithfulness is unfaithfulness. What if we could not count on God? What if God had the characteristic of being unfaithful? How devastated we would be! How hopelessly lost we would be! How uncertain our lives would be while we live on earth! Thanks be to our God who is truly the very definition of faithful!
Faithfulness Results When We Live By The Spirit
Beginning steps of faith. The beginning of our faith is that point at which we are convicted in the fact that there is a God and that we will take the necessary steps to be obedient to Him. By faith, we become children of God by putting on Christ in baptism (Gal. 3:26-27). However, these steps are simply the beginning. According to our Lord, we must be faithful until death if we desire to be rewarded (Rev. 2:10).
The Spirit-led life. If we walk according to the Spirit, we have taken these necessary steps to enter into a covenant relationship with God. Consider the covenant that exists between God and His children. “And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people. Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty” (2 Cor. 6:16-18). “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Heb. 8:10-12). The life that is led by the Spirit will be a life that develops this characteristic of faithfulness to the Lord no matter what the earthly circumstances are.
Faithfulness to God demonstrates that He can count on us. God wants His followers to be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” since we know that our labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58). Whenever difficult times arise, God desires followers who will be dedicated to the covenant that He has made with us. He does not want someone who will waver at the sign of trouble. Further, He expects that His children be dedicated to Him first (Matt. 22:37-38). Whenever we choose to pursue our own fleshly desires above Him, we have broken the covenant and have been unfaithful to Him. Can God count on you to be true to your commitment?
Faithfulness to God demonstrates that others can count on us. Not only does God expect His children to be faithful to Him, He also expects His children to be faithful to others. That is, God expects His children to be reliable in the sight of others. “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col. 3:9-10). Can others depend on you to keep your word? Can they depend on you to help them in times of need (even if it is a sacrifice on your part)? Can they trust that you will look out for their best interests (even over your own)? Evaluate. Are you faithful to yourself? “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:39).
- Eric Krieg -
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
