Useful Bible Studies > 2 Corinthians Commentary > chapter 1
By ‘yes’ and ‘no’, Paul is referring to how people change their plans to suit their own desires. They do whatever pleases them.
That is not how a Christian should behave; and it is not how Christ behaves. God’s promises are certain; we can always trust his words. God does not change his mind to suit the circumstances*.
God has made his promises so that his people may have confidence in him*. God fulfils (carries out) all his promises by means of Christ. For example, God promised to free his people from the power of death*. He will do it by means of Christ*.
God has made the promise, and Christ declares ‘yes’ to that promise. Then we reply ‘Amen’, to give praise to God. Here there is a reference to the form of prayer that Christians still follow today. ‘Amen’ means ‘it is true’; it is a word to express agreement with a statement or a prayer. Paul shows us in 1 Corinthians 14:16 that the Christians in Corinth did that.
So God has made the promise, and Christ has carried out the promise. We receive the benefit if we accept it for ourselves. For example, God has promised to save people who turn to him*. Christ died on the cross in order to carry out God’s promise*. We receive the benefit of that promise if we invite Christ into our lives*.
Christ does not say ‘no’, because he does not refuse to carry out God’s promises. So we can depend on God’s promises. God has made the promise; Christ has carried out the promise. We only need to accept it for ourselves. God wants us all to trust him.
Next part: The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of God’s promises (1:21-22)
* See complete article for these Bible references.
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© 2016, Keith Simons.