(15) And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit; (16) And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judea. (17) When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay? (18) But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. (19) For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. (20) For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
There are several things contained in these verses, which have a special and particular reference to the Church at Corinth, which will not require to he noticed. I mean such as the Apostle's intention of visiting them, and granting to them a second benefit. But I pass over these considerations, which are of a private nature, to attend to such, as are of a public concern to the whole Church of God, in all ages; and which are of too much importance to be hastily passed over. I pray the Lord to be the Teacher, both of him that writes, and him that reads, on this momentous doctrine.
And, first. I beg the Reader to observe what Paul saith, that his doctrine was not yea, and nay. He almost seems to swear to it. As God is true, saith he. These are solemn words. When Jehovah affirms anything, of more than ordinary solemnity, his words are: As I live, saith the Lord. It is in the form of an oath. It is the Lord's peculiar prerogative of speaking; and therefore highly unsuitable to be used in common conversation. Paul, therefore, is very solemn in what he saith. See Numbers 14:21; Isaiah 49:18; Jeremiah 22:24; Ezekiel 5:11 etc.
Secondly. What Paul preached, was not a Yea and Nay Gospel: that is, not an uncertain, peradventure creed. He did not halt between two opinions. Paul made it not a yea, and nay, whether Jehovah in his threefold character of Persons had, or had not chosen the Church in Christ, before the foundation of the world. He did not preach that Christ so died for the salvation of sinners that it was yea, and nay, how many would be saved, and how many not. He did not compliment man, at the excellence of God's truth; and left it at a peradventure, whether after God the Father's choice of the Church, and Christ's redemption of the Church, any of his little ones should perish! Oh! what a yea and nay doctrine is that, which makes the matter doubtful. As if God the Father had chosen, Christ's death had purchased the salvation of his people, God the Spirit had regenerated his people; and yet it was yea, and nay, whether such should be saved. Well might the Apostle speak with such a vehemency, and appeal to God as true, that his doctrine, his preaching, his word, was of no such doubtful issue.
Thirdly. What Paul preached was, Jesus Christ the Son of God. And this was no yea and nay doctrine. Jesus Christ is the sum and substance of the whole Bible. Jehovah's, that is, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost's one grand and only Ordinance of Heaven for salvation. In Jesus Christ is included all. No moral essays. No covenant of works. No law and Gospel mingled together. Not partly man, and partly God. Not for man to do his best, (for that best would deserve condemnation), and Christ to do the rest. But Christ all, and in all. This was what Paul preached. And in Christ all was yea, without nay.
Fourthly. All the promises in the Bible are to this amount. There is not a promise out of Christ. There is not a promise but in Christ. Until I have Christ, I have no claim to a single promise. Christ himself is the first Promise, which came in with the fall of man. The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head, Genesis 3:15. And all the after promises arise out of this. Hence, all the promises of God in him, are yea, and in him, Amen: that is, certain and sure.
This then, was the sum and substance of all Paul's preaching. And the glory of God became manifested by it, in every instance where the Lord confirmed it. Reader! pause over the subject; for it is highly interesting. Ask your own heart, whether the Lord hath given you such precious views, concerning the Yea, and Amen; the fulness, and suitableness, and all-sufficiency, which is in Christ Jesus?