2 Corinthians 1:20 (R.V.)
God's Certainties and Man's Certitudes.
I. Note first God's certainties in Christ. (1) There is the certainty about God's heart. The hopes and shadowy fore-revelations of the loving heart of God are confirmed by the fact of Christ's life and death. (2) In Him we have the certainty of pardon. (3) Again, we have in Christ Divine certainties in regard to life. We have certainties for life in the matter of protection, guidance, supply of all necessity, and the like, treasured and garnered in Jesus Christ. (4) Lastly, in Christ we have the Divine certainties as to the future, over which, apart from Him, lie cloud and darkness.
II. Note, secondly, man's certitudes, which answer to God's certainties. The latter are inChrist, the former are throughChrist. Now it is clear that the only fitting attitude for professing Christians in reference to these certainties of God is the attitude of unhesitating affirmation and joyful assent. Certitude is the fitting response to certainty. If we keep near Christ our faith will bring us the present experience and fulfilment of the promises, and we shall be sure of them, because we have them already.
A. Maclaren, The Unchanging Christ,p. 82.
References: 2 Corinthians 1:20. S. D. Thomas, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxvi., p. 200; Preacher's Monthly,vol. ii., p. 234; Sermons on the Catechism,p. 135; F. Temple, Rugby Sermons,1st series, p. 235.