FAITHFUL

Faithfulness carries the idea of integrity, steadfastness, true, dependable, etc. Two important emphases of this quality are stressed in the Bible. (a) God is faithful is all things (see Psa. 36:5; 100:5; Lam. 3:23). This means one can have absolute confidence in his promises and thus live in marvelous hope. Also, however, it implies that his warnings will not fail. There will be swift and certain retribution for those who flaunt divine grace and the plan through which it is expressed. (b) God demands faithfulness in human beings. The N.T. stresses faithfulness as a quality in Christian people. Christ is our example in this regard (Heb. 2:17; 3:2; Rev. 1:5; 3:14). A number of outstanding Christians are held up in the N.T. as models of faithfulness (see 1 Cor. 4:17; Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:9; 1 Pet. 5:12). Paul affirmed his own fidelity (1 Cor. 7:25; 1 Tim. 1:12). While it is true that the child of God will never reach a plateau of perfection in this life (Phil. 3:12ff), he must strive for faithfulness. Faithfulness is the standard for receiving the "crown of life" (Rev. 2:10). The Calvinistic notion that because "God is faithful," his children can never so stray as to become unfaithful, and thus be lost, is anti-biblical.