NOT “YES and NO”

"But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No . . . For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us" (2 Cor 1:18-20, NKJV)

AN understanding of what God has given to us in Christ is to be sought with great energy. The New Covenant, ratified by the blood of Christ, reflects a wisdom and glory so grand it cannot be perceived to any degree by the disinterested. In this text, the nature of our salvation is described in unusual words. They set the New Covenant apart from the Old Covenant, showing it to be superior.

UNDER the Old Covenant, both favor and torments were brought together. "The blessings AND the cursings" were an integral part of the covenant itself (Josh 8:34). When the covenant was read to the people, the blessings were read from Mount Gerizim, and the cursings from Mount Ebal (Deut 27:12-13). Both were awesome in their words and implications.

WHEN it comes to the New Covenant, there is an alarming tendency for men imagine it is like the Old Covenant. However, it is emphatically "not according to the covenant" made at Mount Sinai, with curses as well as blessings. If you doubt this is the case, read the New Covenant for yourself (Jer 31:33-34; Heb 8:10-12; 10:16-17). There is not a solitary curse found in it–not a single one! There is not a "Thou shalt" in it – not a solitary one! There is not a "Thou shalt not" in it – not one. It consists only of promises – Divine commitments. Read it! "This IS the covenant . . . " (Jer 31:33-34; Heb 8:10-12; 10:16-17). This does not mean God has no commandments for His people, or that there are no prohibitions. It does mean they are not part of the covenant itself. The Covenant is categorically called "the Promise" in Romans 4:13-16 and Galatians 3:14-29).

WITH this in mind, look at our text again. The Apostle says his word, or message, was NOT "Yes and No." From one standpoint, his preaching was not wavering and uncertain, but sure. The reason for this, however, was because of the nature of the gospel (the message of the Covenant) itself. It is NOT a composite of blessings and cursings, all of which make for uncertainty, doubt, and fear. The reason the New Covenant can be so described is because it all hinges upon Christ Jesus, and not upon human accomplishment. Further, our affiliation with Christ is by faith, and not by works of righteousness we have done.

ALL of this is marvelously confirmed in the 20th verse. "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us." In Christ, nothing is withheld from us that God has promised! God is glorified by this circumstance, for it draws attention to the effectiveness of both Christ's sacrifice and our faith. The door to the rich repository of Divine promises has been opened by Jesus, and we are "in Him." As we stand in this large door, opened to us by God's grace, we are to utter the "AMEN" of agreement and reception to all of those promises. The person who does this in faith "has set his seal to this, that God is true" (John 3:33, NASB). He has believed the "report God has given of His Son" 91 John 5:10-11), and thus made all of the promises his own. In our belief of and acquiescence to the promises, God Himself will confirm the truth of them to our hearts. That is, we will experience the fulfillment of them in ourselves. The New Covenant is NOT "Yes and No!"
– Given O. Blakely