Faithfulness

Faithfulness conveys the idea of loyalty and fidelity, and of being persuaded or convinced about the rightness of holding to a course of action or a person. As with all the ‘flavours' that make up the fruit of the Spirit, it does not live in isolation from any of the others. Faithfulness is seen writ large in God's dealing with us, especially if we consider that there might be many reasons we could supply, why God might justly leave us to face His wrath. We see the history of His faithfulness in His holding to the promise of a Saviour, a promise firstly which was given to Israel and which stood fast despite their back-sliding.

After the giving of the promised Saviour, His faithfulness is seen to His church in providing preachers, protecting the existence of the Bible and answering prayer. The response we are to make is to be faithful to Him when many are not and to be faithful to each other, especially in the context of the local church. Faithfulness to fellow believers is accounted as faithfulness to God Himself.