Topical Bible: Steadfastness: Exhibited by God in all his Purposes and Ways

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Definition and Nature:
Steadfastness refers to the unwavering, resolute, and firm nature of God in His purposes and actions. It is a divine attribute that underscores God's reliability, faithfulness, and unchanging nature. This characteristic assures believers of God's constant presence and unalterable promises.

Biblical Foundation:
The steadfastness of God is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, affirming His unchanging nature and eternal purposes. In Malachi 3:6, God declares, "For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed." This verse highlights God's immutability, a cornerstone of His steadfastness.

Exhibited in Creation and Sustenance:
God's steadfastness is evident in the order and consistency of creation. Psalm 33:11 states, "The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations." This verse emphasizes that God's plans are eternal and unshakable, reflected in the stability of the natural world.

Faithfulness to His Promises:
God's steadfastness is particularly manifest in His faithfulness to His promises. Numbers 23:19 affirms, "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?" This assurance of God's reliability is a source of comfort and hope for believers.

Covenantal Faithfulness:
Throughout the Bible, God's steadfastness is demonstrated in His covenantal relationships. In Deuteronomy 7:9, it is written, "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments." God's unwavering commitment to His covenants underscores His steadfast nature.

Manifested in Salvation History:
The history of salvation is a testament to God's steadfastness. Despite human unfaithfulness, God remains true to His redemptive plan. In Lamentations 3:22-23, we read, "Because of the LORD’s loving devotion we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!" This passage highlights God's enduring mercy and faithfulness, renewed daily.

Steadfast Love:
God's steadfastness is often associated with His steadfast love, or "hesed" in Hebrew. This covenantal love is enduring and unchanging. Psalm 136 repeatedly emphasizes, "His loving devotion endures forever," illustrating the perpetual nature of God's love and faithfulness.

Implications for Believers:
The steadfastness of God provides a foundation for trust and confidence in the life of a believer. Hebrews 10:23 encourages, "Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful." Believers are called to emulate God's steadfastness in their own lives, standing firm in faith and commitment.

Conclusion:
The steadfastness of God is a profound assurance of His unchanging nature and eternal purposes. It is a source of hope and stability for believers, affirming that God's promises are sure and His love is everlasting.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: has he said, and shall he not do it? or has he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Daniel 6:26
I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even to the end.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no ficklenss, neither shadow of turning.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Last Interview of Paul with the Elders of Ephesus.
... and duties of Christianity, so he exhibited them in ... furnishing the most powerful
motives to steadfastness in their ... my generation according to the will of God. ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xxiv the last interview.htm

Answer to Eunomius' Second Book .
... blow to plant our foot upon the fallen foe, so that enemy of the truth may be exhibited
as much as ... It is to God, then, that we owe all that intelligence ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/answer to eunomius second book.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... subjects of the Medes, but the god had replied ... of his life reveals an energy and
steadfastness of purpose ... the lower quarters, and concentrated all his forces on ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm