For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you — Silvanus, Timothy, and I — did not become “Yes and no.” Rather, in him it is always “Yes.” For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. And so through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 1:19-20)

God says “Yes” to his own promises in Christ, and through Christ we also say “Yes” to God’s promises. Jesus is God’s “Yes” to us, and Jesus, as we affirm our faith in him, is our “Yes” to God. When we take hold of a promise from God, or as we pray for something that we want, we never have to say, “Grant this, if it is your will.” We never have to think, God might or might not answer. We never have to think, he will give us what we ask, if it is his will.

Since God himself declares that Jesus took our infirmities and carried our sicknesses, it makes no sense to think that “I will be healed, if it is God’s will.” It is too late for that. It makes no sense to take a promise from God and tell him that we receive it, and then think, “We will get it, if it is his will.” He already made the promise, and in Christ he already said “Yes” to his own promise.

The issue is not whether God says “Yes” to his own promise, but whether we say “Amen” to his promise. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we preach, is not “Yes and no.” Imagine preaching Christ to the unbelievers and say, “Behold Jesus Christ who was crucified for the sins of the world. Believe in him and you shall be saved, or you might not be saved.” That would be absurd. It would not be the gospel.

So when we consider all the other things that God offers us in Christ, such as answers to prayer, miracles of healing and deliverance, and blessings of prosperity and protection, why do we say “Yes and no”? Why would anyone think that God would say “Yes” or “No,” depending on his will in each instance? How many instances of Christ are there? There is only one Christ, and there is only “Yes” in him.

Here is God’s “Yes” — “Yes” to his own promises, “Yes” to our claims and desires. Now where is our “Amen”? God is saying “Yes.” We are the only ones saying “Yes and no.” When we also say “Yes,” then the promises are fulfilled in our lives. When we say “Yes,” then the miracles happen in our experience.

Many Christians read a promise from God and wonder, “Will God do it? What will he decide this time?” as if God will sometimes break his own promise. This is what theology has done — it is what bad theology has done, and it seems that almost all theology in history has been bad theology. This is why most people are suspicious of theology. Some of them think that theology in any form represents disbelief toward God’s word. It is hard to blame them.

We must hate the kind of theology that portrays Christ as “Yes and no” rather than a simple “Yes” from God. The only good kind of theology, and the only true kind of theology, is the kind that takes Jesus Christ as God’s “Yes” to us. Christ is always a “Yes” and only a “Yes” from God. He has said “Yes” to all of his promises, and his “Yes” does not turn into a “No.”

In Christ, God has said “Yes” to his own promises of salvation and forgiveness. He has said “Yes” to his promises of healing and prophecy, speaking in tongues, and signs and wonders. He has said “Yes” to his promises of prosperity and success, of favor and honor. He has said “Yes” to his promises of protection and immunity from foolish and needless suffering.

The faith that is counted as righteousness will never say “Who will bring Christ down to die for me?” each time it needs healing. The faith that is counted as righteousness will never say “Who will bring Christ back from the dead?” each time it needs forgiveness. These things have already happened. Christ came to earth and suffered in our place, and then he rose from the dead and brought us with him. The theology that wonders what God will decide each time it needs something is not the faith that is counted as righteousness. This kind of faith, which is in fact unbelief, cannot be counted as righteousness. Therefore, there is no salvation in it. This kind of faith, or faithlessness, is doomed to burn in hell.

But what does faith say? According to Scripture, the faith that is counted as righteousness says, “The word of God is near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart.” Jesus Christ is God’s permanent “Yes” to us. Now we are to believe his word in our hearts and confess it with our mouths. We are to say “Yes” back to God. That is when salvation happens. That is when healing happens. That is when prosperity happens. That is when protection happens. That is when the baptism of the Holy Spirit happens.

If we say “No” or “Yes and no,” then there is no faith. Refuse to allow Satan and the Faithless to smuggle a “No” to God in your thinking, in your doctrine, in your prayer or daily speech. In the name of God, cast them out into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. They are anti-Christ. Cast them out of your life. Cast them out of your family and your church, so that you may live in the power and liberty of God’s “Yes” to you. In Christ, God always says “Yes” to you. Through Christ, let us always say “Yes” to God.