Bible Studies

Paul tells Timothy to be a Good Soldier of Christ Jesus Part 9

2 Timothy 2:12-13 If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us: If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself. KJV

Now in concluding this first part of the second chapter of Paul's second letter to Brother Timothy, Paul wants Timothy and everyone of us who are true believers now and in every era and generation to know that since we are now identified with our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, there is a cost down here on the earth during our pilgrimage that is inevitable for every faithful believer and that is suffering, so Paul writes these words to Timothy, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us:" (2 Timothy 2:12) (KJV). This verse of Scripture along with many more absolutely destroys the false gospel of health, wealth, and prosperity and is another testimony for me of why I despise those real false prophets or better 'profits' who lure unsuspecting souls in with their web of lies and in some cases, even true believers of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ Jesus our Lord never promises His followers a life of lavishness, luxury, and leisure as His servant, but He does promise that He will take care of our earthly needs (Matthew 6:25-34), but at the same time He also promises that everyone of His faithful sons and daughters will suffer for His name sake as the Apostle John wrote with these words spoken by our Lord Jesus, "If the people of this world hate you, just remember that they hated me first. If you belonged to the world, its people would love you. But you don't belong to the world. I have chosen you to leave the world behind, and that is why its people hate you. Remember how I told you that servants are not greater than their master. So if people mistreat Me, they will mistreat you. If they do what I say, they will do what you say. People will do to you exactly what they did to Me. They will do it because you belong to Me, and they don't know the One who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin. Everyone who hates Me also hates My Father." (John 15:18-23) (Contemporary English Version).

The little English phrase 'we suffer' is translated by the Greek word hupomenō meaning (as used here) figuratively to undergo, that is, bear (trials). The little English phrase 'reign with' is translated by the Greek word sumbasileuō meaning to be co-regent (figuratively): - reign with or rule with. In other words, we redeemed, regenerated, and resurrected sinners will not only have the privilege of all our sins being blotted out (Acts 3:19), but we will also have the honor of ruling and reigning with our Lord Jesus Christ in His Kingdom, just as Paul wrote in two other places in the Word of God this very idea, first to the Corinthian Church with these words, "Don't you know that God's people will judge the world? And if you are going to judge the world, can't you settle small problems? Don't you know that we will judge angels? And if that is so, we can surely judge everyday matters." (1 Corinthians 6:2-3) (Contemporary English Version) and second to the believers in Rome with these words, "God's Spirit doesn't make us slaves who are afraid of Him. Instead, we become His children and call Him our Father. God's Spirit makes us sure that we are His children. His Spirit lets us know that together with Christ we will be given what God has promised. We will also share in the glory of Christ, because we have suffered with Him. I am sure that what we are suffering now cannot compare with the glory that will be shown to us." (Romans 8:15-18) (Contemporary English Version).

When Paul writes, 'if we deny Him, he means that if we deny that we belong to Christ in order to escape suffering for His name sake. The little English word 'deny' is translated by the Greek word arneomai which means to contradict, that is, disavow, reject, abnegate: - deny, refuse. When Paul writes, 'He also will deny us', he means that our Lord Jesus Christ has not children who will deny or refuse to acknowledge that they belong to Him out of fear of persecution or because of being ashamed of Him or to get some temporary earthy advantage like money or things. In other words, Christ true believers/followers are not declaring themselves/ourselves as Christians for any reason or purpose other than our love for Him our Redeemer and our Savior and our only Lord. Therefore, those who claim to be or who call themselves Christians and deny Jesus Christ for any reason prove themselves to be counterfeits (remember that counterfeit money looks a lot like the real thing and fools many people sometimes for a long time) and are revealed as such at our Lord Jesus Christ appearance as He declares with these words, "If you are ashamed of Me and My message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when He comes in His glory and in the glory of His Father and the holy angels." (Luke 9:26) (Contemporary English Version) and "If you tell others that you belong to Me, the Son of Man will tell God's angels that you are My followers. But if you reject Me, you will be rejected in front of them." (Luke 12:8-9) (Contemporary English Version).

God the Father cannot deny Himself, therefore, it is impossible for Him to be unfaithful to Himself and to His eternal word, so Paul wants to reaffirm this to Brother Timothy so that he can pass this truth on to those who will listen to the words spoken and written by Timothy, so he declares this truth with these words, "If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself." (2 Timothy 2:13) (KJV). The little English phrase 'we believe not' is translated by the Greek word apisteō which means to be unbelieving, that is, (transitively) disbelieve, or (by implication) disobey: - believe not. The English word 'abideth' is translated by the Greek word menō which is a primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy): - abide, continue, or remain. The English word 'faithful' is translated by the Greek word pistos meaning objectively trustworthy; subjectively trustful: - believing, faithful, sure, true. In other words, those who are proven to be make believers and not true believers do not cause God the Father to be sentimental or sappy concerning declaring them to be eternally damned instead of eternally redeemed and glorified with Christ.

God the Father cannot deny Himself or be unfaithful to Himself concerning judgement for those who resist, refuse, or reject His Son Jesus Christ, just as it is written by Moses with these words, "Therefore, know that Jehovah your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations. And He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slow to repay him who hates Him. He will repay him to his face." (Deuteronomy 7:9-10) (Modern King James Version). Here is what the JFB Commentary  had to say about this verse, "The oldest manuscripts read, 'For He cannot (it is an impossibility that He should) deny Himself.' He cannot be unfaithful to His word that He will deny those who deny Him, though we be not faithful to our profession of faith in Him (Romans 3:3). Three things are impossible to God, to die, to lie, and to be deceived [Augustine, The Creed, 1.1], (Hebrews 6:18). This impossibility is not one of infirmity, but of infinite power and majesty. Also, indirectly, comfort is suggested to believers, that He is faithful to His promises to them; at the same time that apostates are shaken out of their self-deceiving fancy, that because they change, Christ similarly may change. A warning to Timothy to be steadfast in the faith."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…