It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 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. 2 Timothy 2:11-13
What is the foundation of your faith? The early Church had many creeds or affirmations, such as the Apostles Creed or Niscene Creed, these are foundational doctrines of the Christian faith. If you denied the foundational statements in those Creeds, there was a red flag to whether you truly understood the Christian faith or Jesus Christ of the Bible. Here the Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gives us basically a “creed” of the early Church. As Paul says “This is a faithful saying” meaning this is true doctrine of Christ that has been believed since the Apostles
A true walk with Christ includes death to your old self and walk in the newness of life in Christ (Romans 6) As the Apostle Paul says “for if we died with him, then we live with him” To the world this seems like a contradictory statement, but this is the fact we must be Born Again in Christ (John 3:3) Our old self must die on the cross with Christ, and our new self, must be raised with Christ. We are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) Our lives belong to Christ, we live for him. If we die due to persecution or affliction, we still live with Christ and for Christ forever!
Jesus said “If anyone wants to be my disciple, they must deny themselves, carry their cross, and follow him” (Matthew 16:24) The Christian life is about self denial and obedience to Christ. As the Apostle Paul states “If we suffer or endure, we shall reign with him” To the world its looks like we are losing, it looks like we are defeated, but the reality is we reign with Christ. We already have victory over the world because Christ has already overcome the world (John 16:33) So in our suffering and persecution, we reign with Christ, our victory is in Christ and not ourselves
Jesus also said “If anyone denies me before men, I will deny before my Father” (Matthew 10:33) Never be ashamed of your Lord, never be ashamed of your faith, never be ashamed of the cross you must bear, because Christ has already died for you. As The Apostle Paul said “If we deny Him, He will deny us” It’s very simple, yet should send a strong warning to Christians. Don’t ever deny our Lord before the world, always give him the praise and glory that Christ deserves! If Jesus is truly your Lord, then treat him as if he is your Lord!
Don’t be deceived, God will not be mocked, what we reap is what we will sow (Galatians 6:7) If we truly deny The Lord in word and action, there is no hope for us. As the Apostle Paul says “If we remain faithless, He remains faithful, He cannot deny himself” Don’t believe you can be saved by your works or a religious association, Christ can’t deny himself. Meaning The Lord will remain true to His word and commandments, we must be Born Again to see the Kingdom of Heaven (John 3:3) Amen!
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