God Remains Faithful

Bible Reading: 2 Timothy 2:11-13

Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself. (2 Timothy 2:11-13)

Five times in the Bible, Paul alerts us to a “trustworthy saying.” It’s like he’s saying, “Listen up! This is really important!” Here that trustworthy saying is written as a poem or a hymn with four short stanzas. It’s an urgent message written in carefully-chosen, beautiful words.

“If we died with him, we will also live with him.” Notice the past tense: “We died with him.” When did we die with Christ? In baptism! When we were baptized, we died with Christ (see Romans 6:1-10). Yet, we didn’t just die. What’s the result of dying with Christ? New life with him! That’s what you have today. Right now. Through your baptism, you have new life with Christ.

But that new life with Christ isn’t easy. Remember where Paul was as he wrote these words? In prison! So he continues, “If we endure, we will also reign with him.” Life as a Christian in this world requires endurance. There are so many trials and troubles that Christians have to face. Yet, what does the Bible promise to those who by faith endure the trials of life? A crown of life with Jesus in heaven!

Don’t ever give that up. Don’t ever let the devil tug you away from Jesus. Sadly, it’s possible: “If we disown him, he will also disown us.” Judas disowned Jesus and met a very sad end. Every one of us has the awful ability to turn away from Christ. Don’t do it! Whoever disowns Christ will be disowned.

Yet, don’t despair. God remains faithful: “If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” If we’re honest, our life is a constant back-and-forth from doubt to faith to doubt to faith. From sin to repentance to sin to repentance. From faithfulness to faithlessness… We are shifty, sinful people.

But not God. God remains faithful. Even his warnings about sin and the danger of disowning him are given out of pure grace. He wants us to repent and find our forgiveness in Jesus. 

No matter what you’ve done, here is a trustworthy saying: God remains faithful. Come back to his grace! 

Dear heavenly Father, give us new life every day through our baptisms. Fill us with strength to endure the trials of this life without disowning you, and when we do sin, call us back with your faithful grace. Amen.

Pastor Nathan