2Ti 2:11-13 “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.”
Paul’s opening comment in verse eleven is true, whether we take it to mean the things that he said before or the things he says after this. The word of God is trustworthy and true. We can rely on it in the best of times and the worst of times. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one in purpose and one in declaration.
Jesus went to the cross in our place. His death there is also our death. His death for our sins has allowed us to be free from (dead to) our sins (Rom 6:7). While we must acknowledge that we are still sinners as long as we live in this world (it is a condition condemned in the flesh), in His death we died to the love of sin to live unto God.
According to the scripture, it is certain that those He died for are dead with him. It is just as certain that being dead with Him, we also live with Him. Just as He is alive forevermore, so we shall live in His kingdom here and in the halls of Eternity hereafter. He who had never sinned, through His suffering for sin, made us the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor 5:21).
Jesus told us that if they hated Him, they would also hate us. Those that would mock and despise Jesus would also mock and despise us. Any who would raise a hand against Him, would not hesitate to raise a hand against us. His disciples have always suffered with Him in this, just as we were with Him in His death.
Again, if it is certain that we suffer with Him, it is just that certain that we also reign with Him. We reign with Him in this life in that we can go forth in life unafraid to live and unafraid to die. Although it is as if through a glass darkly, we still behold His glory here and have every expectation of seeing it clearly when we pass from this life.
This is the essence of being joint heirs with Christ. We must take the hardships as well as the joy that we have in Him. If we are not willing to bear the hardships, then we will end up denying Him. To turn from the plow (Luke 9:62) is to say that we do not believe He is able to keep us through the struggles of life.
We can deny Him in words, and we can deny Him by our actions. While denying Him will not make His death and resurrection any less effective, it will hide His face from us as we labor here. If we deny Him, then we cannot expect Him to show Himself as mighty in our lives. When we reject the teaching of Jesus, we cannot expect to see His wondrous power in our lives (Mat 13:58).
How we should rejoice that Paul declared “It is a faithful saying.” Even when we fail in our belief, Jesus is still faithful. He will not rescind His work, regardless of our unfaithfulness. He cannot go back on His word that of all the Father has given Him, He would lose nothing (John 6:39).
May God bless us to rejoice in the truth that being dead with Jesus, we shall also live with Him, to the honor and glory of God!
