If we are faithless, He remains faithful

2 Timothy 2:1-21 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also. ³ Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him. ⁵ And if someone likewise competes as an athlete, he is not crowned as victor unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. ⁷ Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, ⁹ for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned. ¹⁰ For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. ¹¹ The statement is trustworthy:

For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; ¹² If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He will also deny us;
¹³ If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

¹⁴ Remind them of these things, and solemnly exhort them in the presence of God not to dispute about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the listeners. ¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. ¹⁶ But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, ¹⁷ and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸ men who have gone astray from the truth, claiming that the resurrection has already taken place; and they are jeopardizing the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His;” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to keep away from wickedness.”

²⁰ Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver implements, but also implements of wood and of earthenware, and some are for honor while others are for dishonor. ²¹ Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be an implement for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

In today’s text it says: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He will also deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.  If we died with Him is past tense. So, it is not speaking of death that comes at the end of this life, although if we die with Christ, we will also live with Him in eternity. Paul is speaking of our dying to this life. In Matthew 16:24 Jesus says: “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.”  If we are not willing to deny ourselves, we will deny Him. In Luke 9:26 Jesus says: “Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and the glory of the Father and the holy angels.”  If we deny Him, He will also deny us.

He remains faithful.  Being faithful is not just something God does. Faithfulness is part of who God is. It is part of God’s character. In John 3:16 Jesus says: “God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” Because of God’s faithfulness that provision for eternal life is available even to those who do not have faith to believe. Even if we are faithless, the provision is available. Still, only those who believe obtain the promise. In the same way, in Mark 9:20-23 it says: They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, the spirit immediately threw him into convulsions, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to kill him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” But Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes.” God is faithful to heal if we have faith to believe. It is not that we need a great amount of faith. In Matthew 17:20 Jesus says: “Truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”  In Numbers 23:19 God says: God is not a man, that He would lie, Nor a son of man, that He would change His mind; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?  We need a small amount of faith in the greatness and faithfulness of God. Romans 10:17 says: Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  God is faithful to do what He promised in His word. What we need is to increase our faithfulness to God’s word. Psalm 37:3 says: Trust in the Lord and do good; Live in the land and cultivate faithfulness.  God is faithful, but for us to obtain all that His faithfulness affords us, we need to cultivate our faithfulness.

In John 14:13-14 Jesus says: “Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”  The text says: “The Lord knows those who are His;” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to keep away from wickedness.”  In John 14:15 Jesus says: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” God’s promises to us and for us require more than just that we have faith to believe. We must also be faithful to do what He says. In Matthew 5:17-20 Jesus says: “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished! Therefore, whoever nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus says: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

Thank You heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ and precious Holy Spirit for Your faithfulness. I choose to deny myself, to cultivate my faithfulness to You and Your word. I am not ashamed of You or Your word. I ask that the Holy Spirit would enable and empower me to be faithful to walk in Your righteousness so that I might obtain all the blessings and promises of Your faithfulness in the name of Christ.  Amen.