2 timothy 2:11-13 devotional2 timothy 2:11-13 devotional

Secure Yet Scrutinized 2 Timothy 2:11-13, The Grace New Testament Commentary (Revised Edition), Is Calvinism Biblical? When believers die, though they may be sawn asunder or burned at the stake, since they sleep in Jesus they are preserved from the destruction of death by Him and are made partakers of His immortality. Spurgeon. Note: In the NASB the term then in the if/then clauses is not expressed but merely implied. God cannot deny himself. G Campbell Morgan - The apostle next referred to his own experiences again. THE IMPORTANT DISTINCTION IS WHETHER A PERSON WHO SAID THEY "BELIEVED" AND LIVED "PRESENT TENSE" UNBELIEVING WAS EVER TRULY SAVED?). A man may deny himself, but God cannot. If we disown him, he will also disown us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself. Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? I shall not fear the battle If Thou art by my side, Galatians 23Ibid. Praying with Paul is also available as a book. The fifth is in Titus 3:8: The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist concerning these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to engage in good deeds. The reason is that deny means primarily "to declare untrue; assert the contrary of, contradict," whereas disown means "to refuse to acknowledge or accept as one's own" (American Heritage Dictionary). Therefore. ii. If we deny Christ, we may be delivered to such a fate. We keep persevering in and under trials and hold to our faith in Christ (Who holds us). These two destinies take place after the resurrection of the dead, the very thing the false teachers seek to deny in one way or another (see 1Corinthians 15:12; 2Timothy 2:18). This truth makes sure the unbeliever's condemnation, and the believer's salvation. 2 Timothy 2:11-13. J.N.D. Another evidence from Scripture of the eternal security of a believer is found inJohn 5:24, where Jesus says, Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Notice that eternal life is not something we get in the future but is something that we have once we believe. IVP, Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary, MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson. Therefore, they should not live the kind of lives they used to live, but rather they should now have a new lifestyle. Yet after His Resurrection, Jesus found Peter personally and ministered to him tenderly (John 21:16 "He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts. God is merciful and that means with great pity and compassion He draws us to Himself and tenderly cleanses us spiritually, and restores us through the sacrifice of His only unique one-of-a-kind Son Christ Jesus who He is One with, along with the Holy Spirit who reveals all of this to us. The other camp interprets those who arefaithless as unbelievers. to imply not untrueness, unfaithfulness, but definitely unbelief. Ellicott Cf. (5) Let us not forget that contention with inbred lusts, denials of proud self, resistance of sin, and agony against Satan, are all forms of suffering with Christ. It is requisite also that love to Jesus, and love to his elect, be ever the mainspring of all our patience. (D. Edmond Hiebert: 2 Timothy). Joel HEARTLIGHT is a registered service mark of Heartlight, Inc. | Privacy Policy. His faintest word will stand firm and steadfast. Will the Christian steadfastly live in submission to Christ or will he consistently deny Christs Lordship and its implications over his or her life? (Daily Study Bible Series). 4 Absolutely not! The formula serves to place Pauls stamp of approval on the content of the quotation. Be strong: This was an important encouragement. To persist in either activity is a cause for serious introspection and a testing to see whether or not one is truly "in the faith.". Francis Spira knew the truth; he was a reformer of no mean standing. His faithfulness is unchanging or immutable. (Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary 6-Volume New Testament. (Spurgeonand here), A similar story summarized from Biblical Illustrator, Suffering and reigning with Jesus - C H Spurgeon. It speaks of a more intimate association than does another Greek preposition (meta) which also means with. His security is based solely on the gracious, immutable faithfulness of Christ Himself. In a short time he fell into despair and suffered hell upon earth. (H. D. M. Spence, M. Verse 13 is a remarkable (re)affirmation of the absolute security of every believer. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1968), 6:205; The New international Dictionary of New Testament Theology s.v, Faith, by O. Michel, 1:594; A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, p. 84; J. H. Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (New York: American Book Company, 1889), 21. To do otherwise would be to deny Himself, which His righteous and just nature cannot allow Him to do. John But for those who (continually) disbelieve (apisteo in the present tense) "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone," and, "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE"; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed." Faithfulness to Christ is vital in order that the believer might glorify God and bear much fruit. There is the same contrast in Rom 3:3 shall their want of faith (apistia), make of none effect the faithfulness pistin) of God? But while we render apistoumen, with RV are faithless, we must remember that unreliability and disbelief in the truth were closely allied in St. Pauls conception of them. Newport J. D. White in The Expositors Greek Testament, W. Robertson Nicoll, ed. 39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction (note the end of those who do not endure is not loss of rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ, but loss their life eternally in the second death - some feel "destruction" should be interpreted as a "wasted" life but note what the immediate following context refers to - preserving of the soul, implying that destruction equates with failure to preserve one's soul, i.e., an unbeliever and not just the wasted life of a believer), but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul. Baker Book) (Bolding added), William MacDonald - Those who deny Christ will be denied by Him. Unbelievers who deny the Savior are assured of rejection; they will have no part in the kingdom (2Ti 2:12b-13). . God uses the warning passages of Scripture to stimulate us to fight for faith. I do not know where you are from (Luke 13:27+). The denial Paul has in view in 2 Timothy is both persistent and final, an utter and absolute repudiation of Jesus. Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:11-13. (2Cor 13:4) For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. If I am speaking to an audience in which I suspect are both Christians and non-Christians (and most likely all audiences contain both), I would say something like this: People, hear me well. 2.29.4. Additionally, Paul has also affirmed that those believers who faithfully endure in their Christian experience will receive special rewards and prerogatives in Christs Kingdom (they will reign with Him). (McGee, J V: Thru the Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson) (Bolding), John Stott -What then of the second phrase if we are faithless, he remains faithful? This passage revolves around four problematic conditional clauses (if[then] constructions). Psyche can mean soul or life. In contexts dealing with requirements for rigorous discipleship, such as Matt 16:24-27, this concept has to do with the delivering of ones life from the temporal wrath of God against sin via an obedient, righteous submission to the Lordship of Christ. Morning and Evening (Spurgeon) - If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. 2 Timothy 2:12 We must not imagine that we are suffering for Christ, and with Christ, if we are not in Christ. But blessed be God! (Mt 7:21-note, Mt 7:22-note, Mt 7:23-note). FAVOR PHYSICAL DEATH. For dangers abound on all sides; and we ought to know that grievous times were to come in the last times. Wuest: Trust-worthy is the word. I would to God they never had made a profession, because in their own houses they deny what in the house of God they have avowed. Mission. Are faithless (569) (apisteofrom a = without + pistos [word study] = believing) means to be unfaithful, to doubt or not to acknowledge. You see, Paul and James never contradict each other. Not one good thing has failed of all that the Lord has promised (cf Josh 21:45, 23:14, 15, 1Ki 8:56, 1Co 1:9, 1Th 5:24-note)! And yet his works as a Christian will be evaluated, and this evaluation will determine either the presentation or the denial of reward.39 In short, 2 Tim 2:11-13 teaches that the believer in Christ is secure yet scrutinized! A past event is undoubtedly in view; the apostle is reminding himself and Timothy of that experience of identification with Christ which forms the basis of Christian living and hence of Christian courage and endurance. Donald Guthrie, The Pastoral Epistles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1957), 145. 31J. Enrich your faith and grow in spiritual maturity with the incredible Bible study and devotional books listed below. 12Of course every believer receives eternal life as a present, abiding possession at the moment of faith in Christ (He who believes in Me has eternal life [John 6:47]). In a spiritual sense every believer has died with Christ to the power of sin and self as summarized most completely in Romans 6 (Ro 6:3-note, Ro 6:4-5-note, Ro 6-7-note, Ro 6:8-10-note, Ro 6:11-note; cf Gal 2:20-note, Gal 6:14-note). His children might rebel. But afterward, when times of persecution arose, he forsook his profession. True Christians will never live any way they want because such behavior is impossible for someone who has been given a new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17). This meaning of the verb apisteo (to be unfaithful) in 2 Tim 2:13 is validated by the major lexical tools: Theological Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, s.v. Note that Paul is not teaching that you can be genuinely saved and then lose your salvation. 2Th 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. William Barclay - Then comes the other side of the matter: "If we deny him, he too will deny us." King James Version (KJV) Public Domain. THIS IS A LIE FROM THE PIT OF HELL AND WILL TAKE THOSE WHO BUY IT TO ETERNAL HELL!). (Borrow The MacArthur Study Bible) (Bolding added), In his commentary on 2 Timothy, MacArthur adds that "The Greek verb rendered deny is in the future tense, and the clause is therefore more clearly rendered, If we ever deny Him or If in the future we deny Him. It looks at some confrontation that makes the cost of confessing Christ very high and thereby tests ones true faith. Do let me put this very, very plainly, if we believe not if those that seem to be the choice teachers of the age, if those that have been the most successful evangelists of the period, if those who stand high in the esteem of Gods people, should, in an evil hour, forsake the eternal verities and begin to preach to you some other gospel which is not the gospel of Jesus Christ, I beseech you follow us not whoever we may be or whatever we may be. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. (Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. Vol. The reference is not to martyrdom for Christ, but rather to a believers mystical identification with the death and life of Christ (cf. 2004, The message of 2 Timothy : guard the Gospel, Ro 6:3 6:4, 5 6:6, 7 6:8, 9, 10 6:11 Col 2:12 3:3 2:20, Jn 14:19; 2Co 13:4; 1Th 4:17; 5:10 Ro 6:8 2Co 7:3, Mt 19:28,29; Acts 14:22; Ro 8:17; Phil 1:28; 2Th 1:4, 5, 6, 7, 8; 1Pe 4:13-16, Pr 30:9; Mt 10:33; 26:35,75; Mk 8:38; Mt 10:33; Lk 9:26; 12:9; 1Jn 2:22; 1Jn 2:23; Jude 1:4; Rev 2:13; 3:8, Is 25:1; Mt 24:35; Ro 3:3; 9:6; 1Th 5:24; 2Th 3:3. In reference to state or condition (such as faithful) it means to remain as one and so not to become another or different. Him will I also deny before my Father] And the Father will entertain none but such as come commended to him by his Son Christ. (1Pe 2:7, 8+). The martyrs hope is eternal life after death." Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and thus they upset the faith of some." Help me endure all things for the sake of that glorious message. This Paul knew from personal experience. They have gone back to their dens, and there they will hide themselves until fair weather shall return. This caution does not threaten the unfaithful believer with loss of future life with Christ. Phillips: yet if we are faithless he always remains faithful. 2:3 and 12:25. The final clause, with its consoling message, balances the frightening prospect in the previous line of being disowned by Christ (cf. Listen to these hang in there lines for Timothy (& us). The Word of God is clear that not all believers faithfully live for their Lord while on earth (Acts 19:18-19; 1 Cor 3:1-3; 11:30; Gal 5:16-21; 1 Tim 1:19-20; 2 Tim 2:17-18; Heb 4:1-2, 11).15. For he cannot deny himself. As the unchanging Jehovah whose very nature is truth, He cannot be false to His own nature, nor to His word of promise to the faithful and His word of threatening to the faithless. Mark 16:11;Mark 16:16. Not at all! This is the antichrist, the one who denies (present tense = continually, habitually, what what they say and how they live) the Father and the Son. Yet the logic of the Christian hymn, with its two pairs of balancing epigrams, really demands a different interpretation. 3:3; cf. Certainly Paul realized that he could not (Phil 3:12-14). Thus, those who have died with Christ have the assurance that they will also live with Him. No! Israels unbelief does not, in any way, undermine Gods covenant promises, or His faithfulness to these promises. This Paul knew from personal experience. If we deny and disown and reject Him, He will also deny and disown and reject us. The anticipation of living in Christs presence was never far from Pauls consciousness (see 2 Cor 5:5-7; Phil 1:23; 1 Thess 1:10) and was clearly a major motivating factor for him to remain steadfastly faithful to the Lord despite the many difficulties and stresses he had to face in his Christian life. pisteuo, by R. Bultmann (Grand Rapids: Wm. This is precisely the point Paul is making in 2Timothy 2:13. We have the preposition sun with the instrumental case. They who trust in the Lord will find Him faithful, not only in great things, but also in little things. Nothing would be mere dishonorable for God than to resolve to save a man that lived habitually in sin; and if that were the doctrine of election, it would deserve all the opprobrium that has ever been heaped upon it. In the context in Romans, Paul has just shown that the Jews failed to live up to the law that they professed to esteem and uphold (Romans 2:17-29). His unchanging faithfulness arises out of the fact of His immutable nature. Luke 22:54-62) but to deny Him permanently since the other three human conditions in the couplets are permanent. But even if we are unfaithful (forfeiting the privilege of reigning/ governing with Him), Even then He remains faithful to uswe will live with Him, * Pastor, Fellowship Bible Church, Shreveport, Louisiana. You watch his pen "draw out" meaning. Albert Barnes -If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful - This cannot mean that, if we live in sin, he will certainly save us, as if he had made any promise to the elect, or formed any purpose that he would save them; whatever might be their conduct; because: (1) he had just said that if we deny him he will deny us; and, (2) there is no such promise in the Bible, and no such purpose has been formed. If it is a past tense event (most likely), the death referred to is a spiritual death. In other words, there is absolutely no way Christ is able to deny Himself. The object of the apostle evidently is, to excite Timothy to fidelity in the performance of duty, and to encourage him to bear trials, by the assurance that we cannot hope to escape if we are not faithful to the cause of the Saviour. Amos Adam Clarke -If we believe not - Should we deny the faith and apostatize, he is the same, as true to his threatenings as to his promises; he cannot deny - act contrary to, himself. One thing no one disputes is that Paul is not saying these were believers who have lost their salvation because of their continual unfaithfulness, for this conclusion would counter numerous verses that undergird the security of the believer's salvation, assuming that it is a genuine conversion experience and the individual is a new creature in Christ as shown by the fact that the old life is gone and a new life has begun! When Uzziah thrust himself into the temple, and became a leper all his days, he could not say that he was afflicted for righteousness sake. These things are good and beneficial for people. That those who believe in Jesus should manifest the holy character of their faith by their lives is another one of these faithful sayings. Hiebert feels this saying is a "motive for suffering for Christ's cause, Paul holds up the certainty of the relation between our conduct here and our future condition." "In those days you were living apart from Christ. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven (Matthew 10:32, 33NIV). 3:3). Therefore a true Christian will desire to be obedient to God and will be convicted by the Holy Spirit when he sins. What is apostasy and how can I recognize it? Although the reference is to heavenly life, there is a sense in which believers experience a beginning of eternal life now (John 5:24 where Jesus declared "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.