A Faithful Saying (2 Timothy 2:11-13)

(Remember to record/ask to record)

Welcome to everyone who’s here! We’re glad to have you in this Bible Study Club. As a part of this club, we will try to have a teaching from the Bible, because it’s in the name (lol); not only that, but also because it’s the perfect and inspired Word of God. These teachings will be brought by either Josiah or me, and will usually be based on an outline from the FCA, though it won’t be based on an outline. This will probably be shorter than our other teachings, but I thought it might be a good idea to introduce everyone to our teaching styles and give you an idea of how normal meetings will go beyond this interest meeting.

If you brought a Bible, you can open it up to 2 Timothy 2:11-13. If not, we’ll give you a link or QR code to a Bible on your phone or other device. I will be using the NKJV, and we’ll have that projected onto the screen.

https://bible.com/bible/114/2ti.2.11-13.NKJV

While they locate the passage, say the following: “There are different types of teachings: expository or thematic. Expository is to go through a certain Bible passage and teach only the content therein, while thematic is to choose a theme and teach on that theme using one or usually multiple Bible passages. This will be an expository teaching.”

2 Timothy 2:11–13 NKJV

11 This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. 12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

“This is a faithful saying:...”

-Paul writes this to Timothy from prison, most likely before being executed by the Roman emperor Nero in the 60s AD. **Christianity is not meant to be easy!**

-We often forget about how Christianity isn’t meant to be easy like many lying “televangelists” make it seem today.

-Yet Paul still finds the strength to give Timothy advice on how to stand firm in faith.

-In this passage (which is part of the longer letter from Paul to Timothy known as 2 Timothy), Paul recalls a Christian saying to give Timothy advice from it.

This is what the saying says: “For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. 12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”

“For if we died with Him:”

The saying starts off grimly with death...

but...

The nature of Christianity is that death is not the end. *This* is why Paul stays strong through his death sentence!

So if death isn’t the end, what comes next? The passage says:

“We shall also live with Him.” (!)

Him=Jesus, 2 Timothy 2:10

Him speaks of Jesus (2 Timothy 2:10); Paul never stops talking about Jesus ever since He changed his life. In fact, Paul used to be a persecutor of early Christianity, but became one of the leading voices in early Christianity and even modern Christianity.

2 Timothy 2:10 NKJV

10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Paul: Christian Persecutor (Acts 9) ↷ Christian Martyr (who also wrote 13 of the 27 books in the New Testament!)

We [Paul and Timothy] shall also [future tense] live with Him [not just near Him, with Him; not just close to Him, in His very presence!].

For Paul, death is the pathway to eternal life with Jesus. And not just for Paul, but for all those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.

As Job, who suffered all sorts of losses and tragedies throughout the book of Job, said: Job 19:26

Job 19:26 NKJV

26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God,

And the second phrase of this poetry is like the first:

2 Timothy 2:12 NKJV

12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.

Our future with Christ isn’t just about living with Him; it’s also reigning with Him. Rev 1:6:

Revelation 1:6 NKJV

6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

We will not desire the authority of Christ because we are given certain authority in His name; not the same authority as Him, but the authority to be children of God.

John 1:12 NKJV

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

So far, we have seen:

A negative event with a positive result (“If we died...-> ...we shall also live…)

However, this isn’t really a negative event because it’s dying with Him.

A positive event with a positive result (“If we endure... -> ...we shall also reign..)

Now, we will see a negative event with a negative result:

2 Timothy 2:12 NKJV

12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.

God is not our butler: He will treat us fairly. We cannot expect God to honor us if we do not honor Him. As we have seen, though, he does honor those who honor Him.

All God wants is our faith in Jesus, and from there, He will do His work in us.

Even so, we are not enough for God’s requirements; but God perfects Himself despite our weaknesses.

The next part of this saying is in verse 13:

2 Timothy 2:13 NKJV

13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

Despite our weak faith, though it may be as small as a seed, God will do the work because He is faithful. But before we jump to the false conclusion of “God is my butler”, there is a reason for his faithfulness:

2 Timothy 2:13 NKJV

13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

His faithfulness to us is because of His goodness; not because He sees something in you, not so you can buy into the “Your Best Life Now” lies, but that you may trust in His unending love. Like Psalms 23 says,

Psalm 23:3 NKJV

3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

For His name’s sake. In all of this, though we be the beneficiaries, God gets the glory because only He is worthy.

This was the purpose of Paul’s quoting: whether he wrote it or another early Christian, we find some important principles for Christian living in this faithful saying.

Hope; endurance; faith.

To finish off, I’m going to read this passage one last time, and I recommend you read it along with me:

2 Timothy 2:11–13 NKJV

11 This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. 12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

2 Timothy 2:11–13

“11 This is a faithful saying:

For if we died with Him,

We shall also live with Him.

12 If we endure,

We shall also reign with Him.

If we deny Him,

He also will deny us.

13 If we are faithless,

He remains faithful;

He cannot deny Himself.”

A Faithful Saying (2 Timothy 2:11-13)

God bless you all and welcome to the FCA Bible Study Club!