He Abides Faithful 2 Timothy 2:13

Paul the apostle told Timothy that he endured “all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory”, and then began to share with his “dearly beloved son” four series of conditional “ifs” which incorporated corresponding rewards. The first was, “if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him.” The second was, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him”. The third was, “if we deny him, he also will deny us”, and the fourth was shared in chapter two and verse thirteen of this final letter to Timothy as Paul shared what happens “if we believe not”. We read:

If we believe not, yet he abides faithful: he cannot deny himself.

The verse begins, “If we believe not, yet he abides faithful:” Paul began with the word, “if” which is a primary particle of conditionality and means “whether, forasmuch as, that and although” “we believe not” or “betray a trust, be unfaithful, have no belief or disbelieve” “yet he” referring to Jesus Christ “abides” or “remains, continues, waits for, endures and survives” “faithful” which means “trusty, believing, confiding and can be relied upon”. In other words, even in times when our faith is lacking, the Lord Jesus remains trustworthy, reliable and dependable for us.

The verse continues, “he cannot deny himself.” Paul goes on to add the reason the Lord Jesus will “abide faithful” - “he cannot” which means “no, not, the absolute negative, never and in no way” “deny” or “abnegate, abjure, not accept, reject or refuse” “himself” which refers to “His own self”. Jesus' quality and character is to “abide faithful”, and “he cannot deny” who He is. “Abiding faithful” is the very nature of God, and nothing will alter Him from His state of being.

As we ponder Paul's words, let us notice that Paul the apostle included himself in these series of “ifs” - “If we...,” “If we...”, “If we..., “If we...” which should bring us hope and encouragement particularly with this verse. There may be times when we have doubts and are discouraged over our own “believing”, and when these times come, Paul declares the Lord “abides faithful” because it is His very nature to do so. When there are seasons of doubt and discouragement let us take heart in this, the Lord Jesus, by way of the Holy Spirit, will continue to be “faithful” to us even when we are not “faithful” to Him, and with that idea in mind, we should take great comfort.

Next time Paul tells Timothy to put “things in remembrance”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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