Trustworthy Statements Series
“He Remains Faithful”
2 Timothy 2.11-13
Introduction
For the past three weeks we have been looking at the trustworthy statements recorded in
the book of First Timothy. What is interesting is that these trustworthy statements
developed in the early church during the first century and were used in public worship
services. But in the Pastoral epistles of First and Second Timothy and Titus we see the
Apostle Paul incorporating five of these trustworthy statements into the inspired pages of
holy Scripture.
So far in this series, we have looked at a trustworthy statement that gave a brief and
concise statement of the gospel, a trustworthy statement that was used in an ordination
service for elders in the church, and a trustworthy statement speaks about the importance
of pursuing godliness in our lives as believers in Christ. (ITim.1.15; 3.1; 4.8-9)
This morning we come to a trustworthy statement that is written in such of a striking
structure that most all commentators identify it as a hymn composed in the early church.
The Apostle Paul wrote in his epistle to the Ephesian church years before to speak to one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart
to the Lord. (Eph.5.19) And now, the Apostle writes a hymn to the young pastor of that
same church, young Pastor Timothy, a hymn that Timothy and the whole congregation
would have been familiar.
The hymn goes like this:
It is a trustworthy statement:
For 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 also will deny us;
If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. (2Tim.2.11-13)
I’m not going to ask you to sing the ancient hymn because we don’t know the melody, but
we can recite it together.
Pastor: It is a trustworthy statement:
Congregation: For 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 also will deny us;
If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
2
The Structure of the Song
Before we drive into each verse of the hymn let’s take a moment to consider its structure.
For 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 also will deny us;
If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
First, the overall symmetry of the hymn consists of four conditional causes that all begin
with “if.”
Second, the first two lines describes the attitude and action of those loyal to Christ.
If we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
If we endure, we will also reign with Him;
Whereas the last two lines describes the attitude and action of those who are disloyal to
Christ.
If we deny Him . . .
If we are faithless . . .
To say it in a different way the first two verses of the hymn speak in positive terms with a
favorable outcomes. Whereas the last two verses speak in negative terms with an
unfavorable outcome.
Lastly, notice that in the first two lines the hymn denotes “we . . . we.”
If we . . . we will
If we . . . we will
Whereas in the last two lines the hymn denotes “we . . . He.”
If we . . . He also will
If we . . . He remains
The Context
Along with the structure of the hymn it is important to understand the context in which the
Apostle is inspired to insert this trustworthy statement. (2.3-10) Prior to inserting the
trustworthy hymn, the Apostle Paul has exhorted Pastor Timothy to endure hardship.
(2.3.a) Paul uses a series of examples to help Timothy to understand his role and
responsibility as a pastor.
3
Paul calls Timothy is to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ seeking to please the One who
enlisted him. (2.3b-4) He calls Timothy to be an athlete who competes according to the
rules. (2.5) And he tells Timothy to be a hard-working farmer who ought to be the first to
receive his share of the crops. (2.6) Paul concludes his exhortation saying, “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.” (2.10)
It is at this point that Paul is inspired to insert the familiar hymn of the early church. By
inserting the hymn at this point Paul is reminding us that all believers in Christ are called to
endure hardships for the sake of Christ, not just the pastor. By inserting the ancient hymn
at this point the Apostle transitions from speaking to Timothy exclusively to speaking to all
who are in Christ. The focus shifts from Timothy to us. All of us!
Brothers and sisters, every believer in Christ is called to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ
who does not entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life but seeks to please the One
who enlisted him. (2.3b-4) Every believer in Christ is called to an athlete who competes
according to the rules. (2.5) Every believer in Christ is to be a hard-working farmer who
receives a reward for his diligent and deliberate work in the Lord’s harvest field. (2.6)
Every believer in Christ should endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen.
(2.10a) By inserting the trustworthy statement at this point the focus changes to you and
me. By Paul inserting the hymn at this point the Apostle is calling every believer in Christ to
take the song seriously and if we do, we will obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and
with it eternal glory. (2.10b)
First Verse of the Hymn
Let’s now consider the first verse of the hymn which reads, “If we died with Him, we will also
live with Him.” (2.11b) What does it mean, “If we died with Him?” Some believe that the
inspired hymn is referring to martyrdom. They say that this phrase “if we die with Him”
refers to a believer who experiences a martyr’s death. Using this interpretation the first
verse could read, “If we experience a martyr’s death, we will also live with Him.” I suppose
this interpretation is possible in that it connects with Paul’s preface to “endure hardship.”
But the topic of “endurance” will be addressed directly in the second verse of the hymn.
Also, interpreting “if we die with Him” to be identifying only those who experience
martyrdom could not be referring to all believers but only a few. My point is not all
believers are called to martyrdom. As a matter of fact, most Christians will never face the
possibility of martyrdom in their entire life.
My understanding is that first verse of the hymn is referring to the believer’s spiritual
union with Christ in Christ’s death. When Paul’s writes, “if we died with Him” he is
indicating the moment the Holy Spirit by God’s grace unites a person with Christ’s atoning
work of Christ on the cross. Brothers and sisters, Christ’s sacrifice unto death on the cross
satisfied the Father’s wrath against sin. When the Holy Spirit unites a person in Christ’s
death our old self is crucified with Christ, our body of sin is done away with, and we are no
longer slaves to sin. By the work of God’s grace, the Holy Spirit united us with Christ in the
likeness of His death so that we live with Christ in this life for the glory of God.
4
Brothers and sisters, the first verse of this glorious hymn is describing the foundational
spiritual encounter that every believer experiences when they are united with Christ in His
death. The Apostle Paul expands this wonderful encounter in detail in the book of Romans
chapter six. (Rom.6.1-14) Paul writes, “Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we
shall also live with Him” (Rom.6.8) which is nearly identical to the first verse in the hymn.
Paul continues in Romans six, “Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God
in Christ Jesus.” (6.11) For the death that Christ died, He died to sin once for all; but the life
that He lives, He lives to God. (6.10) Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in
order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to
sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. (6.6-7) For if we have become united with Him in the
likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection. (6.5) And
let’s not forget what the Apostle taught us in the book of Galatians, “I have been crucified
with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in
the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Gal.2.2)
Brothers and sisters, when the first verse of this sacred hymn says if we died with Him the
sacred song is declaring our present union with Christ and when the sacred hymn says, “we
will also live with Him” it is declaring that those in Christ will live with Christ in this present
life.
Second verse of the Hymn
The hymn began by highlighting our blessed union with Christ in this life and now moves to
the blessed hope we have in Christ for eternity. The second verse in the ancient hymn
reads, “If we endure, we will also reign with Him.” (2.12b) A believer’s endurance in Christ is
a dominate in the New Testament. God calls the believer to endure times of trouble,
affliction, persecution, and temptation. The Apostle Peter tells us that patient endurance
finds favor with God. (IPt.2.20) Faithful endurance is to continue throughout a believer’s
life with the promise of future reward. Jesus told us, the one who endures to the end, he will
be saved. (Mk.13.13) But not just saved, we will receive a crown of life. The Apostle James
tells us, “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will
receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (Js.1.12) And
not just a crown of life but those who faithfully endure will be granted to sit on with Christ
on His throne. Jesus told us, He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My
throne. (Rev.3.21a) The second verse of the hymn is true, “If we endure, we will also reign
with Him.” Therefore, we do not lose heart . . . For momentary, light affliction is producing for
us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison. (2Cor.4.16-17)
The Third Verse of the Hymn
Now the third verse of this sacred hymn transitions to the negative and unfavorable
outcomes. The song turns from encouragement in Christ (11b) and steadfast endurance
(12a) to a totally contrary action and a stern warning. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
(2.12) The song turns from the promises of God to a terrible conclusion.
5
Jesus said it plainly, “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My
Father who is in heaven.” (Mt.10.33) The Apostle John also makes it plain when he writes,
“Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the
Father also.” (IJn.2.22-23) It all comes down to whether you confess the Son or deny the
Son. If we confess the Son, we enjoy the blessings of God in this life and the one to come. If
we deny the Son, we are banished from God’s special blessings forever.
A person’s denial of Christ can be momentary or temporary with the promise of repentance
and restoration. On the other hand, a person’s denial of Christ can be persistent and
permanent with the certain punishment of separation from Christ and His heavenly glory.
The two greatest denials of Christ in the history of the world occurred on the same evening,
the night that Jesus was betrayed. Peter and Judas were both Jesus’ disciples who had
travel with Him throughout His earthly ministry, they had heard His teaching firsthand, and
they had witnessed His marvelous miracles. But these two men committed treason against
the King of kings and Lord or lords in His darkest hour.
We see their crime against Christ was very similar. Jesus had predicted both Peter’s and
Judas’ acts of betrayal. Both had insisted that they would not deny the Lord. Both ran away
from Christ, one from the upper room and one from the garden. But we also see the stark
differences in their denials.
Judas’ denial was a premediated plan of deceit. After leaving the upper room Judas
purposefully met with the chief priest and negotiated payment for his betrayal. He
intentionally planned for Jesus to be inflicted with pain by identifying Him with a kiss in the
garden. After his denial Judas committed suicide by hanging himself that same night.
Peter’s denial was completely different. Peter loved Jesus but Jesus’s arrest and trial took
him by surprise. He tried to defend Jesus by drawing out his sword in the garden and
striking off the ear of one of the guards who arrested Jesus. But when Peter followed the
soldiers into the high priest’s courtyard, he was shocked when they found Jesus guilty and
began beating Him. As he warmed himself by the fire in the count yard Peter denied
knowing Jesus three times. He was unprepared for these events and was probably afraid
for his own safety. After his denials, Peter wept with repented with godly grief and
eventually had the opportunity to be restored to Christ days later by declaring his love for
Jesus three times.
Hopefully you can see that Peter’s denial was momentary and temporary and therefore he
was enabled by God to enjoy the promise of repentance and restoration. Let’s face it, before
God’s Spirit worked faith and repentance in our hearts, we all denied the Lord.
On the other hand, Judas’ denial was persistent and permanent and therefore he suffered
the punishment of being separated from Christ and His heavenly glory. The words of the
third verse of the hymn are certainly true regarding Judas and those who deny Christ. If
we deny Him, He also will deny us. The Bible teaches us that the Lord’s denial of those who
have persistently denied Him will be permanent and decisive as their denial has been of
Him.
6
The Fourth Verse of the Hymn
Now we come to the fourth and final verse of the hymn, “If we are faithless, He remains
faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” (2.13b) Once you hear the fourth verse you are
immediately struck by the difference in its conclusion. “If we are faithless, He remains
faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” So, who are the faithless?
The faithless can be one of two types of people. The faithless can be those who are
altogether destitute of faith, who do not believe in Christ at all; and particularly do not
believe what was just now said concerning those who deny Him but rather mock God and
scoff the coming of Christ and future judgment. These faithless should know that their
unbelief does not nullify the faithfulness of God to perform His Word. As Paul wrote in the
book of Romans, “What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the
faithfulness of God, will it? May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every
man be found a liar.” (Rom.3.3-4) Brothers and sisters, a person’s unbelief does not void the
faithfulness of God to keep His Word.
The faithless can also be true believers, who are experiencing an all-time low of faith.
Times of trouble, affliction, persecution, and temptation can often drive us to lose faith so
that we begin to doubt that God is for us and that He will sustain us. But it is at these
moments in a believer’s life we must hold on to God’s faithful promises. It is in these times
of doubt and despair that the true believe clings to God’s Word that tells us that as many
as are the promises of God, in Christ they are yes; therefore, also through Him is our Amen
to the glory of God through us. (ICor.1.20) Our perseverance during these dark times does
not depend on our own determination but upon the immutability of God’s unchangeable
love, the intercession of Christ on our behalf, the abiding of the Spirit dwelling in us, and
the seed of the gospel that will bear fruit in due season. “If we are faithless, He remains
faithful”
The Great Composer of the sacred hymn, God Himself, will not allow the song to end on a
sour note. God will show Himself faithful, to those who mock His existence and coming
judgment and God will show Himself faithful to the promises He has made to those who
believe, for He cannot deny Himself. Brothers and sisters, “he who has believed . . .shall be
saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. (Mk.16.16)
Closing Thought
This little hymn of the early church gives us a helpful overview of key aspects of a true
believer’s life. It declares our glorious union with Christ in this present life and the promise
of our blessed hope in Christ for eternity. It issues a sharp warning against those who are
persistent in their denial and faithlessness towards Christ but at the same time offers
comfort and consolation for true believers assuring them that Christ will always remain
faithful to him and will never deny who He is as God or His Word.
7
As we close this morning let’s recite this trustworthy statement one more time:
Pastor: It is a trustworthy statement:
Congregation: For 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 also will deny us;
If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.