What does 2 Timothy 2:13 mean?

The Faithless and the Faithful God

Some certainties. And finally we come to the promise to the faithless. If we're faithless if our faith is found to be fraudulent due to our denial. If it turns out you're truly not a Christian as in 1st John 2 19 they went out from us.

But they were but they went out that it might be plain that they all are not of us. Not truly a believer not truly trusting in Christ. If that is you this morning even if you've confessed by your mouth faith but you've never trusted in him you've.

Your faith is fraudulent. Understand this truth. He will remain faithful. You say okay to who. To us. That's not what the text is saying here. Not that he is not faithful to us. He is. But this text is speaking of his faithfulness to himself.

Look at it. We're faithless. He remains faithful. But then he says. For he cannot deny himself. This text is speaking of his faithfulness to himself. He remains faithful to himself to his holiness to his righteousness to his righteous judgment.

He cannot deny himself. He will always remain God. We change sometimes we deny ourself all the time we say one thing and do another. We change our minds. He will always remain God. He will not change.

He will keep his word. He will keep the promises. If we have died with him we will indeed live with him. If we endure we will reign with him. Not because of our greatness but because of his faithfulness.

Christ’s Faithfulness in His Incarnation, Cross, and Resurrection

Faithfulness faithful even to the cross. Philippians 2 8 being found in human form he humbled himself becoming obedient to death. Even death on a cross we were unfaithful. We were disobedient. Speaking of those in verse 13.

Or there are those. When we look at verse 13 there are those who believe. He is speaking to believers of believers that when we are faithless he remains faithful. I don't think that fits the rest of the saying especially the end of verse 13.

But the point is true. We were faithless. We had broken the law of God. Even as Christians we lack faith. But Christ was and is perfectly faithful. And he came in the form of a man and he kept God's law perfectly.

And he faithfully went to Calvary to endure the wrath of God in the place of his children. And he rose the third day guaranteeing their justification. Christ is faithful and God is faithful and he will save his children.

And all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. All those who repent and who by his grace endure. He can't deny his faithfulness to his children. And he can't deny his faithfulness to those who deny him.

Denial, Judgment, and the Warning to Timothy

If the positives are true so are the negatives. His word will be kept with them as well if we deny him. If we are faithless no doubt about it he will deny us. Paul is saying to Timothy if you do this Timothy you will be cast off.

You will face punishment for eternally in hell. And God is faultless. In this our denial and our faithlessness will be the cause of this. This letter gives examples of these those who do not continue.

Those who do not endure. Those who prove themselves to be faithless chapter 1. We have fidelis and hermogenes. They are contrasted to Onesiphorus. There's many in chapter 4 most notably Demas who fell in love with this present world and deserted Paul in the gospel Alexander the coppersmith who did great harm to Paul and would be repaid by the Lord according to his deeds.

Because Christ cannot deny himself he is the righteous judge and he will deal righteously. He's telling Timothy don't be like these. Timothy I'm telling you myself don't be like these. Providence. Don't be like these.

Unbeliever run to Christ. Repent of your sins and rest in him.