• Download Video
• Download Audio
• Print
• Email
• Save As PDF

"This is a faithful saying..."

Text: 2 Timothy 2:11

IDENTIFICATION WITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

What is salvation? There are many ways to understand and appreciate salvation. The apostle Paul attempts to summarise the following thoughts under his now famous phrase, “This is a faithful saying.”

“This is a faithful saying:
For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.”
2 Timothy 2:11-13

1. “This is a faithful saying”

a) This expression underscores what we may call “popular belief”.

b) This may be translated simply, “Faithful is this word”.

c) These are general, summary working statements.

2. “For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him”

a) This speaks of identification with Christ Jesus.

b) The following lines of thought must be considered:-

i) Figuratively we have “died with Christ” (Romans 6:3).

ii) In baptism we identify with Christ’s death.

iii) The challenge is to reckon ourselves to have died with Christ (Romans 6:11).

iv) And if we have died with Him we are truly alive in Him (Romans 6:11).

3. “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him”

a) The word “endure” is the word “persevere”.

b) In context:

i) We must not be afraid to suffer for the Lord.

ii) We must learn to endure and to persevere amidst suffering.

iii) The call to endure has a special heart-warming blessing attached.

iv) We have the promise that we will reign with the Lord.

v) A special heavenly reward is in mind to all who endure suffering.

vi) The suffering we have on earth cannot be compared with the eternal weight of glory!