God is Faithful - 2 Timothy 1-2

 2 Timothy 2:8-13 (ESV)

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for:

If we have 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.

In chapter two of this letter Paul wrote to young Pastor Timothy, Paul is outlining how Timothy can persevere through the trials that come his way.  Paul is writing this from prison, which only provides more depth to a letter about endurance in the faith.   Paul is suffering, being in chains for the gospel.  He has just given Timothy three metaphors about endurance:

1. He should be like a good soldier (2:3-4)

2. He should be like a great athlete (2:5)

3. He should be like a worthy farmer (2:6-7)

In the above passage Paul wants Timothy to know that he can endure when he considers Christ Jesus, the author of his faith.    The key line in the above passage in regard to this endurance Timothy is called upon to demonstrate is:

... if we are faithless, he remains faithful—

for he cannot deny himself. (v.13b)

We are going to have days that our weakness shows more often than our walking in harmony with Christ.  We will fail.   God has taken that into His plan and has provided many measures to assure out ultimate success.  But, the most amazing part of God’s plan is that we have been redeemed solely by God’s power, founded upon Christ’s finished work.    We may falter in our walk, but we can rejoice that He remains faithful.   Even in our failings God is the One who is sustaining.