Dec 23, 2012
2Tim 2:11-13
It is a faithful saying: For
- if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
- if we suffer, we shall also reign with him:
- if we deny him, he also will deny us:
- if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny
himself.
Why, in our unbelief, Christ remains faithful while in our
denial of Him, He will also deny us?
How are unbelief in Christ and denial of Christ related?
In what way do we deny Him?
In what way will Jesus deny us?
What are the consequences of His denying us?
I would be pleased to hear your answers. Thanks.
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Low Wei Yan
Interestingly challenging...
Brendon Double-You
One who abides in Christ, because he has been grafted in by
the Vinedresser - will not adopt a habitual pattern of denying Him. Whether
that denial come through public testimony (or rather, absence of) or a denial
of His love, power, and the sufficiency of His grace in the outworking our life
(thought, word, and deed).
Low Wei Yan
Hmm.. let me try.. A man in the state of sin naturally rebels and
denies Christ as they are spiritually dead. This act of denial is also proof that
Christ denied him of spiritual life.. Believe however is one of the fruit of
the Spirit. It is also the work (John 28-29). So, even if we do not do this
work for whatever reason which may include our inability to do so, Christ
cannot deny his elect.. I think this is set in a situation where some elect
were faced with an ultimatum to either deny Christ and live or believe Christ
and certain death. So, only the true elect will be able to choose not to deny
Christ. However, there are also elect not faced with such a situation.. to
these elects, Christ cannot deny them as Christ election is purely by grace and
not any works of man (including the work of believing)...
Sing F Lau
Thanks... please note that Paul says, "if WE deny him,
he will also deny us."
The people under consideration is 'we' and 'us' - they are
God's children who are BELIEVERS!
An interpretation that doesn't bear this in mind is off
tangent!
God's children who are believers DO deny Christ... it is a
reality, not hypothetical.
Christ will also deny those that deny Him... that is also a
reality, not hypothetical.
So, we need to consider the fact of our denial of Christ, ,
and the consequences of Christ's reciprocal denial of us... who are God's
children.
Does the term 'true elect' imply 'false elect' or 'not true
elect'?
Julius Stewart
Very well stated Sing. Well done.
Low Wei Yan
hmm... getting more interestingly challenging.. seems like
the word "deny" needs more due consideration..
Julius Stewart
We will be denied kingdom fellowship. We can not be denied
sonship.
Julius Stewart
Same thing here. Mat 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess
me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I
also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Marty-Sandy Smith
Consider that, in Simon Peter, we have a disciple who both
confessed Jesus Christ (Matthew 16) and denied Jesus Christ - not once, but
three times!
Consider also that, in the apostle Paul, we have one who
began his trip to Damascus in unbelief.
Perhaps those examples will help to arrive at answers.
Robert Cook Sr.
OH! am I thankful for 2Timothy 2:13 "He cannot deny
Himself" If I reject Him now I have no comfort or rest now, this is a
snare of the devil that God must grant repentance for so be patient. See rest
of chapter.
