Gospel of John [17:17-18]. The Lord's priestly prayer; part 33. 2Ti 2; Practical Sanctification.

Title: Gospel of John [17:17-18]. The Lord's priestly prayer; part 33. 2Ti 2; Practical Sanctification.

 

 

2TI 2:1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

 

2TI 2:2 And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

 

2TI 2:3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

 

2TI 2:4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

 

2TI 2:5 And also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.

 

2TI 2:6 The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.

 

2TI 2:7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

 

2TI 2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel,

 

2TI 2:9 for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.

 

2TI 2:10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.

 

2TI 2:11 It is a trustworthy statement:

For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him;

 

Sometimes the placement of the verse numbers lead us away from an accurate interpretation.

 

The Greek order of words is, "Faithful is the saying [ ho logos = the word]." The faithful word or concept is in the previous verse. The eternal glories of the saved stimulates the endurance of suffering for the gospel.

 

However, to be honest, there are several very good commentators who believe the statement refers to vv. 11-13 as there are other good commentators who believe it refers to vs. 10. I like the latter.

 

2TI 2:10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.

 

This (vs. 10) is a faithful statement. If we come to know the magnitude and importance of Christ's mission through the Church then we would endure all suffering for the gospel.

 

What comes next enforces the teaching.

 

2TI 2:11 (b) For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him;

 

If we died with Him is an aorist indicative, meaning this is not a hypothetical but a past fact, we died with Him. The aorist reveals that this is not a present condition. My old nature is not in the process of dying. It is dead. In reality, judicially, it was crucified 2,000 years ago at Cavalry, which was applied to me the moment I believed in Christ as my Savior.

 

If we have died with Him, and every believer has, then we shall also live with Him.

 

Every believer has died with Christ and is alive in Christ. This is reference to time and eternity. We do not have to wait for eternity, we are alive now.

 

ROM 6:8

Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

 

ROM 8:10

And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness

 

EPH 2:5

even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

 

COL 2:13

And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions

 

COL 3:3-4

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

 

1PE 3:18

For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit

 

2TI 2:11 (b) For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him;

 

2TI 2:12 If we endure [hupomeno = remain patiently under suffering until the Lord delivers], we shall also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us;

 

If we endure undeserved suffering for the sake of Christ then we will reign in the Messianic Kingdom with Him.

 

REV 2:26

'And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations

 

2TI 2:13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.

 

There are two interpretations to this which both fit and do not contradict. If those who deny Him and are faithless or without faith are those who have not believed in Him as Savior then they will be denied by Him and judged. To accept an unbeliever into His eternal kingdom would be to deny Himself and the justice of the Father that He satisfied. Remember, Paul is instructing Timothy in his position as a pastor. Paul could easily be using the example of the unbeliever who is without faith and denies the Lord so that Timothy and his congregation would understand the gravity and importance of our own position. Paul has done this before.

 

EPH 5:3 But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints;

 

EPH 5:4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

 

EPH 5:5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

 

It is the unbeliever that is in view in verse 5. Paul uses them as an example so that we may understand that as children of light we would be thinking as the crucified nature, which we've been delivered from used to think and act, if we walk in darkness.  

 

EPH 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

 

EPH 5:7 Therefore do not be partakers with them;

 

Why partner up with those who are destined for wrath when you are not? Hence the interpretation of 2TI 2:11-13 might certainly be: "Why fail to persevere under testing when that is what those without faith and deny Christ do?"

 

This is truly the application of sanctification - to not partner up in terms of purpose, unity, and destiny in life with an unbeliever. He cannot possibly walk the path together with a believer. Set apart does not however mean physical separation or aloofness from him. You are a witness to him of the treasure you have within, but you cannot be in unity of destiny and purpose with him.

 

EPH 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light

 

EPH 5:9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),

 

EPH 5:10 trying to learn [dokimazo = proving] what is pleasing to the Lord.

 

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2TI 2:12 If we endure [hupomeno = remain patiently under suffering until the Lord delivers], we shall also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us;

 

2TI 2:13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.

 

In other words, we believers are not those without faith, nor have we denied the Kingship of our Lord and so it is we that should endure that suffering that comes to all those who chose to live godly and not try to scheme our way out of it.

 

Interpretation 1: The deniers and the unfaithful are the unbelievers that Paul is using as an example of those who cannot endure so that we will not collapse and succumb as they do.