This is a Pauline epistle. Bible Believers believe that Paul’s epistles teach salvation by grace alone, not works. Different religions and even Christian heretics will try to claim that it is salvation by grace not works, but works do come out and works maintain that faith. They like to call it “faith that works”. One of the verses that seem to show that the Lord can deny one’s salvation is 2 Timothy 2:12.
2 Timothy 2:12 “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:”
This verse seems to show that if one denies Jesus, then He will in turn deny that person, denying one from entering heaven, and being denied of one’s salvation. This is Paul’s writing, so how do we justify this? It does not belong in a different dispensation or time period.
We should interpret scripture exactly how the verse says. Did the verse say that Jesus will deny us a home in heaven, or of our salvation? No it did not. It simply said that He will deny us, so what is Jesus specifically denying us of?
The easy answer would be to read the verse as it says, and the context of the verse gives the answer. Verse 12 itself tells us that “if we suffer, we shall also reign with him”. Notice that the “denial” here is in the context of one’s reign, not salvation.
That is why many pathetic Christians who do not suffer for Jesus Christ, or give up on God in the midst of their suffering will be denied a reign with Jesus Christ. This is important for Christians who are going through suffering right now, please do not stop living for God and serving Him, in order to not get denied of one’s reign or chance to rule with Jesus Christ. God wants us to rule over cities and gain rewards, but He will deny us of this if we deny Him in return.
That makes sense why a suffering Christian would deny Jesus! Suffering is so great, causing one to deny Him. Just like how Jesus told His disciples that they would deny Him, due to their fear of persecution. That’s why throughout 2000 years of church history, Christians were pressured to deny Jesus! That is why He warned His disciples not to deny Him during suffering. The context is about suffering, it is not about denying Jesus to become atheist or to become a carnal person.
Let’s look at the context of this chapter.
2 Timothy 2:1, 3 “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
See that? The context of this whole chapter is about suffering.
2 Timothy 2:5-6 “And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.”
This verse talks about a Christian striving. Paul is saying to keep enduring the suffering, so that one can get their reward in the form of crowns and fruits.
By association and contrast, we can also debunk the critics. Let’s assume verse 12 is about denying salvation. Let’s read the verse that follows.
2 Timothy 2:13 “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”
This verse tells us that even if a Christian stops believing, one is still saved no matter what. Jesus will be faithful. This does not make sense if verse 12 is referring to losing salvation. Paul would not contradict himself in the next verse. Hence this means that verse 12 must mean something else.
Comparing scripture to scripture, let’s look at 1 Corinthians 12:27.
1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
Jesus cannot deny a saved believer because he is a part of Jesus, He cannot deny His own body. What if this saved believer wants to go out of the body? It is impossible, 2 Timothy 2:13 says so. This proves even more of eternal security and not losing salvation!
1 Corinthians 12:18, 21-22 “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” “And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:”
Jesus Christ cannot deny His own body, because it is Him. Even members of the body who are feeble, or have a weak walk with the Lord, Jesus considers them necessary!
Look at the promises in 2 Timothy 2, it starts in verse 11 to 14. There are three different blessings in this same context.
2 Timothy 2:11-14 “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. Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.”
There is a faithful promise regarding firstly, our resurrection, secondly, our reign, and thirdly no denial by Christ. These three separate promises are where He promised a resurrection that happens when one dies. He promised a reign that happens when one suffers. He promised salvation even during doubt. These are wonderful promises of God when one suffers and it is truly something to shout about!
The only reason why Paul says verse 12 is to give the idea that when one suffers, one will reign with Jesus Christ. This is the main point that Paul was driving at here.