2 Timothy 2:11-13 (ESV)
This appears to be a quote, possibly from a baptismal ceremony, or perhaps from an ancient hymn. Either way, it reveals several significant theological truths. The first trustworthy saying is, “If we have died with him, we will also live with him.” That is the hope that drives Paul. That is why he is willing to endure treatment as if he were a criminal. He died with Christ and he has the assurance that he will then live with him. We would probably have said, “If we are forgiven by him, we will also live with him.” We talk about being forgiven, but we rarely talk about the truth that was held some firmly by the early church. We died with Christ. We are not just forgiven. We were crucified. Our old self was nailed to the cross along with Jesus, buried with him, and raised to new life. Believers are no longer who they were before believing. We are new creations in Christ Jesus. Paul’s gospel reiterated that truth again and again. It is the heart of the gospel. Not that we can become new creations, or that we ought to live like new creations. We are new creations in Christ. It’s a done deal. We need to believe that as firmly as we believe that we are forgiven.
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.
This appears to be a quote, possibly from a baptismal ceremony, or perhaps from an ancient hymn. Either way, it reveals several significant theological truths. The first trustworthy saying is, “If we have died with him, we will also live with him.” That is the hope that drives Paul. That is why he is willing to endure treatment as if he were a criminal. He died with Christ and he has the assurance that he will then live with him. We would probably have said, “If we are forgiven by him, we will also live with him.” We talk about being forgiven, but we rarely talk about the truth that was held some firmly by the early church. We died with Christ. We are not just forgiven. We were crucified. Our old self was nailed to the cross along with Jesus, buried with him, and raised to new life. Believers are no longer who they were before believing. We are new creations in Christ Jesus. Paul’s gospel reiterated that truth again and again. It is the heart of the gospel. Not that we can become new creations, or that we ought to live like new creations. We are new creations in Christ. It’s a done deal. We need to believe that as firmly as we believe that we are forgiven.
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