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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJabez Burns Sermons: 861. 2Ti 2:11-13. Fellowship with Christ
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2Ti_2:11-13. Fellowship with Christ
"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."—2Ti_2:11-13.
The whole system of the Christian religion is one of conditional arrangements. There are great blessings and privileges independent of us, and without our concurrence—such as, the love of God to our lost world—such as, the sacrifice of Jesus for sin—such as, the sending forth of the gospel to all men; but even here, in these revelations of the divine grace, no saving benefit can be derived by man without his concurrence—without the act and exercise of his own mind. God's love must be the object of our faith—Christ's sacrifice the foundation of our hope—the gospel be received with joy—or those great gifts, so far as we are concerned, are in vain.
Now the same continuous system of mutual considerations runs through the experience and life of the Christian; and the text exhibits them to our view. Let it not be thought that these conditions involve the idea of human merit; or, that they detract from the infinite and sovereign love, and mercy, of God in Christ Jesus; for without the provisions of grace, we should have had no means of returning to God. Without his love to us, we should have had no incentive to love him. Without Christ's atoning sacrifice, there would have been no way of access to the Father. But full redemption having been provided for—then the terms of our acceptance are proposed, and the conditions of discipleship laid down. The text contains these; and we shall take them in the exact order they are placed before us.
Observe,
I. Dying with Christ, is essential to living with him.
This subject is treated at large by the apostle Paul—"For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: knowing that Christ being raised from the dead, dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once; but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God."—Rom_6:5-10.
Observe: in our carnal state we are alive to sin; we live in sin, to sin; and sin lives and works in us.
Observe: Christ died on account of sin; not on account of his own sin—for he was holy; but on account of ours. Without shedding of blood there could be no remission. He died to put away sin, by the sacrifice of himself.
Then observe: we must enter into this work of his by faith. We must be crucified with Christ, and thus die to sin. By virtue of his atoning blood, the power of sin must be destroyed, and we must become dead to it. Further: Christ having died for sin— lived again. He died once; but he rose—and now liveth evermore. Now it is just so with the believer. "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."—Rom_6:11. We have life through faith in Christ; we experience a spiritual resurrection from the dead—"You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." Now the link of connection here is, that—unless we die to sin, we cannot live with him—"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."—Joh_11:25.
Then observe,
II. Suffering with Christ, is essential to reigning with him.
Now Christ led a suffering life; he was poor—a child of sorrows and griefs. He was tempted, tried, despised, persecuted, and vilely treated. Now observe, he distinctly stated, that his people would have to tread in his steps—partake of his suffering—drink of his cup. Hear what he says—"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me."—Joh_15:18-21.
Now to suffer with Christ, is to suffer in the same cause—in the service of holiness and God. To suffer on his account—for being his disciples—for owning him as our head and Lord, and being found among his faithful and spiritual followers. To suffer in his spirit—with resignation towards God, and meekness towards men. To bear scorn and contempt, and injuries for Christ's sake; in the spirit of patience, and prayerful submission. And instead of hating our persecutors, and reviling in return for reviling—to pity them, and pray for them, and bless them; thus showing to the world the mind and temper of the Lord Jesus.
But mark, after Christ had suffered, he reigned; his cross and crown were connected. Christ's deepest humiliation was the stepping-stone to his highest glory; Calvary was united to heaven, and his cross was the ladder to his eternal throne. "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."—Php_2:8-11. "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." In his sacerdotal prayer, he connected his finishing the Father's work, with the Father's glorifying him of his right hand. His suffering servants shall in like manner reign with him. He does not wish to reign alone; all his saints are coheirs with him. "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."—Rom_8:17.
Now in reference to his saints reigning with him, and partaking of his glory, heal "what he says to his disciples—"Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me."—Luk_22:28, Luk_22:29. Hearken to his solemn prayer—"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."—Joh_17:20-24.
Hear also, what the Spirit said to the churches—"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."—Rev_3:5, Rev_3:21.
Thus Christian discipleship, as it is in antagonism to the world, is likely in some way, to demand from the Christian, sacrifice, and self-denial, and willingness to bear the cross. And the condition of reigning with Christ, is, that we do cheerfully bear the cross, endure shame, reproach, loss, afflictions, or imprisonment, and even yield up life, if his cause and the interests of truth should demand it, rather than abandon our profession, and make shipwreck of faith. As suffering and reigning were linked together in Christ's history and work, so, they may also be "with us; and to this item in the claims of Jesus, a cheerful submission must be given.
Then notice,
III. Denying Christ will be followed by Christ denying us.
One of the Saviour's addresses refers to this subject, and distincly conveys this truth to our minds:—"But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."—Mat_10:33. Now to deny Christ is to cast off the profession of him before men; or it is to unite with his enemies, and relapse into worldliness; to go back into a course of irreligion, settled sin, and rebellion, Now this is alike base and ungrateful. It is a heinous sin; a flagrant act of perfidy and treason against the Son of God. And the text supposes that this denial of Christ is persisted in; for Peter denied him, and repented, and was pardoned. But the text involves the idea, that the denial of Christ, is not the result of sudden temptation sincerely repented of; but is a virtual and continued denial of Christ—a taking off his costume—casting away his yoke—a renunciation of his name—separation from his people; and the abandonment of his authority.
Now this apostasy persevered in, will result in Christ denying them. He will disown them as his followers—reject them as his disciples—cease to recognize them as his friends. He will say,—"I know you not." "I do not approve of you, ye workers of iniquity."
Now, this principle God maintained with Israel of old. "When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousness shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it."—Eze_33:13. And on this equitable principle, he will deal with all his people in the last day. Holiness, truth, and the honor of his cause, alike demand it. Hence a denial of Christ, and apostasy from him, will expose its miserable victims to "a certain looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries."—Heb_10:26-30.
Then, observe, the declaration,
IV. That however men may vacillate, Christ is unchanging.
"He abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself."
Now Jesus says—"These are the terms I propose,—these are the principles I establish,—from these I will never swerve." Faithfulness is essential to Christ's honor and glory. He cannot deny himself, any more than the sun can produce darkness. It is an eternal impossibility. Any want of fidelity in Christ, in any respect, would throw his moral kingdom into dire and irreparable confusion. His unchangeable truthfulness—his unswerving fidelity, are the very pillars of his throne, the very basis on which his empire rests. What a ground of joy is this! No circumstances can affect Christ, so as to make his sayings and promises uncertain. He cannot deny himself,—he never has done so,—he never will do so. So, if we apostatize, he will be faithful. He, in that case, must disown us. The one is just as true and essential to Christ, as the other. He is the word of God—the truth of God; and therefore, he cannot lie: he abideth faithful, and cannot deny himself.
Observe: our unbelief does not affect him, because his promise is made to faith,—his rejection of men, to their unbelief. Faith will realize the blessing; apostasy incurs the curse. So that his purity and truth, in either case, remains unaffected.
Learn, then,
1. The terms of Christian discipleship. These are—deadness to the world; living to Christ and to righteousness; confession of Jesus before men; readiness to suffer for his sake; and fidelity in the use of the appointed means of salvation. All these are indispensable; and they are all reasonable in themselves. Nothing is demanded, which is not in perfect harmony with our moral elevation,—spiritual happiness,—and eternal safety.
2. Remember that Jesus provides grace for all his people, and which is ever sufficient for them. Self-reliance will not be effectual, but entire dependence on Jesus. "I can do all things," said Paul, "through Christ who strengtheneth me." And so it will be with every humble trusting Christian. The promises of Christ are all that we need. They insure the grace that will establish us—that will fortify us—that will give endurance and patience, and render fidelity easy and joyous to us. So that while so much is demanded from us, yet sufficient ability is guaranteed. On this, then, must we devoutly rely, and seek the supplies needful for every exigency and trial.
3. It should surely be enough to be co-sharers with Christ. The highest dignity God can bestow on us, is to make us coheirs with his beloved Son. To be sons of God with him. To be beloved with him. To have a place in his Father's house—and a share in his kingdom—and a part of his throne. And then at length to participate of his glory and ineffable joy forever. But with his joy—his crown, his glory, are his sufferings. And how reasonable, too, that wo have fellowship with these, in order to our exaltation and blessedness with Christ for evermore. Never forget the terms and the glorious end as expressed in the lines—
"To patient faith the prize is sure,
And all who to the end endure
The cross, shall wear the crown."