Correspondence: 2TI 2:13; ROM 6:23 Physical or Spiritual?; 2TI 4:8 What Appearing

From: Correspondence

Narrator: Chris Genthree

From: Young Christian: Volume 32, 1942

• 2 min. read • grade level: 6

Ques. What does "He cannot deny Himself" (2 Tim. 2:13¹³If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. (2 Timothy 2:13)) mean?

Ans. In this Epistle we find many bearing the name Christian, who have only a lifeless profession.

The true Christian is seen as dead and risen with Christ,-Christ is his life (Col. 3:1-4¹If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. ²Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. ³For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1‑4)).

In 2 Tim. 2:11, 12¹¹It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: ¹²If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: (2 Timothy 2:11‑12) the believers are encouraged to suffer with Christ. "For if we have died with Christ, we shall also live with Him. If we suffer we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us." Those who deny the person of Christ as the eternal Son of God, He will deny them.

Peter denied that he knew the Lord, and did not confess Him. He failed, but his faith did not fail, he was still a believer (See Luke 22:31, 32, 61, 62³¹And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: ³²But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. (Luke 22:31‑32)
⁶¹And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. ⁶²And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:61‑62)). Jesus' intercession for him was, "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." "If we believe not" means: If we are unfaithful, "yet He abideth faithful. He cannot deny Himself.”

Our failures are met by the advocacy of Christ. His promise to His own is unfailing. "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,"-they are part of Himself.

Ques. Rom. 6:23²³For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23). "The wages of sin is death." Is this physical or spiritual death?

Ans. God said to Adam, "In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Mortality entered then. "After this the judgment." Heb. 9:27²⁷And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27). The whole man is involved; death came by sin; sin must be judged.

“Death we have earned-it is the wages of sin; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. It is not merely that eternal life is the gift of God, but the gift of God is nothing less than eternal life. Death is purposely looked at in its simple character of death. No doubt it is judgment of sin in this world, and implies, unless redemption comes in, the judgment which comes after. It is the present effect of judgment on sin, and the divine officer and witness of sin, to conduct us to judgment,-according to wrath revealed from heaven, but here it is the end of life which fruitless sin worked. It does lead to judgment-judgment of works done while living. God gives eternal life.”

Ques. Please explain what "appearing" is referred to in 2 Tim. 4:8⁸Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8). ("All them also that love His appearing").

Ans. It is when the Lord comes with His saints (1 Thess. 3:13, 4:14; 2 Thess. 1:7, 10⁷And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, (2 Thessalonians 1:7)
¹⁰When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. (2 Thessalonians 1:10)).

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." Titus 2:13¹³Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:13). The "blessed hope" is His coming for us. The "glorious appearing" is His coming with us.

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