Trust . . . His Faithfulness

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II Timothy 2:11-14 (KJV)

11. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he will deny us:
13. If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
14. Of these things put them in remembrance . . . .

This text tells us something about ourselves and something about God. Sometimes we have trouble believing and our faith is not what it should be. All the time God is faithful. Specifically, God remains faithful even when we do not believe! Let's ask and answer three questions about the phrase: "He abideth faithful: he cannot deny Himself."

1. What does it mean, "He abideth faithful"?
   1. He won't break His promises . . .
      When you call someone faithful, you usually mean he keeps his word. When people say "God is faithful" they usually mean that God keeps his promises. Yet in the New Testament, this is rarely the meaning of expression used of God. Only twice it is said, "He is faithful that promised . . ." (Hebrews 10:23; Hebrews 11:11).
   2. He can't deny His person . . .
      Paul's understanding of God's faithfulness goes much deeper than His promises.

      "God is bound by what He is, and He can never be, in any degree contradictory to, or fall beneath, the level of His own equable, consistent and uniform Self." Alexander Maclaren

      We change like the tides and the seasons, but God forever remains the same. The little saying is so true, "God is good all the time; all the time God is good."
   3. He doesn't forget His past . . .
      I Peter 4:19 encourages us to commit our souls to God, our "faithful creator." Peter argues that if God created us, then He will be faithful to care for us. God is not like us in that He will always carry to beautiful completion all His tasks.
2. What does His faithfulness mean to me?
   1. It is guarantees His care of me . . .
      "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able." (I Corinthians 10:13). "He knows us, he remembers that we are dust" (Psalm 103:14).
   2. It guarantees His work in me . . .
      "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it" (I Thessalonians 5:24). "But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil" (II Thessalonians 3:3).
   3. It guarantees His love for me . . .
      "I will betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know me" (Hosea 2:12).
3. How should His faithfulness move us?

   "Hold fast the profession of your faith without wavering, for He is faithful that promised" (Hebrews 10:23).

   Make your faith match His faithfulness. If He is worth trusting, then trust Him. This is the key to the increase of your faith -- contemplation of His faithfulness. Where is your trust today? Is it in wealth, human love, success, or pleasures? All these combines form an untrustworthy refuge. They will be found unfaithful. Jesus Christ is "the faithful and true witness." God is faithful -- Trust Him.

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