When life is uncertain we can lean on God who is unchanging, reliable, faithful.

Imagine believers in the first century, facing persecution, martyrdom, and exile, singing the following Christian hymn together, which Paul quotes. Their voices would contain a sound of courage in the cost of their discipleship but also in their unshakeable confidence in God’s faithfulness.

We live in different times, but the human heart remains the same. We still struggle with doubt, fear, and the temptation to compromise. We still need reminding that our God is faithful even when we are not, that he cannot and will not act contrary to his nature.

Here is the hymn:

“Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him,
    we will also live with him;
¹² if we endure,
    we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
    he will also disown us;
¹³ if we are faithless,
    he remains faithful,
    for he cannot disown himself.” (2 Timothy 2 v 11-13)

The hymn calls us to faithful endurance while comforting us with divine faithfulness. It warns us about the seriousness of denying Christ while assuring us of his unwavering commitment to his own nature and promises.

The passage presents four “if-then” statements that reveal different aspects of our relationship with Christ:

1. “If we died with him, we will also live with him”

The promise of life with him encompasses both the new spiritual life we experience now and the eternal life that awaits. This isn’t merely about going to heaven when we die, it’s about participating in Christ’s own resurrection life, both present and future.

2. “If we endure, we will also reign with him”

The word “endure” means to remain under pressure, to persevere through hardship without giving way. The reward for such endurance is remarkable: we will “reign with him.” This points to the believers’ future role in Christ’s eternal kingdom, where those who have faithfully served through suffering will participate in his royal authority.

3. “If we disown him, he will also disown us”

.Jesus himself warned of this consequence in Matthew 10:33: “But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” This isn’t about momentary weakness (like Peter’s denials) but about a final, decisive rejection of Christ.

4. “If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself”

Even when we are “faithless” , when we fail, falter, or prove unreliable—God remains faithful. His faithfulness isn’t dependent on our performance; it flows from his unchangeable character.