Paul gives us a part of a poem or ancient hymn. These verses encourage endurance, warn against apostasy, and close on the high point of God’s faithfulness. God is faithful to fulfill His promises and His warnings. God’s faithfulness is a comfort to those who remain loyal. God’s faithfulness is a warning to those who depart from the faith. God must remain faithful to His Word and Himself.
There are two ways to consider God faithful. First, God is faithful to reward those who persevere in faith. God never changes, unlike people. The deserters can’t prevent God from remaining faithful to Himself, His promises, and His followers. He is devoted to the remnant that is faithful to Him.
Second, God is faithful to disown deserters. Let’s clarify some things here: Paul speaks about those who have abandoned or denied the faith. He is not referring to Peter, who made a mistake and then repented. He is referring to people like Judas, who didn’t repent for their wrongdoing.
Paul stood firm in his faith in a cold, dingy dungeon. He remained steadfast because he knew who he believed. Paul knew that God would bring him safely into the kingdom. History records that Nero had Paul beheaded. Paul’s faith was not hurt because he was beheaded.
God enables believers to remain faithful through the prison, death, and great suffering. If we deny Him, He will deny us. We need to make up our minds that we will be faithful to Jesus Christ. We need to be loyal even to the point of death.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your faithfulness, even when we don’t deserve it. I pray that we will choose you and be faithful and steadfast in following you.
In Jesus Name
Amen
