1 Timothy 2:12b

“If we deny him, he also will deny us...”

June 19, 2011

If

The phrase we are considering this Sunday night begins with the troubling word “if.” There is a choice to be made here that we might rather not have. We would prefer to live in a world where it is morally impossible to deny the Leader and Savior of Israel that we have come to know and love. That world is heaven, and for us now on earth there remains the moral and physical possibility that we might deny the One who was willing to own us unto His own death.

… we deny Him,

What does it mean to deny Jesus? The name of the apostle Peter is the one who is most famously associated with denying Jesus. In his case, denying involved a public rejection of any association with Jesus and a disavowal of any personal knowledge of him or relationship with him. Peter's denial of Christ was very serious, yet the breach in relationship was not beyond repair. Some of the most blessed servants of the Lord have had similar troubles with sin. Consider Moses and David for example. They also were restored.

Have you denied the Lord with your words or with your life? You can be restored again. You can come home now. Your Luke 15 Father will gladly embrace you.

He also will deny us;

Yet this verse assures us that we are not to consider the denial of Christ a small matter. It is a weighty offense. We are told here that if we deny Him, He also will deny us. What a frightening prospect! There are some that the Lord will deny on the last day. He will say, “'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” What could be worse than that? What will it fell like for you if you come before the Son of God, whom you have made a habit of denying in this life, and He denies you? How will you feel when you see Him and He will not acknowledge knowing you?

He has said in Matthew10:32-33, “Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” There may be gradations of denying Him. This seems likely. And even the most serious denials may still be forgiven, as in the case of Peter. But this is something we should not do. We should be nowhere near this kind of risky behavior. It could have very bad consequences for this life and the next.

Jesus did not deny His Father, and He did not deny us

It is a great comfort to those who would be associated with Jesus forever, that He did not deny us when He went to the cross. But prior to that moment of great faithfulness, there was a life of complete dedication to the Father that gave the death of Jesus such power. Jesus stayed with the Father and with us despite the cost of God's eternal plan.

I invite you to acknowledge Him now at this sacramental table. Know Him as the Leader and Savior of Israel, and your Lord and Redeemer. If you will do this, you will not come anywhere near the risks that this verse announces. Know Him now in this meal that celebrates His faithful love.