Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.  2 Timothy 2: 11 – 13

I understand that this was a hymn that the believers were singing, or a chant that they were repeating, at this time.  Whatever the case it summarizes marvelously the life of believers who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.

Let’s learn from it.

We died with him. This is not easy to grasp. Surely it means that when we gave our hearts to Christ we gave up our rights to ourselves and cast ourselves on the mercy of God, not knowing what it will mean but fully trusting Him to show the way. All of us who testify that we died with Christ in conversion also quickly respond, We live with him.  So that death is life!

We endure.  This is difficult to do.  Endurance requires full trust in the one who controls our lives, God himself. When is our trust ever complete?  Hardly ever but we surely know the way. Then what?  We will also reign with him.  Our part is to endure as we reign with Christ.

If we disown him, he will also disown us. When we come to Christ we give up ownership of ourselves, and exalt him as our new, eternal owner.  If, perish the thought, we take back our lives and run them on our own, we give up our rights in Christ.

If we are faithless, and here comes the divine surprise, GOD REMAINS FAITHFUL. This is the mystery, or at least one of them, of our life with the Lord.  When we give our lives to him and then along the way turn our backs on him for some reason or the other and try to struggle on our own, we would expect the Lord to drop us, but he will never do that.  When we give ourselves to the Lord his promise is sure, we are his and he will look after us.  He is absolutely committed to us and he cannot disown himself, he is faithful and will fulfill his promise to us.

Assuming that this was a hymn sung in the early fellowships, what they sang is exactly what we sing today, or should!