Question: “In recent weeks, I have become convinced of Eternal Security and that I have everlasting life and am forever secure in the Lord Jesus Christ. However, I am struggling with passages like Matthew 10:33 and 2 Timothy 2:12.
Matthew 10:33
“But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”
2 Timothy 2:12
“if we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:”
I know that Eternal Security is true, but I also would like an explanation on what it means that Christ will deny us if we deny Him. Thank you for your time and ministry.”
Answer:
I am pleased to see you have become convinced of eternal security. I pray you continue to look to the Word and grow.
Matthew 10:33 is a passage about the cost of discipleship, not salvation. Jesus is addressing the disciples and giving them comfort when they will face persecution.
“Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:26-33)
Salvation is free for the sinner to receive. Discipleship is the daily denial of the flesh and submission to the Spirit. This is discussed in Ephesians 4.
“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:17-32)
2 Timothy 2:12 is a promise of reward, not a condition of salvation. Evidently, there is a possibility for the believer to miss out on specific privileges in the millennial reign of Jesus because they lived for themselves. They will be denied the rewards they could have earned at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)
Notice that 1 Corinthians 3:15 specifically says that the believer will suffer a loss, but not a loss of their salvation.