Question:
Please explain what is meant by the words: “If we deny Him, He will deny us” (2 Timothy 2:12).

Answer:
To deny Christ means to reject Him, as we have in John 12:48, and Matthew 10:32, 33. Peter denied the Lord, but it was not a habitual practice with him. He denied that he knew the Lord but he did not reject the Lord, and he “wept bitterly” when he was reminded of the Lord’s words (Matthew 26:75).

“We” in the expression “if we deny Him” refers to all professing Christians who should take this test: “Have I believed on the Lord or am I denying Him?”Verse 12 is a different thought from verse 13 which says: “If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself.” “Believe not” can rightly be translated: “if we are unfaithful.” Being unfaithful is different than denying or totally rejecting Christ as we have in verse 12. Even if we are unfaithful to Christ, how wonderful it is that He abides faithful to us. He cannot deny Himself or His Word, so he cannot deny those who trust in Him.