The statement that God cannot deny Himself comes from 2 Timothy 2:13, which says “if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.” This verse is nestled in a passage where Paul is encouraging Timothy to “share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:3) and to not get entangled in civilian pursuits. Even if we are unfaithful, God remains faithful. He is dependable and steadfast. His character does not change. He cannot deny His own nature.
So what does it mean that God cannot deny Himself? First, it means God is consistent. His attributes do not change. He does not contradict Himself or go back on His promises. Numbers 23:19 declares, “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” God always acts in accordance with who He is. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8).
Secondly, God cannot deny Himself because He is truth. He is the essence of truth. There is no falsehood or deception in Him. Titus 1:2 says, “God, who never lies.” 2 Samuel 7:28 affirms, “O Lord God … your words are true.” God speaks only truth because He is truth. God denying Himself would be antithetical to His nature.
Third, God’s faithfulness stems from His immutability. He does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17). There is no variation or shifting in God (Ja. 1:17). He established His covenant with an oath to demonstrate its unchanging character (Heb. 6:17). He keeps His promises and fulfills what He spoke long ago (Josh. 23:14). His plans stand firm forever and His purposes last eternally (Ps. 33:11).
Fourth, God is love (1 John 4:8) and love does not fail or fade away (1 Cor. 13:8). God’s faithful, enduring love emanates from His being. His steadfast love endures forever, it never ceases (Ps. 100:5, Lam. 3:22). He rests in His love for His people and rejoices over them with singing (Zeph. 3:17). His Spirit within believers is producing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness (Gal. 5:22). He cannot deny these qualities that proceed from His Spirit (Gal. 5:17).
In summary, God denying Himself would require Him to go against His attributes of truth, faithfulness, immutability, and love. It would require Him to contradict His word, break His promises, change His character, and act inconsistently with His nature. He cannot lie, be unfaithful, fickle, unloving or unreliable. His moral excellence demands that His actions align with who He is. To deny Himself would be to deny His own existence, which is impossible. God will always conduct Himself according to His holy and perfect character.
God’s Faithfulness in Scripture
Throughout Scripture, we see God remaining true to His steadfast and unwavering character. For example:
- He fulfilled His covenant promises to Abraham to make his offspring as numerous as the stars (Gen. 15:5, 22:17, Heb. 6:13-14).
- He proved faithful to the Israelites through the wilderness wanderings to bring them to the Promised Land, despite their grumbling and unbelief (Neh. 9:7-8; Ps. 78).
- His plans through Christ were established before the foundation of the world and came to pass just as He decreed (Isa. 25:1, 1 Pet. 1:20).
- He fulfilled His word by sending a Savior in Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, resurrected from the dead – affirming His faithfulness (Isa. 25:1, 49:7; Luke 1:26-33; Acts 13:32-33).
- His faithfulness to forgive is seen in the lives of Paul, Peter, Mary Magdalene, Zacchaeus, and others (1 Tim. 1:12-14; John 21:15-19; Luke 7:36-50, 19:1-10).
The examples of God’s faithfulness are endless throughout Scripture. Despite human unfaithfulness, God patiently kept His covenant promises. His faithfulness spans generations. He remembered His covenant with Abraham and delivered the Israelites from Egypt after 400 years of slavery (Ex. 2:23-25). Solomon declared at the temple dedication, “Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. Not one word has failed of all his good promise” (1 Kings 8:56). Even judgment came only after centuries of patience and pleading for repentance. His faithfulness exceeds our comprehending.
God Remains Faithful Despite Our Unfaithfulness
A key aspect of 2 Timothy 2:13 is that God remains faithful even when we are faithless and unfaithful. Though every human fails and falls short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23), He keeps His promises. He does not falter based on our response. Our faithlessness cannot thwart His faithfulness. Unbelief cannot cancel God’s promises or cause Him to deny Himself. Jesus told Peter “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32). Though Peter would deny Christ, Jesus prayed that his faith ultimately would not fail. Despite the disciples scattering after Jesus’ arrest, He restored and commissioned them again after the resurrection (Matt. 28:16-20).
Likewise, when we waver and stumble, God remains true to His word. When Hosea’s wife Gomer was unfaithful, God told Hosea to love her again just as God loves the Israelites despite their turning to false gods (Hosea 3). His restoration shows His covenant love. The prodigal son’s waywardness did not change the father’s love that restored him fully as a son when he returned (Luke 15:11-32). The apostle John reassured believers that if we confess our sins, Christ is faithful to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). His mercies are new every morning; great is His faithfulness (Lam. 3:22-23).
God’s faithfulness is our hope. Lamentations 3:21-25 says:
But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”
The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him.
Though we are prone to wander, God’s faithfulness offers us confidence and assurance that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion (Phil. 1:6). His steadfastness secures our hope for the future.
God Cannot Deny His Promises to Believers
A key aspect of God’s faithfulness is that He keeps His promises. Therefore, God cannot deny the promises He has made to those who trust in Christ. For example:
- Forgiveness and cleansing: He has promised to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). His faithfulness to this promise is tied to the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from sin (1 John 1:7).
- Eternal life: “And this is the promise that he made to us – eternal life” (1 John 2:25). Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, He will raise us up on the last day (John 6:40).
- His Spirit: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us…so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith” (Gal. 3:13-14). He has given His Spirit to those who believe to live within them.
- Never leave us: “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you” (Deut. 31:6). Jesus promises He will never leave or forsake believers (Heb. 13:5).
- All things work for good: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28). He has promised this in His word.
- He will complete His work in us: “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6). God is working within us by His Spirit to fashion us into Christ’s image.
These are just a sampling of God’s many promises for those who put their trust in Jesus Christ. Our salvation depends fully on God’s grace and faithfulness rather than our own good works or perfect faithfulness. He would deny His very nature as Father and Savior to go back on these promises to believers. Our hope rests securely in who God is.
God Does Not Break Covenant
In Scripture, God’s covenants underscore His faithfulness. A covenant signifies an unbreakable, enduring promise. The biblical covenants – Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and New – all illustrate God’s faithfulness. For example:
- God covenanted with Noah and his offspring that a flood would never again destroy all flesh (Gen. 9:8-17). The sign of God’s promise was the rainbow.
- After testing Abraham, God swore by Himself to richly bless his offspring and give them the land of Canaan (Gen. 22:15-18). This covenant established Israel’s inheritance.
- Under the Mosaic covenant, God promised to make Israel His treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation (Ex. 19:5-6). His faithful love continued despite their disobedience.
- David’s offspring were promised an everlasting kingdom (2 Sam. 7:12-16). This covenant pointed ahead to the Messiah’s reign.
- In the New Covenant, God promised to write His law on people’s hearts when they repent and follow Christ (Jer. 31:31-34). This was fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2).
Covenants in biblical times were binding agreements made under oath. Participants would walk between sliced animals to seal covenant vows (Gen. 15; Jer. 34:18-19). God guaranteed His covenant promises with the shedding of blood. He pledged Himself to keep His covenants. To break covenant would be to break His own nature and character. His faithfulness ensures His promises stand forever (Ps. 111:5-7).
Applications for Believers
Since God is always faithful to His promises, what are some key applications for believers?
- We can have full assurance of our salvation based on God’s faithfulness, not our own. Our eternal security rests on His promises, not our works.
- We should remain faithful to God in gratitude, obedience and service, even in times of trial. Our covenant relationship calls us to faithfulness in response to His steadfast love.
- God’s faithfulness means we can trust His word and cling to His promises at all times – especially in suffering. His word is a sure anchor for the soul (Heb. 6:13-20).
- Knowing God cannot deny Himself gives us confidence to ask according to His will in prayer. His promises give us boldness to approach His throne of grace (Heb. 4:16).
- We can have hope and joy even in this fallen world. God’s faithfulness ensures nothing can separate us from His love and purposes (Rom. 8:38-39).
- God’s faithfulness calls us to be faithful stewards of the gospel and our God-given gifts and responsibilities. All we have comes from Him.
Above all, God’s faithfulness exalts His glorious name. We can proclaim with the psalmist, “I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations” (Ps. 89:1). His praises shall continually be on our lips.
