Throughout the entire Word of God the idea of reigning means God has, does, and will always have dominion. Rulership. He IS the King. His Kingship was displayed throughout all of history and humanity when King Jesus arrived on earth to conquer death.

Paul explains to Timothy that the following statement can be counted on because it represents the truth expressed throughout the Word of God - a "thread" if you will.

"It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself." 2 Timothy 2:11-13

Let's break this down:

We can count on this statement because it is reflective of the entire story for all the nations. When we surrender our lives to Jesus we die to ourselves. Our self-kingship is over - submitted to the King Himself. When we live steadfastly in the truth we experience endurance. But if we deny the truth of Who He is and what He has accomplished He will deny us. Believing is reciprocal. His work and our work meet (or not). Yet if we find ourselves unfaithful or faithless He is resolute in His faithfulness to us - because to do otherwise He would have to deny Himself inasmuch as He has bought us with such a great price.

The idea that we will "reign with Him forever" is a mind blower.

We can count on this for sure: we WILL accompany Him in death. We will make our forever existence with Him. If we continue to engage His work on earth with our hands we will become kings with Him.

"While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately." Luke 19:11

"And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you will be in authority over ten cities.'" Luke 19:17

When we become a follower of Jesus we enter into His eternal identity. We serve Him because we have already become Kings - apparently destined to reign with Him through faith in the Messiah.

"And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever." Revelation 22:5

This world is going to give way to a new heavens and earth. "But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 3:13 "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea." Revelation 21:1

As we said: mind-blower! So to summarize:

√ There is only one true king over the earth

√ He conquered death for all who choose to believe in His name

√ When we "die" by humbling ourselves we come to life

√ If we deny Him He denies us our God-friendship and all it entails

√ If we are weak in faith He holds on to us - because we are a part of Him

√ We then reign forever in a new heavens and earth - we become kings!

A pretty amazing promise! Dave and Burnadette

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