The saying is trustworthy, for:

If we have 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

stacked paper: Abundant Blessings by A Giving Heart Studio

Please note: I have often seen just the last part of the above passage quoted out of context, which then makes it contradictory. The people who do that don't like the context, so they leave it out. They only like the last part where we can do anything and still inherit the kingdom of God, but there are other "ifs" in the passage. "If we have died with Him..." See Romans 6 - we are dead to sin and alive to God, empowered by the Holy Spirit to live as NEW creations instead of the same way that we did before when our fruit was bad. 

"If we endure..." See Romans 8:16-17 - we are heirs, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. Also see Revelation 2 and 3 - the one who "conquers" or "overcomes" will receive the promises. Also Heb. 6:11-12 - do not be sluggish, but imitate those who inherit the promises. Also see Phil. 3:8-21 - press on toward the goal, which has not yet been obtained. Heb. 12 - run a good race, accept God's discipline of you if you are indeed His child. 1Cor. 9:24-10:13 - exercise self control so that you're not disqualified.

This goes hand in hand with taking up our cross and following Jesus. (Mark 8:34-38 - or are we too ashamed of His "unloving" [according to this generation] words of truth to stand firm with Him? Is it possible for God to be BOTH love AND truth, and yet we are not being loving if we quote certain things that He said? John 14:6, 1John 4:8, Eph. 4:15 - be sure to read what comes after that...) "If we deny Him..." Then He will deny us - so much for not needing to actually continue following Him, huh? See John 6:66 - they turned back from following Him because they were only after the bread - they only wanted "stuff" from Him. They weren't any better than Esau, who sold his firstborn inheritance for a bowl of soup. (Heb. 12:14-17, also see v. 23 - we have come to the assembly of the firstborn...) Also 1John 2:19- they went out from us because they were never really with us (not really children of God - see the context - they love the world and all it has to offer more than God - 1John 5:19, 2Tim. 4:10).

Also see the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4) - many fall away due to persecution or the lures of the world. It's not about a false gospel where you earn or contribute to your own salvation. It's about your own behavior testifying for or against the fact that you are a child of God or not - see 1John 1-5 and John 14-15. If you love God, know God and belong to God, His Spirit inside of you will lead you to want to do know and do His will. (Phil. 2:12-16) This is NOT to keep the letter of the Old Testament law with its rituals and so forth (Eph. 2:15), but to keep the true meaning of it, the SPIRIT of it, from the heart - inside, not by mere appearances. (Rom. 7:4-6, John 4:19-23, Rom. 6:17-23, Mark 7:20-23)

Those who make a practice of doing things God hates will NOT inherit the kingdom of God. (1Cor. 6:9-20, Gal. 5:13-26, Rev. 21:7-8, 22:14-15) It's not about slipping and getting back up - it's about wallowing in the mud. (2Pet. 2:18-22) We're not to embrace the fallen ways of the world. (1John 2:15-17, 1Pet. 4:3-5, Titus 3:3-8, Col. 3, Eph. 4:17-5:33, 1Thess. 4:2-8) 

We are warned repeatedly not to be deceived. (Eph. 5:6, 1John 2:26-28, 2Pet. 3:15-18, 1Cor. 6:9-10, 15:33-34, 2Cor. 11:3-4, Gal. 6:7-8, Jam. 1:12-16, Rom. 16:16-19, 1Cor. 3:16-18, 1John 3:6-10) We would do well to heed that advice and read our Bibles for ourselves so that we'll know what it "really says" for REAL and not according to someone else's agenda-driven teaching - not according to someone receiving fame and riches for telling unregenerated people what they want to hear. (2Tim. 4:3-4, 2Pet. 2:2, 3:3, 1Cor. 2:14) And as always, choose a normal translation, not a "special" one that tries to modernize the timeless Word of God, or to advance the teachings of a cult or worldly cause.