What to Expect When You Are Expecting (Part 1)- 2 Timothy 3:1–9

The book, What to Expect When You Are Expecting, was originally published in 1984. The authors, and specifically Heidi Murkoff, sought to help families who were expecting their first child. Following a question and answer format, the book moves from determining whether you are pregnant, then what you will undergo throughout your pregnancy, all the way from conception to the first 6 weeks of the baby’s life.

When we were expecting London, we found that book particularly helpful. This desire to know what to expect is innate in human beings. From horoscopes and astrologies, to soothsayers and fortune cookies, human beings want to know what is going to happen in the future. We see this in Scripture as well (diviners, witches, etc.)

We want to be prepared for what lies ahead. We want to have an idea of what is coming. Christians, by God’s wonderful grace, are given a glimpse into the future. We are told what we should expect during the end times.

End times sermons, conferences, and books remain all-time best attended/sold events and products for Christians. Why? We are fascinated with what is coming. Paul helps us to prepare by teaching us this truth...

If we are to endure and remain steadfast, we must live with end-time expectations.

What does it mean to live with end-time expectations? It means three truths which will be the focus of our attention this morning. Beginning with Paul’s exhortation to know we should...

I. Expect Seasons of Increasing Wickedness- 3:1–5

It may surprise you that we are, in fact, living in “the last days.” Although we typically think of “the last days” as far off in the distant future, we are, according to holy Scripture, in the last days.

Consider several passages of Scripture. In Acts 2:17, Peter quotes from Joel 2:28–32 in his Pentecost sermon. What is surprising is that Peter applies Joel’s mention of “the last days” to his period of time. In other words, Peter, the apostles, and the early church were in “the last days.”

Simply put, we can speak of the time between Christ’s first coming to his second coming as “the last days,” and when He comes back as “the days to come,” or, “the age to come.” We are in the last days, and as such, Paul tells us, expect seasons of increasing wickedness.

Paul tells us to understand or know this, there will be times of difficulty or perilous times. When doctors try to prepare their patients for rough physical roads ahead, they tell them, “You need to know this is going to be a hard time.” But why? What specifically should we be expecting? Seasons of increasing wickedness.

The word Paul uses for times in 3:1 gives the idea of seasons, much like our spring, summer, fall, and winter seasons. There will be times of increasing wickedness throughout these last days. We can see this in human history. The first century church dealt with this, throughout the rest of history we see this, and we see it in our own country as well.

We should not be surprised when there are periods of greater wickedness. And Paul, not satisfied with writing of wickedness generally goes on to provide additional details. This list, though not exhaustive, is comprehensive. None of the items surprise us, except perhaps for that last phrase: having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.”

There are many, many individuals, groups, churches, and religions that “have the appearance of godliness.” On the outside, they look good. Progressive Christianity, if we can use that term, appears to be godly. They claim to follow Jesus, but ultimately they lack any real power because they lack the Holy Spirit and are, therefore, still dead in their sins.

We are living in the end times and there will be seasons of increasing wickedness. The 60s were periods of increasing wickedness. We are experiencing increasing wickedness. What should we do? How do we suffer and remain steadfast? Avoid such people.

Purposeful avoid them. Act as if they have the plague!

Now, before we go through the rest of this section, we must address what appears to be a contradiction. In the last section of chapter two, Paul encourages us to be gentle and encouraging our opponents repentance. Here Paul seems to head into an opposite direction. What in the world is going on?

It would seem to me that Paul is adjusting his commands and counsels to the responsiveness of the individuals with whom we interact. At the end of chapter 2, though they are identified as opponents, they seem to be willing to listen. In chapter 3, there seems to be nothing in the realm of teachability or receptiveness to the gospel. They are falling headlong into sin and loving every minute of it. Avoid these people. Expect seasons of increasing wickedness, and willing deception.

II. Expect Willing Deception- 3:6–7

“Among them,” that is, the people listed in 3:1–5 are “weak women.” This is not a description of women in general but of a particular group of women. Paul describes them as

“weak”

“burdened with sins”

“led astray by various passions”

“Always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth”

Apparently, these women had lived wicked lives and were looking for deliverance from their guilt from anywhere. Many people do this today, not just women, but men and teenagers. We search for meaning, for significance, and for the removal of guilt from all sorts of places, people, or things.

These women were no different. They eagerly desired to be freed from their guilt, and deviant teachers took advantage of it (of which we will speak more of in a moment).

I summarize these characteristics as “willing deception.” They are willingly deceived, much like the group of individuals in 4:3. They forsake the simplicity of the gospel (the knowledge of the truth) for looking for the next bandaid for their souls (always learning). Like Israel, not only do they reject the Lord, but they also search for false gods and goddesses (cf. Jer. 2:12–13). Expecting seasons of increasing wickedness and willing deception, but Paul adds one more characteristic of life in the end times: deviant teachers.

III. Expect Deviant Teachers- 3:6a, 8–9

As we consider life in the end-times, we must expect deviant teachers. It is the epitome of foolishness to trust whole-heartedly everyone who claims to teach the Bible. We need discernment, the ability to distinguish truth from error, true teachers and false teachers.

Paul tells Timothy, Expect deviant teachers. This has a slightly different nuance from simple false teachers. There are teachers who genuinely believe what they are teaching is true and it is not, and by that very nature, it is false teaching.

There are others, however, who are familiar with the truth and teach the opposite knowing that it is false. That is why I call them deviant teachers. Paul describes them in detail in their actions and their lifestyles.

A. The Deviant Teachers’ Actions

“creep into households”—like the false teachers in 2 Peter, they secretly enter the church. They do not openly proclaim their wicked beliefs, and so deceive the church. This is why we should ask questions when people desire to unite in membership, by the way. We want to make sure they believe what we believe, and that they, though like us, imperfectly follow the Lord Jesus. This is one of the reasons I refer to them as deviant.

“they oppose the truth”—it is not that they have a different view on a doctrinal matter, they oppose the truth. Like a “road closed” sign, these men block the way of truth.

These two actions expose the deviant nature of these false teachers, but they also have lifestyles the demonstrate this as well.

B. The Deviant Teachers’ Lifestyles

Paul describes them as “men corrupted in mind” and “disqualified regarding the faith.”

The Scriptures speak regularly of the corrupted mind of fallen man. We see this in the depravities of this life. We wonder at how some people could commit such depraved acts of violence, or how they can believe the mutilation of children is good and normal.

These false teachers follow the same lifestyle. The idea of corruption is one of ruin, it no longer is able to fulfill its original purpose. Like a piece of paper that is submerged into water, their minds are no longer functioning the way God intended.

Their reasoning is broken. But they also are “disqualified regarding the faith,” Paul says. He gives us a better glimpse of what this looks like in Titus 1:16 “They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”

They are not Christians, though on the surface and for a time they may appear to be.

If we are to endure and remain steadfast, we must live with end-time expectations.

Paul ends this section with a word to help us know what to expect when we are expecting: “They will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.”

They will face judgment. Therefore, live with end-time expectations.