Perilous Times (Part II)

Text: II Timothy 3:1-9

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (05/06/01)

Introduction:   

REVIEW of Part I – We see in our text the characteristics of men in the last days.  Paul said these were perilous times, not only without, but also within the church.

We saw that the false teachers were lovers of their own selves, they are also…

II. Deniers of True Godliness vs.5

FORM – morphsis – an outward shape and appearance.  The shadow, but not the substance.

A. That they hold to an outward form of true Christianity makes them even more dangerous

Titus 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Matthew 23:25  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

They are wolves in Sheep’s clothing!!

2 Corinthians 11:13-15  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

B. Regardless of how convincing the idea or how sincere the false teacher may seem to be they must be avoided.

ILLUS: It doesn’t matter how well the counterfeiter has done his job, the bill he produces is still a counterfeit!!

Take yourself by the scruff of the neck and drag yourself away from false teaching.

Avoid and keep on avoiding.

C. Three Biblical guidelines for judging whether a teacher or preacher is from God.

1. Measure his Creed

2 John 1:9  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

Galatians 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

2. Measure his personal Character

Ungodly living betrays an ungodly heart.

LOOK UP & READ Matthew 7:16-20

We are not Judges, but we are fruit inspectors.

3. Measure his Converts

His disciples / His closest followers.

False hypocritical teachers will produce converts in their own image.

LOOK UP & READ Acts 5:34-39 - GREAT ADVICE!!

III. Captors of the Weak  vs.6-7

A. They enter by stealth and often remain undetected.

Bob Kirkland calls them “Bible Creeps”

Jude 1:4  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

LASCIVIOUSNESS - enotes "excess, licentiousness, absence of restraint, indecency, wantonness";  in Gal. 5:19, classed among the works of the flesh;  The prominent idea is shameless conduct.

Galatians 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

B. Their target is emotionally and spiritually weak women who are most vulnerable to religious seduction.

Eve was the serpent’s first target.

1 Peter 3:7  Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Many cults have been birthed by women, and many of their most loyal followers are women.

There are reasons why God has ordained men to be leaders in the home, and in the church.

1 Timothy 2:12-14  But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

13  For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

14  And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

C. They may learn many things except the knowledge of the truth vs.7

KNOWLEDGE – Deep understanding, comprehension and discernment, not merely awareness of factual truth.

Truth that grips the heart, not just the head.

1 Corinthians 8:1  Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

Here knowledge speaks of seeking to know, enquiry, investigation.

IV. Rejecters of the Truth  vs.8-9

A. The example of Jannes & Jambres

They are not mentioned by name in the OT.

JANNES – He who seduces

JAMBRES – He who makes rebellion

1. May have been among the magicians in Pharaoh’s court who duplicated many miracles performed by Moses.

2.May have been among those who led in making and worshipping the golden calf while Moses was on Mt. Sinai.

Jewish tradition holds that they pretended to convert to Judaism in order to subvert Moses’ divine assignment to liberate Israel from Egypt.

B. “Men of corrupt minds” indicates a continuous and unalterable condition.

LOOK UP & READ Romans 1:28-32

C. They were reprobate or disqualified.

REPROBATE – adokimos – used of metals that did not pass the test of purity and were therefore discarded.

The same Greek word is used in the following passages…

2 Corinthians 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

1 Corinthians 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

In II Timothy it is clear that these were individuals within the church who claimed to be Christians, but were not.

In Paul’s reference to the possibility of His being a castaway, he is not speaking of disqualification from salvation, but of being disqualified as a useable instrument in the Lord’s service, a vessel of honor.

D. God will protect the church against their further progress

Matthew 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Mark 13:22  For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

God has set boundaries which Satan may not pass beyond.

E. Sooner or later their folly will be known by all men.

The error will be manifest to all who truly are God’s people.

Conclusion:     (Review)

Here are four practical lessons for us today.

1. We are involved in a spiritual warfare.

This warfare will only intensify as Christ’s coming draws nearer.

2. We must be doctrinally discerning.

Testing every message that claims to be Christian against the Word of God.

Acts 17:11  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

3. We must be pure and holy – Vessels of Honor

4. We must be patient

There are not always……

Instant answers to our questions.

Instant resolution to our conflicts.

Instant solutions to our problems.

Our responsibility is to remain faithful and trust God!!

1 Corinthians 4:2  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.