2 Timothy Session 7

Our last chapter focused on a very active response to God’s love.

As a person comes into relationship with God, active steps in that relationship ought to become evident.

There should be an active withdrawal away from anything that would hinder or otherwise negatively effect that person’s relationship with God.

A person ought to move from sin, move from the pattern of this world, move from selfishness, move from rebellion, abstain from the very appearance of evil, as they enter into a relationship with God.

A person ought to move toward the things of God, the heart of God, the love and instruction of God. A person ought to pursue His righteousness through Christ, and walk in the light as He is in the light.

This active pursuit is the key. It is a show of our faith, a show of our trust and love, it is more than “doing” the right things and marking the right boxes, it is “being” the follower of Christ God desires us to be.

Chapter 3 of 2 Timothy moves us into a bit of a different tone. Chapter two gave us insight as to what this active relationship looked liked, but this chapter gives warning of what to stay away from.

From the onset, there is an important reminder I want to throw out here. We are going to see some negative talk regarding people. And as we study this, I want to be clear and remind us that people are NOT the enemy.

People can be used by the enemy or influenced by the enemy true enough. But as we study this, let’s never forget who the real enemy is. Why do I bring this up?

Because no one person is beyond the reach of our God. However… as we will see, there are folks that would rather drag us down into darkness then see us walk in the light. This does not make them evil, but it does mean they are lost.

People can sometimes be the largest distraction in our walk with the Lord. Although there are a lot of things that can pull for our attention, the people around us can often be the loudest voices of persuasion. As we break this chapter down tonight, we will hear the warning given by Paul and look to see what truth it holds for us today.

Warning One: Lovers of the Wrong Stuff

2 Timothy 3:1-5 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

First off, Paul gives a timeline. He places a time stamp on when this kind of behavior will take place. Paul says this terrible activity will happen when? In the last days.

The last days are the days leading up to the return of Jesus Christ. We are living in the last days. And Paul makes clear that we will see a negative pattern emerge among people that goes against who God is.

But let me ask you this: Is it really a new pattern of darkness that is growing OR is it an existing pattern of darkness now made visible because of God’s light and grace?

Sin has been in this world since the dawn of time. But the enormity of God’s grace has only been fully realized when? IN THESE LAST DAYS - these days of grace.

But Scripture seems to indicate an increase in rebellious activity. I do believe we will see (and we are seeing) an acceleration of sin in the land in the last days.

At the center of this list of things to watch out for is a word that keeps popping up: love. But it’s not the kind of love that is godly or beneficial. It is a self-centered love that works to break down some of the most important fundamental structures set up by God.

Interestingly enough, what is being attacked by this wrong kind of love is the moral structure of the family and of society. It is breaking down some of the most important relationships needed in order for any culture to survive.

This love - is a self destructive love. Although it appears to be preserving of self, it ultimately brings destruction to the table because of its self centeredness.

Look at the list.

Lovers of themselves - place self over all others

Lovers of money - driven by gain, greed, and wealth

Boastful, proud, and abusive - Pride is blinding. Boastful leaves no room fro humility, abusive means they are willing to run people down with no regard for their well being.

Disobedient to parents - Without family affection. No concern for mom or dad. No concern for family structure. No concern for one another.

Ungrateful, unholy - entitled and irreverent. More concerned with what’s in it for them instead of how they can serve others.

Without love - God’s true love. An absence of this love is the core to the issue. God’s love for all people still exists, but with the rejection of His love has come a loss of understanding of what true love really is.

The list continues but verse 5 is where I want us to look for a moment. This verse says the people will have a form of godliness but will deny its power. What does this mean?

Paul is warning that within organized Christianity, many will appear to do the right things outwardly; but they will lack the authentic power that comes from a right relationship with God.

Such people deny the true power of Christ’s message that produces genuine life transformation and godly character.

To all of this Paul says have nothing to do with these people.

Do not get drawn into the false ideas and widespread sin that is moving throughout the land in the last days. These are very real problems that can bring very real destruction upon those who engage in this kind of activity. And it goes deeper than just how we behave. Looking at the list again you see issues that begin in the heart - issues that begin with who a person is not so much what that person does.

Therefore, it comes back down to that active pursuit. As believers, we need to BE the follower of Christ God desires for us to be while not compromising our walk or our talk.

Warning Two: Teachers who Oppose the Truth

2 Timothy 3:6-9 6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

This passage gives warning regarding those who oppose the truth. Once again we see a clear red flag issued and for good reason.

As the trials of the last days intensify, so must our trust in God and in His truth also intensify. And yes… there will be those who try to distort the truth to fit agendas or opinions. They will look for opportunity to spread their message to those who will hear.

This will not be as obvious as one might think.

False teachers typically take commonly known passages or truths and twist them just enough that many people do not catch the spin they placed on the Scripture.

There are several very popular teachers out there that are doing this. I caution you: Be careful what you accept as truth.

Paul identifies the source of the problem regarding those who oppose the the truth. He makes clear they are “men of depraved minds.” What does it mean to have a depraved mind?

Depraved is morally corrupt or wicked.

So how does this mindset become a reality? When compromise happens. When the teacher is more concerned with vanity, popularity, agenda, fame, following, and so on. Instead of giving the people of God what the Word has to say, they do what they can to boost their name and ministry.

Depravity of mind happens when sin is left unchecked in our minds. Something comes in and begins to spoil and corrupt a person’s thinking.

And I find it interesting that this kind of thinking is contagious. It looks for avenues to spread. As faith and truth are rejected, the mind goes deeper into sin and rejection of God’s way.

The good news is… this type of thinking doesn’t get very far… for the folly will find them out.

But this is only true so long as someone is willing to stand for truth. False teachers are NOT to be entertained or tolerated. Those who oppose the truth need to be handled accordingly for the sake of the faith. How this is to happen will be clear in the next point.

Warning Three: Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

2 Timothy 3:10-17 10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

As you face the reality and trials of these times, continue in what you have learned and become convinced of no matter what.

Evildoers and imposters are going to continue to do what they do. They will go from bad to worse.

Believers need to continue to hold to the Scriptures given to us by God. Scriptures that are able to make a person wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

And no matter how much the pressure or persecution begins to build, the Lord WILL see you through.

Paul had experienced the deliverance of God first hand. He knew there would come days of hardship but so long as he stayed the course, God would see him through.

Those living a godly lifestyle in an ungodly world can expect to experience persecution.

Their very lives will confront the evils of the day. Their walk will be a threat to the things of darkness. Their understanding of the truth is what will help them see through the false teachers of the day.

But the Scriptures that are God-breathed help to equip the servant of God for the trials he or she might face. They are helpful in teaching, rebuking, correcting, training, etc.

They are what allow us to see through the false teachings. They are what we stand upon when confronting false teachings. If we stand on anything else, we will fail.

I don’t know of anyone who gets excited about the idea of being persecuted. Yet if we desire to continue to honor God is an ever increasing secular society, it is something we can expect to happen.

God has given us all we need in these last days.

Salvation through Jesus Christ

Holy spirit empowerment

Scripture as a guiding light

As the world continues to move further from the Lord, how will we the church choose to respond?

Will we embrace the truth and stand for God and His ways… or will we fold to the pressure and be influenced by people who are walking apart from the Lord?

I pray we will forever choose God and His truth!