Beware, Be Ready

1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,

4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,

7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra

—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

This is the Word of the Lord our God. Let’s pray.

I. Beware of Godlessness – 2 Timothy 3:1-9

a. Because the world hates godliness!

b. Understand that there will be godlessness

i. Don’t be surprised by the godlessness of the world

c. Types of “godlessness” – v.2-5

i. read through 2-5

II. Be Ready for Godliness – 2 Timothy 3:10-13

a. Because the world loves godlessness!

i. Don’t be surprised by the world’s godlessness, because they love it.

b. Examples of Godliness

i. Paul – v.10-11

1. Conversion

2. Missionary Journeys

3. Desire to preach Christ and Christ Crucified – 1 Cor. 2:2

ii. Jesus! – Matthew – John

1. Yes, Jesus dine with sinners, but He did so to call them to repent, as should we to the godless and lost of this world.

c. Hatred of Godliness – v.12

i. John 15:18-19

III. Application

Understand (v.1) that there will be Godlessness

i. And it will last until Jesus comes back. At that point (Phil. 2:9-11), everyone, everywhere, will believe in Jesus, and godlessness will cease to exist.

ii. This is huge, as so many Christians are shocked by the actions of the world, but if they were to really pay attention to their Bibles, they would see that, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” – Eccl. 1:9

Avoid (v.5) such godlessness in your life.

i. Love the godless

ii. Pray for the godless

iii. Deal with and avoid godlessness in your lives

1. Go over verses 2-5

Be in Christ (v.12)

i. Read the Word

ii. Pray

iii. Repent

iv. Respond to the Gospel

v. And being in Christ reminds us that there is hope, despite all of the godlessness in the world and throughout history. There is hope found…In Christ!

IV. Respond

a. Belief

i. Repentance

ii. Belief

b. Obedience

i. Baptism

ii. Membership

c. Surrender

i. Vocational

ii. Volunteer

Beware, Be Ready

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