But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. – 2 Timothy 3:1-5
INTRODUCTION
In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Paul shifted his focus on the days ahead for Christians, days of persecution and godlessness. He identified a number of sinful behaviours that will characterize unbelievers in ‘the last days’. Timothy was to avoid these behaviours and the people practicing them.
Timothy’s guide – and our guide today – through all these difficulties must be the inspired Word of God. We are reminded to preach the Word at all times, this includes more than standing behind a pulpit to deliver a sermon. We all have opportunities to make known the truth of God’s Word. We must live the faith and be available as witnesses to the truth at all times.
TERRIBLE TIMES IN THE LAST DAYS
The ‘last days’ here is not simply referring to a brief period of time before Christ’s return. In this passage, the ‘last days’may be referring more specifically to the period beginning with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the united believers in Jerusalem, which was the start of the church (following Christ’s resurrection and ascension back to heaven and concluding with Christ’s return to earth). The Holy Spirit says that ungodly immoral behaviour in society will accelerate as the end approaches.
- The last days will be marked by a widespread collapse of the moral structure of the family and of society in general as people are arrogant ‘lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God’. These times will be especially difficult and disheartening for God’s true servants.
- 2. Paul warns that within organized Christianity many will have ‘a form of godliness’ and 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 messages that produces genuine life transformation and godly character.
- The full benefits of spiritual salvation and the end-time outpouring and activity of the Holy Spirit will occur through churches that are truly passionate for Jesus, actively serving His purpose and anticipating His coming. True Followers of Christ will experience greater favour and empowerment from God than they have ever known.
LOVERS OF THEMSELVES
Paul gives a list of sins that all have their root in a love of self. Many people today teach that a lack of love for oneself is root of destructive behaviour and personality disorders. However, God’s Word reveals that the problem lies in a self-centeredness that has no concern for God or others.
WITHOUT LOVE
In the last days, Satan will bring great destruction on the family. Children will be ‘disobedient to their parents’, and men and women will be ‘without love’.
This can be translated ‘without family affection’ and refers to a lack of natural tenderness and love, as shown by a mother who rejects her children or kills her baby, a father who abandons his family or children who neglect their aging parents.
Men and women will become lovers of money and pleasure and will pursue their own selfish desires. Parents with true love for their children will be rare; they will be replaced by those who are selfish and brutal and who abandon their children, emotionally and physically.
If Christian parents are to safeguard their families in the difficult times of the last days, they must protect them from evil influences and teach them to reject the corrupt values of the society in which they live.
Christians, as well as their families, must truly become strangers and aliens on earth, even while they continue to pray for and reach out with compassion to those who are spiritually lost without a personal relationship with Christ.
HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS
Paul is referring to those who claim to be Christians, appear to be religious and seem to do the right things, but who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus.
Their lives are not characterized by their spiritual power that frees people from sin, selfishness and ungodly behaviour. They tolerate immoral behaviours and lifestyles among those who claim to know God.
They even teach that a person may sin and yet still be spiritually saved and have a part in God’s kingdom. While Christians need to reach out and maintain positive relationships with people who do not know Christ, they are to ‘have nothing to do with’ hypocritical people who pretend to follow Christ but are simply trying to fool God and others.
LIVE A GODLY LIFE, BE PERSECUTED
Rejection, opposition and harsh treatment in various forms are certain to come to those who are loyal to Christ and live according to the standards and principles of His Word.
Loyalty to Christ involves a constant determination not to compromise true faith or to give in to their deceptive influences that try to conform people to worldly patterns of belief and behaviour.
Because of their devotion to Christ and His standards of truth,God’s faithful people will be ridiculed and deprived of basic privileges. They will be grieved by the reality that so many people reject and defy God.
We should all ask ourselves:
- What has following Christ cost us?
- Have we suffered persecution because of our commitment to live for Christ?
- Or is lack of opposition and suffering a sign that we have not fully identified with Jesus or stood firmly for the truth for which Christ lived and died?
Remain Blessed!
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