2 Timothy 3:1-15 (NIV)
3:1 In The Last Days
The term "the last days" refers to the days since the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The church has always lived in the last days.
But we are approaching the culmination, the finale of them.
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As the last days progress, difficult times for the righteous will come.
Mankind is going to become increasingly more evil.
As the human race continues to reject God and pursue its own wickedness, life will become more and more perilous for those who desire to live righteously.
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It will not be enough for the unrighteous to practice their wickedness, but they will attempt to force the righteous to accept their practices, to embrace their evil.
And when they do not, they will become violently opposed to them.
*******
3:2-4 Attributes Of People In The Last Days
Paul listed many things that we can expect near the end of this age.
It is like what we see in our society today.
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We have seen an incredible increase in the love of money.
Children are more disobedient to their parents.
There are more and more haters of the good.
*******
3:5 Form Without Power
Meanwhile, the church itself has embraced wickedness and evildoers.
The church is embracing a form of godliness, but denying its power.
They have the practices, but have no relationship with God.
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Paul said "Have nothing to do with such people."
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3:6-7 Those Who Enter And Gain Control
The false teachers now have the ability to enter into households.
They come in through the television set.
The poor people are held captive by the eloquent, well-dressed teachers.
But they are teachers of heresy!
The poor people will never come to a knowledge of the truth.
*******
3:8-9 Men Who Oppose The Truth
Jannes and Jambres were the magicians that opposed Moses in Exodus 7.
They were religious men, and proved their power by duplicating the miracles that Moses brought.
*******
In the last days, false teachers will also demonstrate their power with signs and wonders.
*******
Don't be deceived by miracles.
Listen to the messengers' message instead.
*******
3:10-12 Persecution For The Righteous
Instead of being like the people of the last days, we should be living as the apostle Paul did - teaching the same gospel, having the same faith, and living the same righteous life.
*******
But be warned, if we live a godly life, we will suffer persecution for it in these last days.
Are we willing to go against the flow of a wicked world in exchange for eternal life?
*******
3:13-15 Salvation Through Faith
Christianity for most people is not the Christianity of the Bible.
It is not about the TV evangelists, or the preachers that beg for money.
It's about the fact that every human being is a sinner, separated from God.
*******
But the good news of Christianity is that God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
*******
If we by faith will receive the free gift of God, we will be saved.
3:1 In The Last Days
The term "the last days" refers to the days since the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The church has always lived in the last days.
But we are approaching the culmination, the finale of them.
*******
As the last days progress, difficult times for the righteous will come.
Mankind is going to become increasingly more evil.
As the human race continues to reject God and pursue its own wickedness, life will become more and more perilous for those who desire to live righteously.
*******
It will not be enough for the unrighteous to practice their wickedness, but they will attempt to force the righteous to accept their practices, to embrace their evil.
And when they do not, they will become violently opposed to them.
*******
3:2-4 Attributes Of People In The Last Days
Paul listed many things that we can expect near the end of this age.
It is like what we see in our society today.
*******
We have seen an incredible increase in the love of money.
Children are more disobedient to their parents.
There are more and more haters of the good.
*******
3:5 Form Without Power
Meanwhile, the church itself has embraced wickedness and evildoers.
The church is embracing a form of godliness, but denying its power.
They have the practices, but have no relationship with God.
*******
Paul said "Have nothing to do with such people."
*******
3:6-7 Those Who Enter And Gain Control
The false teachers now have the ability to enter into households.
They come in through the television set.
The poor people are held captive by the eloquent, well-dressed teachers.
But they are teachers of heresy!
The poor people will never come to a knowledge of the truth.
*******
3:8-9 Men Who Oppose The Truth
Jannes and Jambres were the magicians that opposed Moses in Exodus 7.
They were religious men, and proved their power by duplicating the miracles that Moses brought.
*******
In the last days, false teachers will also demonstrate their power with signs and wonders.
*******
Don't be deceived by miracles.
Listen to the messengers' message instead.
*******
3:10-12 Persecution For The Righteous
Instead of being like the people of the last days, we should be living as the apostle Paul did - teaching the same gospel, having the same faith, and living the same righteous life.
*******
But be warned, if we live a godly life, we will suffer persecution for it in these last days.
Are we willing to go against the flow of a wicked world in exchange for eternal life?
*******
3:13-15 Salvation Through Faith
Christianity for most people is not the Christianity of the Bible.
It is not about the TV evangelists, or the preachers that beg for money.
It's about the fact that every human being is a sinner, separated from God.
*******
But the good news of Christianity is that God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
*******
If we by faith will receive the free gift of God, we will be saved.
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