The Christian emancipation of women inevitably brought its problems. But now before his heart just as in principle before the dying Lord Himself, wonderful to say two things come together: a deeper sense of what is in God, as revealed in Christ Himself, before there was any creation at all; and on the other hand so much the deeper sense also of what could be owned in nature. I can base my beliefs upon what God has said because it is indeed God's word.I have great difficulty with these people who develop doctrines that are contrary to what Jesus said, as though they understand more than Jesus about what's happening in the future. There was to be a final show-down with the forces of evil. This might deter a sensitive saint from his duty. And a servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle toward all, apt to teach, forbearing, in meekness correcting those that oppose, if perhaps God may give them repentance for acknowledgment of the truth, and they may for his will wake up out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him." When we are tempted to do so, we should hear again the voice of our blessed Lord saying on the Cross: "Father, forgive them.". Now you get out your, you know, your green and blue pens and for the inspired ones, we'll underline those with blue and we'll use red, maybe, to underline those that are not inspired, you know and, and so here I am, I'm the authority.Well, the next liberal comes along and he says, Well, no, no, no, he was wrong on that one. "But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. There is faith, complete belief that God's commands are binding and that his promises are true. This statement does not contradict what Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:9. But continue thou in the things which you have learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through the faith which is in Christ Jesus ( 2 Timothy 3:14-15 ). In this picture which Paul draws he is thinking in terms familiar to the Jews. I believe God intended that you should enjoy life.There is nothing wrong with having pleasure. In the last days perilous times will come: The word translated perilous has the idea of troubles, difficulty, and stressful situations. The whole concept of redemption is wrapped up in the Old Testament. The scriptures are able to make us truly wise, wise for our souls and another world. How big is your God? The closing chapter (2 Timothy 4:1-22) then gives his solemn charge, and at the same time his own expression of what was before him. Now they're right out where little kids can go in and pick them up and leaf through them. These things may be expected in the best times, and under the most favorable circumstances; and it is known that a large part of the history of the world, in its relation to the church, is nothing more than a history of persecution. Rather they are minimum requirements that otherwise suitable people must fulfil if the church is to recognize them as elders or deacons. We're going to drown in our own corruption. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. ". The Gnostics had their own fanciful books; the heretics all produced their own literature to support their claims. And may not their freedom from it prove that they have surrendered the principles of their religion, where they should have stood firm, though the world were arrayed against them? The whole idea is that of thoroughly fitting you as an instrument that God can use. Now this is not given to us in the Scriptures but there are other, what are known as apocryphal books, in which these two fellows are named. It should be considered as one of the proper qualifications for membership in the church, to be willing to bear persecution, and to resolve not to shrink from any duty in order to avoid it. Now, there's nothing wrong with enjoying life. The strange characteristic of ingratitude is that it is the most hurting of all sins because it is the blindest. "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise." He tells such women that by his spells and incantations he can enable them to prophesy. Things will get worse as people turn away from those who teach the Scriptures, and listen to those who teach their own theories. And man has prepared a great fish and they powered it with atomic engines. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. So if you want God to use your life, then thoroughly equip yourself in the Word of God, the study, the understanding.That's why we're here tonight. He is the man who is guilty of the "sin of the high heart." Some of you here are victims of broken covenants. It's instructing you on the right kind of life. Moreover, as soon as zeal for God is manifested by a believer, it kindles the rage of all ungodly men; and, although they have not a drawn sword, yet they vomit out their venom, either by murmuring, or by slander, or by raising a disturbance, or by other methods. In 2 Timothy 3:9, he says that that apostasy would not always continue; but would be at some time arrested, and so arrested as to show to all men the . Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus All that live according to the will of God revealed in his word; and to the glory of God, as the end of all their actions; and which the grace of God in the Gospel, and in their own hearts, teaches them; and who have the principles of a godly life from Christ, and derive the fresh supplies of grace and life from him, to maintain it; in whom their life is hid, and who live by faith upon him; all such that live, and that will live so, are desirous of living after this manner; in whom God has wrought in them both to will and to do, and are concerned when it is otherwise with them: these. ", Persecution = The essence of persecution consists in subjecting a person to injury or disadvantage on account of his [beliefs].. At Ephesus some of the greatest roads in the world met. He is the man whom God resists, for it is repeatedly said in scripture, that God receives the humble but resists the man who is proud, huperephanos ( G5244) ( James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5; Proverbs 3:24). In his own neighbourhood he had seen Paul suffer because of his devotion to Christ (10-12; cf. Then the apostle puts before them a blessed model of that which he had before his own soul. In the Old Testament they are not named, but they are referred to in Exodus 7:11; Exodus 8:7; Exodus 9:11. With this prospect he comforts Timothy no less than his own spirit; but at the same time he speaks as to joining him, with a glance at one that had forsaken him. Thayer, Joseph H. Thayers Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. In either case the word describes a certain harshness of mind which separates a man from his fellow-men in unrelenting bitterness. . 2 Timothy 3 - Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible - StudyLight.org (2 Timothy 1:1.) Take what is called physical Christianity a stupid, gross, and heathenish phrase, but just enough to show where people are drifting to. We should be asking: what, if any, is the unifying purpose which binds all this activity together? It will be getting better a little further down the road, but evil days are going to wax worse and worse, until the Lord takes His church out and then God judges the world for its unrighteousness and ungodliness. His mental palate loses its taste. There are those who shrink from helping on others in order to the work and doctrine of the Lord. 6. There was a state of things coming when it would be impossible to have local charges chosen according to the full sanction which they had in apostolic days. And leaving guilelessness, will draw near to malice; And forsaking the commandments of the Lord. From childhood he has been guided by the Scriptures, and his faith in those Scriptures gives him assurance in his salvation (14-15). Or are you going to develop a doctrine that is diametrically opposed to what Jesus said? It is easy for a professed Christian to avoid persecution, if he yields every point in which religion is opposed to the world. The difference between the braggart and the man who is arrogant is this. It is the attitude which bears with everything men can do and refuses to be either angry or embittered, and which will never seek anything but their highest good. And then Jesus will come and establish God's righteous kingdom, but by then, those that will remain will be saying, Oh, God help us. "True," said the other, "but he kicked it to a goal." For "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" ( Matthew 12:34 ). Quite a promise, isn't it? This he had known most extensively, but it was closed; no longer had he before him any prospect of having to fight the battles of the church of God. He nourishes an all-consuming, all-pervading pride; and in his heart there is a little altar where he bows down before himself. The scriptures are profitable to establish the foundation of my beliefs. He went home and found the fire was out. "The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day." Look at our attitudes towards morality. [2.] live godly in Christ(Ga 2:20; Php 1:21). That persecution which will properly furnish any evidence that we are the friends of Christ, must be only that which is for righteousness sake Matthew 5:10, and must be brought upon us in an honest effort to obey the commands of God. They must not lie by us neglected, seldom or never looked into. The braggart is a swaggering creature, who tries to bluster his way into power and eminence. The scripture is a perfect rule of faith and practice, and was designed for the man of God, the minister as well as the Christian who is devoted to God, for it is profitable for doctrine, &c. Description of His Past Curriculum 2 Timothy 3:10-12. At the same time he shows also his sense of the kindness of a particular individual and his family. 2 Timothy 3:12-17 - Bible Gateway This may be either an injury done to his feelings, his family, his reputation, his property, his liberty, his influence; it may be by depriving him of an office which he held, or preventing him from obtaining one to which he is eligible; it may be by subjecting him to fine or imprisonment, to banishment, torture, or death. I don't know exactly yet what He said but when I find out I know He's going to be right. The way of sin is down-hill; for such proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. Boy, I'll tell you, I don't know. Men can be savage in rebuke and savage in pitiless action. Then the word went on to widen its meaning until it meant any braggart. Then are we Christ's disciples indeed, John 8:31. [2.] Observe, (1.) It has been pointed out that the writer of Revelation may well have been thinking of Ephesus when he wrote that haunting passage which describes the merchandise of men: "The cargo of gold, silver, jewels and pearls, fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet, all kinds of scented wood, all articles of ivory, all articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls" ( Revelation 18:12-13). Others must do that kind of work in future. But we must exclude that which is contrary to His name; and the very same desire to prove one's love, one's faith, one's appreciation of Christ, will make one anxious not to be dragged into that which is not for His glory. If anyone proposes to introduce into his life a loyalty which surpasses all earthly loyalties, there are bound to be clashes. They should remember that, in this respect, they are treated as the Master was, and are in the goodly company of the prophets, apostles, and martyrs; for they were all persecuted. He is sure that God will rescue the man who puts his faith in him. "They that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully." God help us. There is patience. The more fully we know the doctrine of Christ and the apostles, the more closely we shall cleave to it; the reason why many sit loose to it is because they do not fully know it. In vain shall we endeavor to detach Christ from his cross; for it may be said to be natural that the world should hate Christ even in his members. There is a type of person who is eager to discuss every new theory, who is always to be found deeply involved in the latest fashionable religious movement, but who is quite unwilling to accept the day-to-day discipline--even drudgery--of living the Christian life. And when you lose authority you have anarchy. Luke recorded the very words spoken on the mission field long ago, "Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22); and, in the words of White, "Consistency in the life of Christ must necessarily be always opposed by the world.