BIBLE TEXT - 2 TIMOTHY 3:1-9
INTRODUCTION
We are in the last days now. Some people think that the world will get better but the passage shows that this is not the case. There will be a lot of difficulties and lots of sins which have always existed but they will increase to the point that they are marks of the last days.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. How do you see the descriptions of people in the last days reflected in our current society? (2 Timothy 3:1-4)
a. Men will be lovers of themselves: This is certainly characteristic of our present age, when men and women are encouraged to love themselves. Romans 12:3 warns that we should think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think.
b. Men will be… lovers of money: The love of money is nothing new. Today people have the ability to pursue our love of money like never before. 1 Timothy 6:10 called it the root of all evil and make people err from faith.
c. Men will be… boasters, proud, blasphemers: Boasting, pride, and blasphemy are nothing new; but today, they seem far more prominent than ever. Proverbs 16:18 says it leads to destruction.
d. Men will be… disobedient to parents: Parents are no longer respected today. Disrespect to parents is a violation of God's command in Exodus 20:12.
e. Men will be… unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving: Ever since Adam, humankind has been marked by these things to one degree or another. Here, Paul said these things will be especially prevalent in the last days.
f. Men will be… slanderers: Men have always told hurtful lies about other men; but today, in media and in politics, slander has been elevated to both big business and big money. Bible call slanderers fools and will account for their words.Matthew 12:36
g. Men will be… without self control: The story of no self-control can be written across almost everything today – sex, drugs, alcohol, food, work. Whatever we do, we often do it out of control.
h. Men will be… brutal: Cruelty and brutality are nothing new in the world; but Paul wrote that the last days would be marked by a particular brutality.
i. Men will be… traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God: These characteristics are all about one thing: Self. Men are traitors because of self, they are headstrong because of self, they are haughty because of self, and they are lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God because of self.
2. How can we discern the difference between a 'form of godliness' and genuine faith? (2 Timothy 3:5)
In our self-obsessed world, people feel free to be very “spiritual,” but sense no obligation to be Biblical. The power of godliness that men will despise in the last days is the power it should have to guide their lives; power in the sense of rightful authority – and many today deny that God has the power to tell them what to do through His Word.
3. What should we do to those having all these attributes? ( 2 Timothy 3:5)
From such people turn away! People who do these things are not only common but they are often also our heroes. The simple responsibility of Christians is to turn away not only these attitudes, but also from the people who do these things.
Many think it is enough if they themselves are not like this, but if we spend time with people like this – either personally or by allowing them to entertain us – they will have an influence on us. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:33: Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
4. What are characteristics of last days false teachers (2 Timothy 3:6-9)?
i. False teachers are deceptive. Paul says they “insinuate” their way into homes. False teachers enter our homes through various means especially through social media. It is one thing to have such evil present in the world; it is another thing to allow it into your home.
ii. False teachers seek to “gain control” over people. These teachers often gain control over people’s money, marriages, and future. Spiritual abuse is common. Remember Jesus said he came to serve and not be served. Servant leadership should be the model in our churches (Matthew 20:25-28). Be careful of abusive ministries and ministers.
iii. False teachers often focus their attacks on women. This mirrors Satan’s initial temptation of Eve (Genesis 3:15). Paul singled out gullible women simply because in that day, women spent far more time at home than the men, and were far more exposed to any corruption that would infiltrate the household. “Also he speaks here of women rather than men, for they are more liable to be taken in by such impostors.
iv. False teachers lead people away by various lusts: Obviously, false teachers have high desire to be excited sexually, or romantically, or to have desires for comfort or wealth or status.
v. False teachers prey on those who are always searching for new truth. Paul describes these victims as “always seeking instruction, yet never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7).
vi. False teachers oppose the truth and instigate rebellion against God and godly leaders. Jannes and Jambres, who resisted Moses are examples (2 Timothy 3:8-9).
They were Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses before Pharaoh (Exodus 7:8-23 and 8:5-19). They did counterfeit of all that Moses did (rod to serpent, water to blood, plague of frogs etc)
The ability to do miracles by the power of darkness and the willingness to receive them as authentic will characterize the end times (Revelation 13:13-15 and 2 Thessalonians 2:9)instead of a Godly source. We must not be seduced by it because demonic powers can come masquerading as angels of light (2 Corinthians 11:15).
Men will also resist the truth by cooperating with demonic power like Jannes and Jambres. Just as Jannes and Jambres were eventually put to shame (though they counterfeit Moses' miracles) and were eventually compelled to give reluctant glory to God, so also will the evil men of the last days. Even as Jannes and Jambres’ power had limits, so does Satan’s power – God is still in control.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
1. How can you apply the teachings of 2 Timothy 3 to guard against the influence of false teachings in our present society?
2. How can the church stand against the traits of people in the last days as described in 2 Timothy 3?
The answer is as follows:
1. We must examine our salvation (2 Corinthians 13:5)
2. We must make sure that Christ is still our first love (Revelation 2:4-5)
3. We must test everything through Scripture like the Bereans in Acts 17:11. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says it leads to perfection and being furnished to all good works.
CONCLUSION
Many are religious in name, but their lives are not be characterized by it. Many Christians do not believe in the inerrancy of Scripture. They do not believe in the Genesis account of creation. They do not live their lives by the truth of Scripture.
Many Christians are Christians in name only because it makes them feel as if they are good. For many it is a tradition or a culture. Obviously we are not to be like this. We should stay far away from these sins as they typify those who are worldly.
Live as if today is your last day on earth. Be conversant with the word of God to guard and guide us against evils in the last days.
Shallom!
INTRODUCTION
We are in the last days now. Some people think that the world will get better but the passage shows that this is not the case. There will be a lot of difficulties and lots of sins which have always existed but they will increase to the point that they are marks of the last days.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. How do you see the descriptions of people in the last days reflected in our current society? (2 Timothy 3:1-4)
a. Men will be lovers of themselves: This is certainly characteristic of our present age, when men and women are encouraged to love themselves. Romans 12:3 warns that we should think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think.
b. Men will be… lovers of money: The love of money is nothing new. Today people have the ability to pursue our love of money like never before. 1 Timothy 6:10 called it the root of all evil and make people err from faith.
c. Men will be… boasters, proud, blasphemers: Boasting, pride, and blasphemy are nothing new; but today, they seem far more prominent than ever. Proverbs 16:18 says it leads to destruction.
d. Men will be… disobedient to parents: Parents are no longer respected today. Disrespect to parents is a violation of God's command in Exodus 20:12.
e. Men will be… unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving: Ever since Adam, humankind has been marked by these things to one degree or another. Here, Paul said these things will be especially prevalent in the last days.
f. Men will be… slanderers: Men have always told hurtful lies about other men; but today, in media and in politics, slander has been elevated to both big business and big money. Bible call slanderers fools and will account for their words.Matthew 12:36
g. Men will be… without self control: The story of no self-control can be written across almost everything today – sex, drugs, alcohol, food, work. Whatever we do, we often do it out of control.
h. Men will be… brutal: Cruelty and brutality are nothing new in the world; but Paul wrote that the last days would be marked by a particular brutality.
i. Men will be… traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God: These characteristics are all about one thing: Self. Men are traitors because of self, they are headstrong because of self, they are haughty because of self, and they are lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God because of self.
2. How can we discern the difference between a 'form of godliness' and genuine faith? (2 Timothy 3:5)
In our self-obsessed world, people feel free to be very “spiritual,” but sense no obligation to be Biblical. The power of godliness that men will despise in the last days is the power it should have to guide their lives; power in the sense of rightful authority – and many today deny that God has the power to tell them what to do through His Word.
3. What should we do to those having all these attributes? ( 2 Timothy 3:5)
From such people turn away! People who do these things are not only common but they are often also our heroes. The simple responsibility of Christians is to turn away not only these attitudes, but also from the people who do these things.
Many think it is enough if they themselves are not like this, but if we spend time with people like this – either personally or by allowing them to entertain us – they will have an influence on us. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:33: Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
4. What are characteristics of last days false teachers (2 Timothy 3:6-9)?
i. False teachers are deceptive. Paul says they “insinuate” their way into homes. False teachers enter our homes through various means especially through social media. It is one thing to have such evil present in the world; it is another thing to allow it into your home.
ii. False teachers seek to “gain control” over people. These teachers often gain control over people’s money, marriages, and future. Spiritual abuse is common. Remember Jesus said he came to serve and not be served. Servant leadership should be the model in our churches (Matthew 20:25-28). Be careful of abusive ministries and ministers.
iii. False teachers often focus their attacks on women. This mirrors Satan’s initial temptation of Eve (Genesis 3:15). Paul singled out gullible women simply because in that day, women spent far more time at home than the men, and were far more exposed to any corruption that would infiltrate the household. “Also he speaks here of women rather than men, for they are more liable to be taken in by such impostors.
iv. False teachers lead people away by various lusts: Obviously, false teachers have high desire to be excited sexually, or romantically, or to have desires for comfort or wealth or status.
v. False teachers prey on those who are always searching for new truth. Paul describes these victims as “always seeking instruction, yet never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7).
vi. False teachers oppose the truth and instigate rebellion against God and godly leaders. Jannes and Jambres, who resisted Moses are examples (2 Timothy 3:8-9).
They were Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses before Pharaoh (Exodus 7:8-23 and 8:5-19). They did counterfeit of all that Moses did (rod to serpent, water to blood, plague of frogs etc)
The ability to do miracles by the power of darkness and the willingness to receive them as authentic will characterize the end times (Revelation 13:13-15 and 2 Thessalonians 2:9)instead of a Godly source. We must not be seduced by it because demonic powers can come masquerading as angels of light (2 Corinthians 11:15).
Men will also resist the truth by cooperating with demonic power like Jannes and Jambres. Just as Jannes and Jambres were eventually put to shame (though they counterfeit Moses' miracles) and were eventually compelled to give reluctant glory to God, so also will the evil men of the last days. Even as Jannes and Jambres’ power had limits, so does Satan’s power – God is still in control.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
1. How can you apply the teachings of 2 Timothy 3 to guard against the influence of false teachings in our present society?
2. How can the church stand against the traits of people in the last days as described in 2 Timothy 3?
The answer is as follows:
1. We must examine our salvation (2 Corinthians 13:5)
2. We must make sure that Christ is still our first love (Revelation 2:4-5)
3. We must test everything through Scripture like the Bereans in Acts 17:11. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says it leads to perfection and being furnished to all good works.
CONCLUSION
Many are religious in name, but their lives are not be characterized by it. Many Christians do not believe in the inerrancy of Scripture. They do not believe in the Genesis account of creation. They do not live their lives by the truth of Scripture.
Many Christians are Christians in name only because it makes them feel as if they are good. For many it is a tradition or a culture. Obviously we are not to be like this. We should stay far away from these sins as they typify those who are worldly.
Live as if today is your last day on earth. Be conversant with the word of God to guard and guide us against evils in the last days.
Shallom!