2 Timothy 3

Outline:

3:1-5a- description of the last days

• fits our society

• Rise of paganism & witchcraft- Gaudie article & free paper article on Inverness witches

• Hatred & carelessness about others or human life

• Selfishness, living for indulgence

• Hypocrisy

• ‘thinking themselves to be obviously righteous because they were obviously religious’ (Fee, 270).

• (from v8) Oppose the truth

3:5b-9- AVOID such people, places

• We are not to be totally isolated, but there is a place for proper withdrawal

• Too often today Christians feel they must be involved in all that is going on, and this gets them into some things which are harmful

• Church Fathers: ‘Curiosity is the root of sin’

• Pornography, 2 high profile evangelicals

• Apply to self

• Apply to families/children

• Why is so important to avoid such?

• They prey on your souls, seeking to lead you astray

3:10-17- The way to remain true in this sort of setting

1)      Remember the apostolic model (vv10-13)- Tim is to remember what he saw in Paul.  We have not seen it but we have it recorded in Scripture.

• Doctrinally

• Ethically- how we live

• Suffering

Suffering is one of the neglected themes of Scripture in our churches today.  It is what we should expect.

In speaking to the churches in this area Paul just referred to, Paul said, ‘Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God’ (Acts 14:22)

Thus get away from this overkill worry about offending the world

‘Let us not fear the opposition of men; every great movement in the church from Paul down to modern times has been criticized on the ground that it promoted censoriousness and intolerance and disputing.  Of course the gospel of Christ, in a world of sin and doubt, will cause disputing; and if it does not cause disputing and arouse bitter opposition, that is a fairly sure sign that it is not being faithfully proclaimed.’[1]

2)      Stay put (v14)- remain in the truth

• We are open to be corrected by Scripture, but not open to Scripture being disputed

• Assumes we have learned the scripture and have become convinced of its truth.  We need to be grounded. THE NEED OF CONVICTION.

• Relies (to some degree) on the faithfulness of those who taught us

              ▫   Hebrews 13:7- ‘Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you;
                  and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith’

              ▫   This shows us the importance of good models.  You older saints, are you providing the
                   younger adults with models of faithfulness?  You young adults, are you giving an
                   example to the teenagers and uni students?  You teenagers, are you inspiring the
                   younger children towards godliness with your lives?

3)      Saturate yourself in Scripture (vv15-17)

• Note first the power of Scripture- it is able to make you wise unto salvation.  The false teachers were always learning but never able to come to the truth.  They looked into a lot of things and racked up all sorts of knowledge, but it is the Scriptures that point you to Christ.  There is a power found in Scripture which is not found elsewhere.

• Timothy is reminded that he knew the Scriptures from his childhood.  This particularly suits him for endurance.  If we would remain faithful we must ground ourselves in Scripture, and we must yearn to see our children carry on the banner after we are gone.  This does not usually happen accidentally.  We must be teaching our children God’s word from their earliest days.  Calvin said Timothy was raised in such a way that he took in the Scriptures with his mother’s milk.  May we give the necessary diligence to this awesome task

• recommended resources

• Bible Time & Bible Wise

• My First Study Bible

• Catherine Vos

• Big Truths for Little Kids- catechism

Lot as a tragic counterexample- chose the more lucrative path, though it was more dangerous for his soul and the souls of his family; thus failed to avoid evil; when the angels gave him the warning, his sons-in-law mocked him- 2 daughters perished; his wife looks back- wife perished; subsequent events show his other 2 daughters had picked up the ways of Sodom

We must then submit to the teaching, rebuking, correcting and training of Scripture (not be like those in 4:3-4 who refuse sound teaching and round up teachers who will tell them what they want to hear)