Nov 6, 2022. II Timothy 3:1-9

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VILE ENDING. II Timothy 3:1-9. 11/6/2022. #9.

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.

1. The downward slide

                a. Even though evil has always been prevalent in this fallen world, there are times it is more pervasive

                                a1. Genesis 6 in the days of Noah

                                a2. 1 Kings 19 during the days of Elijah

                b. Though evil has been pervasive in America, up until the last couple of generations, society generally agreed that Judeo-Christian principles were right

                c. Romans 1:18-32 rebellion against God not only entails turning away from God, but defying him

                                a1. Evil is intentional and not accidental

                                a2. Total depravity lurks in the heart of men

                d. As we approach the time of the Lord’s return, men will become increasingly worse

                                a1. They will not repent, heading for judgment

                                a2. Paul lists 18 characteristics of men in the end times

                e. The end times will be perilous (hard, grievous, stressful, difficult)

                                a1. Hard not only for believers, but everyone

                                a2. Murders, attacks, thefts, and vileness abound

2. Corruption of man

                a. Four major categories of sin: lovers of evil, prideful, rebellious, and cruelty

                b. Lovers of self, money, and pleasure

                                a1. Solomon pursued this same course

                                a2. Those who love and exalt self, do not care about others and despise those in their way

                                a3. A great increase of self-centered discourteous unfeeling people around us

                c. Lovers of evil: promoters of promiscuity, perversion, fraud, deception, and hatred of all that is pure

                                a1. Laws are being passed to make it illegal to oppose the perverse agenda of ruling hedonistic elitists

                                a2. Debauchery is codified as in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19)

                d. Arrogance is rampant

                                a1. There is no fear of God

                                a2. Men promote their own will and desires

                                a3. Men dare anyone to challenge them

                e. The measure of cruelty, brutality, and callousness is rapidly increasing

                                a1. Murders in cities, lack of prosecutions, gangs, drug lords, vilification of police, kidnappings, and brutal crimes on the rise

                                a2. Vilification of standards of decency, Christian values, and honesty abound

3. Paul gives a few examples

                a. These wicked people pretend to be decent people

                                a1. Many are religious (a form of godliness)

                                a2. Their religion is false (no power)

                b. There are politicians who are “for the children”, but promote abortion, encourage drug dealers to cross our borders, groom children to be perverted, teach children to hate their parents, and encourage destructive ideas and behavior (critical race theory, the Lincoln Project, Marxism, voyeurism, and even pedophilia])

                c. Gullible women sucked into lustful evils

                d. They increase learning, but know no truth (Daniel 12)

                e. As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses and the truth, wicked people will seek to destroy witnesses of faith

                f. Their folly will come to an abrupt end (Psalm 54:7)

Key Verse:  Romans 1:18-3218 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.