AVOID SUCH PEOPLE AS THESE…

II TIMOTHY 3:1-5: “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these.” NASB

OBSERVATION: Have you ever read a familiar Scripture that you have read numerous times before and suddenly one simple phrase jumps off the page that you have passed over time and time again? This is what happened as I read the opening verses of II Timothy chapter 3.

“…AVOID SUCH PEOPLE AS THESE.”

We live in a fallen world that is not getting better. The first five verses of this chapter seem to have been lifted from the evening news or the headlines of the internet. With all the money, all the social programs, all the education that we have in this country, things are not getting better. They are getting worse.

This is the reality of our world and will continue to be until Jesus Christ returns. The Bible does not teach the ushering in of God’s Kingdom through a gradual and continual transformation of the hearts of men and a great social reform in the world. The Bible teaches us that Jesus Christ is coming again to punish a world that has continually rejected Him and to establish His Kingdom in truth and justice. This is the truth of Revelation chapters 4 – 19.

We are in this interim period. These verses from Paul speak to us today. They give us an outline of what to expect in the world leading up to Christ’s return and also an exhortation about how we should live during these times. Paul is not speaking about withdrawing from our mission to preach the Gospel to all the world. Rather, he is warning us not to form alliances with those who refuse to receive God’s Word and are in open rebellion against Him.

“…AVOID SUCH PEOPLE AS THESE.”

This is where we need to be very careful in our understanding. The Corinthian church began to pull away from witnessing to unbelievers. They started to withdraw and hide from the world. Many Christians are doing this today. Paul corrected them quickly. He made it clear that he was not calling them to pull away from their interaction with the world or their witness. He was instructing them to be careful who they formed friendships with – especially those who claimed to be followers of Christ and were living in sin.

Paul exhorts Timothy in the same way. There are two extremes we need to avoid. One is to pull away from our calling to make disciples of all nations. If we are going to fulfill this calling then we must go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to those who don’t know Christ and are living in open rebellion against God. The other is to join hands and hearts with those who claim to be Christians but are living like those who don’t know Him. Paul says,

“…holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power…”

What is the power of godliness? It is the Cross of Jesus Christ. It is the call to die to one’s self and to live for Jesus. It is the call to die to sin and live for God. It is the call to suffer for righteousness sake as we bear witness to the truth. There is a growing amount of so-called Christians and churches that are maintaining a form of godliness but denying the call and power of the cross. It is from these we need to…

“…AVOID SUCH PEOPLE AS THESE.”

We become like those that we join hands and hearts with. If we share in partnership with those who deny the cross our faith will be weakened and our commitment compromised. If we attend a church that does not uphold the whole counsel of God as revealed in the Scriptures then we will find ourselves beginning to question God’s character and His commands.

We live in a critical time in human history. I believe we are in the last generation before Jesus Christ returns. The lights in the world are going out. It is time for our lights to shine brightly and point the way to Jesus. We cannot afford to compromise this light in any way. If we don’t uphold the power of the cross then there is no hope of salvation for those who are lost.

Therefore, as Paul outlines these thoughts in his letter to Timothy, he calls Timothy back to the only source of hope and strength available to navigate the troubled waters that lie ahead.

• “But evil people and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:13-17

Paul makes it clear. Evil people and impostors will proceed from bad to worse. They will have a great effect on many people as they deceive and continue to be deceived. Paul’s advice to Timothy, and the only hope we have in these turbulent times, can be summed up in two words.

“ALL SCRIPTURE…”

It is only as we proclaim the power of the cross and continue in the full counsel of God’s Word that we will be able to stand in these trying times. God’s Word alone is our source of truth. In the full counsel of God’s Word we find the nature of God revealed, the plan of salvation, and the call to live our life in the power of the cross. As the world moves further and further away from God’s Word – we as believers need to press in and find our strength in its revelation.

ALL SCRIPTURE – means ALL! While those who deny the power of the cross begin to take scissors to their Bibles and clip out the sections that don’t fit their lifestyle or their personal desires, the follower of Jesus Christ is called to uphold and proclaim it ALL! We are watchmen for God. We stand on the wall with the call and duty to proclaim the whole counsel of God’s truth. Paul speaks to the Ephesian believers in the book of Acts when he proclaims,

• “Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all people. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. ” Acts 20:26-28

In these last days, we need to increase our outreach to the lost and carefully choose who we call brother and sister in Christ. We need to proclaim the power of the cross and the full revelation of God’s Word. And, if we find we are joined hand-in-hand with those who do not hold these convictions, we need to heed Paul’s admonishment and…

“…AVOID SUCH PEOPLE AS THESE.”

Lord, grant me the grace and strength to boldly proclaim the whole purpose of God through Christ Jesus my Lord. Help me to choose wisely those whom I call friends. Empower me with Your Holy Spirit so that I too can finish well and proclaim with Paul – “…For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.”

In Jesus’ Name!