THE APOSTASY AND THE LAST DAYS--II TIMOTHY 3:1-17-- LESSON 3

THE APOSTASY AND THE LAST DAYS
II TIMOTHY-- LESSON 3

—By E. L. Bynum

Lesson: II Timothy 3:1-17

Memory Verse: II Timothy 3:16

I. THE PREDICTED APOSTASY. vs. 1-5

A. The Date Of The Apostasy. v. 1

1. This is something to know. "This know also...."

2. This is in the "last days." The N.T. refers in this manner concerning the days in which Christ will come. This is not to say that there has not been apostates in every age. See I Tim. 4:1. There is a sense in which the last days began with the ministry of Christ. Heb. 1 :12. However, the events recorded here will intensify in the last days of the last days.

3. The apostasy will produce "perilous times."

B. The Description Of The Apostates. v. 2-5a

Paul lists 18 characteristics of these apostates. Note their emphasis on love: "lovers of their own selves," lovers of money ("covetous"), "lovers of pleasure." The apostates of our day speak of "love" frequently. Jesus commanded us to love God supremely and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Matt. 22:34-40. If we love ourselves supremely, we can never love God or our neighbors as we should.

1. They are self-lovers and money-lovers. v. 2a. It is significant that the description ends in v. 4, by saying that they are "lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God." Their diabolical nature and acts are prefaced and followed by the revelation of their misplaced love.

2. Their corrupt attitude. v. 2b. "boasters, proud, blasphemers." They boast in self, they're proud of self, and they blaspheme the holy.

3. Their unholy nature. v. 2c. "Disobedient to parents (unfilial), unthankful, unholy." "The last three vices in v. 2 are all ... bringing out forcefully the idea of militant moral perversion. " Tyndale N. T. Commentary

4. Their unnatural affection and diabolical acts. v. 3a. They have no real affection for family, no respect for truces or agreements, and no affinity for truth. Instead of natural love, there is unnatural love which God condemns. Rom. 1:18-27; I Cor. 6:9-10

5. Their violent conduct. v. 3b. They have no self control, are violent, and have an hatred for the separated believer.

6. They are self inflated traitors. v. 4a. Traitors to Christ, to Christianity, and to the Scriptures; they continue on in their modernistic high-minded ways.

7. They are "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God." v. 4b. They are lovers of sports, dances, movies, drink, and all sorts of pleasures. Churches now use recreation and pleasures to get people into the services where their ears may be tickled.

a. True pleasure comes from God. Psa. 16:11, Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

b. The pleasures of sin only last a short while. Heb. 11:25, Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

8. They know not God, but have a powerless form of religion and ritual. v. 5a

C. The Disposition Of The Apostates. v. 5b

1. True believers are to turn away from these. v. 5b

2. True believers are to have no fellowship with them. Eph. 5:11, And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

3. True believers are to reject them. Titus 3:10, A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject.

4. True believers are to separate from them. II Cor. 6:17, Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. I John 4:1, Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. II John 10-11, If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. Rom. 16:17, Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

II. THE RESULTS OF APOSTASY. v. 6-9

A. Ignorance Of The Truth. v. 6-7

1. By falsehoods they take advantage of silly women, both spiritually and morally. v. 6. II Pet. 2:10-14, But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children. Jude 4, 8, 10, 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignifies. 10 But these speak evil of those things which they know riot: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Titus 1:11, Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

2. They learn much, but not spiritual truth. v. 7. I Cor. 2:10-11. We live in an age of learning (even religious learning), that is devoid of truth.

B . Resistance To The Truth . v . 8-9

1. They oppose the truth as those who withstood Moses. v. 8a. Christ is truth, so they oppose Him. John 1:14, 17; 14:6. Read Exodus 7-9 and you will find that these men opposed Moses by imitating what Moses did.

2. Their minds are corrupt. v. 8b. I Tim. 6:5

3. They are "reprobate concerning the faith." v. 8c. Many Seminaries and Bible Colleges are this way today.

4. Their judgement and doom. v. 9

III. THE RESPONSE TO APOSTASY. v. 10-13

A. Apostasy Brings Persecution. v. 10-11

1. Proper doctrine and practice needed. v. 10 (Note that doctrine is first).

2. Doctrine and practice are to be maintained in spite of persecution. v. 11. See Acts 13:45-50; 14:5,6,19.

3. Faith in God's deliverance must be believed. v. 11

B. Apostasy Persecutes Godliness. V. 12-13

1. The godly will be persecuted . v. 12. Psa. 37:12, The wicked plotteth against the just, arid gnasheth upon him with his teeth. Matt. 5:10, Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness ' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

2. The apostates will grow in number and power. v. 13. This certainly refutes the Post-Millennial view that the world is getting better and better.

IV. THE NEEDED SCRIPTURES AND THE APOSTASY. v. 14-17

A. Depend On The Scriptures. v. 14-15

1. Timothy learned the truth as taught by Paul and others, based on the Scriptures. v. 14

2. Timothy learned the Holy Scriptures in childhood. v. 15; II Tim . 1:5. How this is needed today! Parents should take advantage of the great opportunity to teach their children from the cradle to adulthood.

3. Please notice that they are the "holy" scriptures, and that they lead to salvation. See I Thess. 2:13.

B. Declare And Defend The Inspiration Of The Scriptures. v. 16-17

1. The source of all Scriptures. v. 16a. "Inspired of God," means God-breathed. The OT and NT come from God, even the very words. God also promised many times to preserve His Word. Psa. 12:6-7, The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. Matt. 5:18, For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one little shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

2. The use of all Scriptures. v. 16b

3. The purpose of all Scriptures. v. 17

—By E. L. Bynum

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. When is the time of the apostasy?

2. What will the apostasy produce?

3. What three things do the apostates love?

4. What does the lesson say about the godliness of the apostates?

5. Give a description of the apostates.

6. How are true believers to treat the apostates?

7. What about the learning of the apostates, and the truth?

8. Who will be persecuted?

9. When and how did Timothy learn the Scriptures?

10. What is the meaning of "inspired of God?"

11. What is the use and purpose of the Scriptures?

12. Quote the memory verse.