SCRIPTURE AS THE ONLY SOURCE OF LIFE AND ENDURANCE - PART 2 (39 OF 44)
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-5
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Scripture as the Only Source of Life and Endurance - Part 2 (39 of 44)
Series: The Church at Ephusus: God's Calling, Empowering, and Instruction for the Church
Patrick Edwards
2 Timothy 3:1-4:5
Introduction
Last time we worked through this text we found Paul's warning of how in the last days many will abandon their profession of the faith. Paul warned that it will become more and more difficult for true followers of Jesus to hold and practice their faith because of the wickedness they will encounter around them. In other words, the world will become more and more toxic as non-Christians give themselves over more and more to their love of self and pleasure. It's honestly not too hard to imagine such a world as we are certainly moving now in this trend.
All around us we see the pretenses of progressivism, people claiming to be loving and compassionate, seeming to have all the appearances of being good, and yet in their hearts being total enemies of God. But Paul was not just talking about the culture around us; his primary warning concerned those within the church! Again, this is something we've sadly seen throughout Christendom in the last century. I have many good friends in other denominations, Anglicans, Presbyterians, former Methodists; and they have each lamented to me the situation their denominations are in as the Scriptures have been given up and worldly wisdom embraced. This doesn't mean that we Southern Baptists have been above the fray. No, while our national denomination has held to evangelical orthodox beliefs, there are always local churches within the denomination caving to the world in their theology. My point is simply that of Paul's: be watchful and be careful; there are many claiming to be wise who in reality oppose God's truth.
And, yet, you hopefully remember that Paul's warning was also an encouragement to us, as Paul showed us that though many will abandon their profession of faith, though many will wage war against God and H ...
Series: The Church at Ephusus: God's Calling, Empowering, and Instruction for the Church
Patrick Edwards
2 Timothy 3:1-4:5
Introduction
Last time we worked through this text we found Paul's warning of how in the last days many will abandon their profession of the faith. Paul warned that it will become more and more difficult for true followers of Jesus to hold and practice their faith because of the wickedness they will encounter around them. In other words, the world will become more and more toxic as non-Christians give themselves over more and more to their love of self and pleasure. It's honestly not too hard to imagine such a world as we are certainly moving now in this trend.
All around us we see the pretenses of progressivism, people claiming to be loving and compassionate, seeming to have all the appearances of being good, and yet in their hearts being total enemies of God. But Paul was not just talking about the culture around us; his primary warning concerned those within the church! Again, this is something we've sadly seen throughout Christendom in the last century. I have many good friends in other denominations, Anglicans, Presbyterians, former Methodists; and they have each lamented to me the situation their denominations are in as the Scriptures have been given up and worldly wisdom embraced. This doesn't mean that we Southern Baptists have been above the fray. No, while our national denomination has held to evangelical orthodox beliefs, there are always local churches within the denomination caving to the world in their theology. My point is simply that of Paul's: be watchful and be careful; there are many claiming to be wise who in reality oppose God's truth.
And, yet, you hopefully remember that Paul's warning was also an encouragement to us, as Paul showed us that though many will abandon their profession of faith, though many will wage war against God and H ...
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