LAST DAYS LIVING ( 5 OF 7)
by Keith Krell
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-17
This content is part of a series.
Last Days Living ( 5 of 7)
Series: Transferring Truth to the Next generation
Keith Krell
2 Timothy 3:1-17
What is the greatest threat to the church of Jesus Christ in the last days? Is it secular humanism? Is it the new atheism? Is it the ACLU? Is it government efforts to limit religious freedom? Is it the movement that seeks to redefine marriage? All of these are a threat to biblical Christianity but not one of them holds a candle to the greatest threat.
So what is the greatest threat to Christianity? It may not be what you think. The greatest threat to the Christian church is religion. ''Religion'' is humankind's attempt to earn God's favor. Religion on the whole has been Satan's great counterfeit to true spirituality. Religion has done far more damage to the church than all the atheists, communists, and world-class sinners. C. S. Lewis once wrote something to this effect: ''If the divine call doesn't make us better, it will make us very much worse. Of all bad men, religious bad men are the worst.'' Lewis seems to be saying that religion without a dynamic relationship with Christ is fruitless and downright dangerous. Hence, a key to the Christian life is to: Begin with the end in mind. In 2 Timothy 3 Paul lays out three responsibilities that will help us live in the last days.
1. Expect the worst (3:1-9). If you're a pessimist, this responsibility is an easy one. Paul, however, is commanding you to be a biblically appropriate pessimist who prepares for trying times within the church. He writes: ''But realize this . . .'' (3:1). The present tense imperative translated ''realize'' (ginoske) may be better rendered, ''Understand this! Mark this! Pay attention!'' Paul states that we are to ''know [and keep on knowing] that in the last days difficult times will come.'' Most Christians assume that the ''last days'' are those immediately preceding the return of Christ. However, biblically speaking, the ''last days'' began with Jesus' birth. So we've bee ...
Series: Transferring Truth to the Next generation
Keith Krell
2 Timothy 3:1-17
What is the greatest threat to the church of Jesus Christ in the last days? Is it secular humanism? Is it the new atheism? Is it the ACLU? Is it government efforts to limit religious freedom? Is it the movement that seeks to redefine marriage? All of these are a threat to biblical Christianity but not one of them holds a candle to the greatest threat.
So what is the greatest threat to Christianity? It may not be what you think. The greatest threat to the Christian church is religion. ''Religion'' is humankind's attempt to earn God's favor. Religion on the whole has been Satan's great counterfeit to true spirituality. Religion has done far more damage to the church than all the atheists, communists, and world-class sinners. C. S. Lewis once wrote something to this effect: ''If the divine call doesn't make us better, it will make us very much worse. Of all bad men, religious bad men are the worst.'' Lewis seems to be saying that religion without a dynamic relationship with Christ is fruitless and downright dangerous. Hence, a key to the Christian life is to: Begin with the end in mind. In 2 Timothy 3 Paul lays out three responsibilities that will help us live in the last days.
1. Expect the worst (3:1-9). If you're a pessimist, this responsibility is an easy one. Paul, however, is commanding you to be a biblically appropriate pessimist who prepares for trying times within the church. He writes: ''But realize this . . .'' (3:1). The present tense imperative translated ''realize'' (ginoske) may be better rendered, ''Understand this! Mark this! Pay attention!'' Paul states that we are to ''know [and keep on knowing] that in the last days difficult times will come.'' Most Christians assume that the ''last days'' are those immediately preceding the return of Christ. However, biblically speaking, the ''last days'' began with Jesus' birth. So we've bee ...
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