II Timothy 3:10 – 17 Our focus will be on verse 17
By Pastor Randy Johnson
The Life Application Bible Commentary had this quote: “The whole Bible is God's inspired Word. Because it is inspired and trustworthy, we should read it and apply it to our lives. The Bible is our standard for testing everything else that claims to be true. It is our safeguard against false teaching and our source of guidance for how we should live. It is our only source of knowledge about how we can be saved. God wants to show you what is true and equip you to live for him. How much time do you spend in God's Word? Read it regularly to discover God's truth and to become confident in your life and faith. Develop a plan for reading the whole Bible, not just the familiar passages.”
- God leaves no doubt that the only way a person can be a complete Christian, is by following the scriptures and doctrine.
- In verse 8 God said “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.”
a. These two men were the two magicians that Pharaoh depended on to explain the “tricks” Moses was doing. Exodus 7:11 "Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
b. It was their job to prove Moses wrong by attempting to work counter-miracles. The point of the remark of the apostle here, is, that they resisted Moses by attempting to imitate his miracles, thus neutralizing the evidence that he was sent from God.
c. This is the false teachers job today; to neutralizing the evidence that he was sent from God i.e. Gods word and doctrine by mythical doctrine.
d. This is accomplished by mind washing. Making lies sound so truthful that the average Christian will believe it.
e. Paul went on to say in verse 9 “But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.” – they were later proven to be the fakes that they were and Gods man was proven to be correct. Exodus 8:18 - 19 “And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast. (19.) Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.”
- Those that fall for the folly will never be complete Christians.
a. Complete Christians are those who apply Gods word to their lives, and never follow folly. Verse 17 “throughly furnished unto all good works.” - “throughly furnished” means to be fully equipped or to finish out.
b. Paul told young Timothy to stay with the doctrine that he learned as a child, because what he learned was truth. Verse 14 “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;”
c. 1 Timothy 6:11-12 “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (12.) Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
d. To fall away from these truths will also cause him to loose in Christ. To loose His rewards; and to loose his place in the Bride of Christ.
e. Folks, there are no new doctrines, history has not lacked nor has it failed by becoming out-of-date.
f. Remember what you have learned; apply those teachings to your life, and then serve the Lord right.
- God said that being a complete Christian would be hard. Verse 13 “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”
a. These men of false doctrine will never give up. “…seducers shall wax worse and worse…” These “seducers” are defined as - impostors or deceivers. Originally, one who chants spells; a wizard, sorcerer. Hence, a cheat. – that is one who brain washes with false doctrine, attempts to show the truth as a lie and a lie to be the truth. Romans 1:25 - 26 "Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (26.) For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:"
b. History will prove what we teach here is as old as Baptist are, most teaching in other Baptist church does not have a history beyond Charles Finny or James Arminius in the 1600’s until today.
c. Folks the truth of the Baptist teachings and doctrine dates back to Jesus Christ, why would one follow any other teaching?
- If a Christian wants to be “complete” then the bible must be applied to their lives and not vise versa.
- A lot of Christians wants to fit the bible to their life but God said the reverse to fit our life to the bible. Verse 14 "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;"
a. 2 Timothy 1:13 "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus".
b. 1 Timothy 4:16 "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." – that is: a minister by taking heed to himself, and doctrine, saves himself from the pollutions of the world, from the errors and heresies of false teachers”
c. Myths only hurts the Christian and their status with the Lord. Colossians 2:18 "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,"
- To many today desire to fit the bible to their lives and this causes them to fail in being a complete Christian.
a. Changing doctrine or twisting scriptures does not change what the scriptures means; doctrine dating back to Jesus Christ is proper doctrine.
b. I (as Pastor) have a great responsibility (1.) to God and (2.) to this church to preach only the truth and if I fail I will suffer and you will suffer; whether you accept that truth or not is you responsibility; whether you like what I preach or condemn me because of it is up to you; If I am hated someday because of what I preach then so be it, but I will not shun the truth for personal or church gain. Acts 20:26 "Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. (27.) For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. (28.) Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (29.) For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. (30.) Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. (31.) Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears."
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