Part IX

IT WILL GET WORSE

Earlier Paul had reminded Timothy, "that all they which be in Asia be turned away from me" (1:15). He did not tell Timothy to be faithful and things would be restored. If you are looking for the restoration of "the early church" you will be continually frustrated and discouraged. All that faith can desire is that a remnant of "faithful men" will continue to come out and stand, apart from the world's religious system and in completeness and simplicity BE who and what they are in Christ.

We know that this is the condition, because Paul goes on to tell us about the future of the body of Christ. He tells Timothy that the conditions that he sees in Asia will only get worse. Although "church history" is a constant testimony to this fact, we need not to consult it to document the spiritual decline and Babylonian captivity of the body of Christ. One need only read II Timothy. "The character of the last days is strongly marked here, and gives no hope for Christianity as a whole" ( J. N. Darby's Synopsis of the Books of the Bible).

In II Timothy 3, Paul prophesied that the "last days" of the body of Christ would be "perilous times" (3:1), and "that evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived'(3:13). And as we read verses 2-4, the correlation between Romans 1 and II Timothy 3 is remarkable. So much so, that one would almost ask Paul, "So, what's new?" "Paul, there is nothing new here, what kind of prophecy is this?" But the difference is this: Romans 1 is a history of the Gentiles, while II Timothy 3 is a history of "Christendom." And no wonder why these passages match so, because the members of the body of Christ have joined the Gentile world course, and now – instead of having the character of Christ manifest in their lives (i.e., "the mystery of godliness") – they have the character of the world and its religions (i.e., "the mystery of iniquity")!

Paul uses the phrase "perilous times" to described the condition "Christendom." Interestingly, the word translated "perilous" is only used one other time. It is found in Matthew 8:28 where it is translated "fierce," and is used in connection with two men who were possessed with devils.

FORM OF GODLINESS

All the while verses one through three are true, they portray "a form of godliness"(vs. 5). And those satanic ministers leading them are doing so as "ministers of righteousness" (II Corinthians 11:15). Now, we do not mean to imply that every teacher within the religious system is a satanic minister, for Paul tells us that there are some vessels unto honour there (2:20). But they are a part of this "form" nonetheless.

The "form" of godliness is counterfeit godliness! Strong defines "form" (#3446) as "apperance." The religious system puts on a good show! But the deny the power of godliness. They source of godliness - our identification in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God . . ." (Romans 1:16).

"For the preaching of the cross . . . is the power of God" (I Corinthians 1:18).

". . . crucified with Him . . ." (Romans 6:6)

". . . buried with Him . . ." (Romans 6:4)

". . . raised us up together . . ." (Ephesians 2:6)

". . . made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6)

"I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:21).

Now there's the power of godliness!

"And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:19-20).

". . . the power of His resurrection . . ." (Philippians 3:10).

TURN AWAY

Paul is very clear what Timothy response was to be concerning this religion, he was to "turn away" (II Timothy 3:5), just as they had "turned away" (1:15) from Paul. Some might have thought it best to stay in among the religious form, with the hopes of recovering others. But this is human reasoning. The way of divine instruction is to "turn away."

This phrase "turn away" is Paul's sixth such plea for members of Christ's body to separate from this world's religious system:

Shun (2:16)

Depart (2:19)

Purge (2:21)

Flee (2:22)

Avoid (2:23)

Turn Away (3:5)

These are clear words. These are serious words. Each of us must turn to the Scripture and answer, by the CONTEXT of II Timothy the following question:

What was the "iniquity"from which Timothy was to depart?

What was the "great house"?

Who were the "these" that Timothy was to purge himself from?

What youthful "lusts" was Timothy we to flee?

What were the hearts to be "pure" of?

What "from such" was Timothy to "turn away"?


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