Lesson 562

(Lesson 562)(03-01-13) 2 Timothy Chapter 3, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

The first part of today's lesson very clearly identifies what has happened to Christianity today. We have become a religion of convenience, whatever feels good, do it. If the restrictions of true Christianity are too burdensome we simply ignore them and pretend the bible justifies our actions.

It is my firm belief that the truly saved walk a different walk and talk a different talk. Not because they God requires it of them, but because they choose to because of their spiritual rebirth. They don't pretend to live above sin, they simply accept the fact that until they receive their glorified bodies, they are consumed by sin, also accepting the responsibility for their actions in the knowledge that they are born sinners, and allowing the grace of our omniscient God to "justify" them.

In the final portion of today's lesson, Paul sums up what is expected of a Christian, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." If we study as we should we will learn that we, as Christians, are a work in progress toward a perfection we will never attain until such a time as God converts our bodies into the pure sin free beings that were Adam and Eve before they disobeyed God. Until that time we are to obey these two simple commandments , "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Matthew 22:37-39.