GODLESSNESS IN THE LAST DAYS.

 

2 Tim 3:1-7

 

It is around 10am Monday morning March 27, and car pulls up to a Christian school; and within 13 minutes 6 by-standers are dead, along with the shooter by two police officer. The shooter: a 28 yr. old biological woman who goes by He, and Him, pronouns. Previously before this shooting, Nashville Law maker passed a bill to stop “puberty blockers in children” and “drag queen story hour” and the outcry as of Monday by the Trans community is the disregard to announce the killer by her proper pronouns. Even a radical transgender activist group has claimed that, “the Nashville school shooter was driven to murder six people by an 'avalanche' of anti-trans policies and sentiment, adding: 'Hate has consequences'.” The Press Secretary for the White House made this statement after the shooting. “Our hearts go out to the trans community — as they are under attack right now." But as Samuel Say wrote, “When we encourage people to identify as victims, vengeance and violence are inevitable." Sadly! Generations after generation are blinded by their own ignorance and destruction as they continue to rebel against God and His word.

 

The bible says, “Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the Day of Judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.” Matt 10:15. What Town? It’s any town that follows after this pattern of life and rebellion. Sodom and Gomorrah are often referred to as signal instance of divine vengeance. But Jesus refers to Sodom & Gomorrah as proof that the wicked shall not go unpunished in any town. Jude 1:7 says, “just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.” 2 Peter 2:6 says also, “if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;” Jesus said “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be”.  Matt 24:37-39

 

Why did Jesus enter Jerusalem in His last

earthly days? The day we call “Palm Sunday”

 

Ultimately we know the answer to that….. His brief earthly ministry was to fulfill the plan of the Godhead in redeeming men and woman back to God through His death and resurrection. That is the ultimate answer but to make it more personal why did He enter Jerusalem in His last days Because…..  God’s order and plan for the family is under attack from every angle. God’s design of biology/sexuality is considered a social construct. God’s laws are being ignored and rebelled against constantly. God’s image-bearers are trying to tear God from His throne, by deconstructing everything God says in His Word. Example of this is actress Anne Hathaway, where she claims abortion is a demonstration of mercy. She said, “My own personal experience with abortion and I don’t think we talk about this enough, abortion can be another word for mercy,"

 

How wicked and twisted does a person have to be

to claim that abortion is an act of mercy.

This only comes from a fallen/wicked worldview that see’s self as all important. We know this is true because Paul begins this section of his letter by taking us to “the moral sewers. (v1-v9) “last days difficult times will come” a period/time during which the affairs of the world will be closed up. Men’s ideas are substituted for God’s truth and God, Himself. The traditions of men, and sacramentalism, replace God and His word. Marriages, our children, our families, and our sexual purity will come under attack by a culture that sees you and I as the problem with society. Hated by a culture that says, “There are no absolutes, all sexual types’ orientations are good, there is no God, the world just evolved, let the professional/ the graduate teach and train your children. A culture that says, “Majority knows best, do what makes you happy, don’t think for yourself just follow along, live for self, and forget about anybody else. Do what your heart desires and live life to the fullest.” We are hearing people talk about “The Last Days” or “The End of the World,” and for good reason, because wickedness is so normal and highly praised in theses last days.

 

Paul uses the word “perilous” which describes dangerous times, times of great difficulty, grievous, stressful, hazardous or unsafe. Society has become ruthless, de-sensitized to any feelings of responsibility or remorse for wrong doing, instead they crave it more, and more. Sexual immorality is increasing around the globe, especially in North America with the perversion of drag queen hour, and exploitation of a 13 yr. old boy recently wearing provocative female outfits dancing in front of perverted men and women. Politeness and morality, of manhood and womanhood are being thrown out, or labeled “old fashion”. Young people are giving up their purity because we’re all just animals, so they do this to follow the mold of this generation to find control, acceptance or love. Having children today is considered selfish and overcrowding in an “already crowded world.” according to Global warming activists. Marriage is no longer an institution that is considered set-apart between a man and woman under God’s covenant of marriage. Homosexuality, trans-genderism, even pedophilia or MAP (minor attracted person) as they like to be called now…. is considered a normal, guilt-free way of expression.

 

But what did Moses write in the Torah, the Law of God? “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination….” Lev 18:22-23. Paul letter goes even deeper than that. “Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” Rom 1:24-32

 

Think about how perilous our times really are! A mother killing and drowning her 4 children in a pool is considered murder, but killing a child in the womb is considered “choice”. Helping someone end their life is considered humane in Canada. Paul said perilous times is were the church is going to live the rest of its days. The church has a responsibility to stand firm upon the truth of God’s Word. If we fail to stand firm on God’s Word….. Doctrine would become compromised by its leaders. Doctrine would be distorted by wolves in sheep’s clothing a deceiving the naive. The church would be faced with greater trials than their predecessors of old. We know! Doctrine has been compromised in the church, because we don’t want to offend or make someone feel uncomfortable. Doctrine has been distorted by many false teachers and many are greatly confused to what truth is, and isn’t. The full counsel of God has been displeasing, unacceptable and even offensive to a self-centered, self-serving worldly society. But in the professing church today there is a greater confusion, apostasy, moral decay and tolerance of sin. Paul describes 19 particular expressions of sin amoung godless people in (v2-v4) and then he describes the emptiness of godless religion in (v5).

 

Paul says “For people will be…”

 

Lovers of Self…..self-love is the universal deadly sin that attaches itself to the human soul and is the foundation of all other sin. This is the bottom of the sewer of sin, which all these other sins discharge from. Whenever the love of self grows stronger the love of God grows weaker or lowered. Self-love is not about loving yourself first and then loves others; it’s about loving God ultimately and that will pour over into the lives others.

 

Lovers of Money….. someone who is materialistic, craving for earthly possessions, its having a covetous heart. As Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Matt 6:24

 

Proud….. this is someone who is boastful, having proud thoughts of self, which is an outward manifestation of self-love. It’s claiming a greatness that he or she does not possess. Paul said, “Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.” 1 Tim 1:6-7

 

Arrogant….. someone who trusts in themselves., they portray a righteousness that is not of God, and they hold others in contempt. Jesus gives a parable as an example of arrogance. "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:10-14

Abusive…..also include “revilers” where we get the word “blasphemous” and carries the basic idea of being abusive and slanderous. An example of this! "What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." Mark 7:20-23

 

Disobedient to Parents….. this is a next level kind of evil. It’s the lack of family affection which is a violation to the most intimate relationship in the family. Disobedient in the Greek means “unpersuadable” This actually carries the idea of children that parents can no longer persuade, control, lead, or exercise authority over them. In last days we will see this getting worse when children will no longer be required to submit to or follow the orders and leadership of their dad and mom. This is already happening in Canada as it pertains to health care, where a 12 year old doesn’t have to tell/seek their parents, about their medical history or decisions. Don’t you find that a little odd? You need to be 16 to drive. You have to be 17 to enlist in the Military. You need to be 18 to vote You need to be 18 to buy a pack of cigarettes You need to 19 to buy alcohol. But you can decide to remove body parts, have hormone therapy without your parents’ consent at the age of 12. And if that’s not enough one writer wrote, “Children speak disrespectfully to their parents; they don’t want their rights violated by parents telling them what to do; and the court system has stood by the right of a child to sue his or her parents. Parents are so bound by the laws of the new moral agenda that they are fearful to discipline their own children, lest they be arrested for child abuse. Although some children have certainly been protected by such laws, the fact is that these laws have put the child in a superior position in the eyes of the legal system and weakened the leadership of the parents to teach, discipline, and lead their own kids. Just as Paul prophesied, the day has come when parents are under pressure to surrender their parental authority to rule their own children.” This means that a child who will rebel against their parents will have no issue about rebelling against anyone else.

 

Ungrateful….. is someone who elevates themselves  to the point that they deserve everything their hearts desires. They evaluate themselves and see their worth is far more than what they are receiving; we would call this “Entitlement” It’s a person without grace, or gracefulness; who think they have a right to everything, yet feel no obligation, and consequently no gratitude. The ungrateful despise the very idea of grace. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” Rom 1:18

 

Unholy…..is driven by self-love and has no care or thought to modesty, decency, rules, laws or personal reputation. Paul wrote in his first letter to Timothy, “Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.” 

1 Tim 1:8-11

 

Heartless…... is to be without natural affections, unloving; this person cares nothing for the welfare of those who should be dearest to you. To be unloving is to be heartless.

 

Unappeasable……this is a person who refuses to change, they are irreconcilable. No matter what has happened they don’t care; they are determined to have their own way regardless of the consequences. Even to the point of knowing it might destroy their very own lives, and the lives of their family. These are self-destructive people who are merciless beyond reason.

 

Slanderous…a tongue that destroys and seeks to cause the most damage possible. They make a point of harming others, whether to promote their own interests, to express jealously or their anger.

Without self-control…… is someone doesn’t care about what think or about what happens to them. They are like a driverless car that careens and crashes into whatever gets in his or her way. Since they have no self-control they are destructive and eventually lose control of his own life and become a slave to his or her own passions and ambitions. 

 

Brutal…..it’s a savage type of behavior like an untamed beast. They are person who is insensitive and they will attack their enemies and tear them apart.

 

Not loving good……they are haters of good, God, and His morality and Truth. The Scriptures say the hater sinks to what amounts to an animal level, but unlike an animal they know what is good, yet choose to despise and oppose it. Isaiah wrote, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” Isa 5:20

 

Treacherous…..this is a person who will turn or go against their own family and friends because they love the things from the above list.

 

Jesus warn the disciples that, “Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death,” Matt 10:21

 

Reckless….. they are careless, negligent and rash, they don’t notice people and things around them. It’s an egotistic complex. Swollen with conceit…..blinded by their own ignorance. Paul said, “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing.” 1 Tim 6:3-4

 

Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God……this is someone controlled by pleasure, a hedonistic view of pleasure, as are many in today’s society. This depraved pleasure is not loved more than God, but rather than God. The true God has no place in this person’s thinking and living. A prime picture of this is when Jesus said, “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” John 3:19-20

 

Having the appearance of godliness but denying its power……like false teachers they think they have some form of Christianity without substance. In name only, but not in Spirit re-born.The illusion and deception of thinking they are saved but are dangerously waiting final judgement. Why? Because they deny the true power of the gospel. Although the gospel is presented in many persuasive ways, there so-called gospel is an empty, worthless, damning message that keeps many out of the kingdom. Ungodly leaders have no love for God and no love

for His Word or for His people.

 

They only love themselves and Paul says “Avoid such a men, such a person” (v5) They will weigh you down with sin. They will strike at the core of your emotions and spirituality. Just as weak woman are so easily deceived, because they are vulnerable to being religiously seduced by false teachers. (v6) They are weak in truth and weak in virtue as Peter said, “showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel,” 1 Peter 3:7. Just as Eve was the first target, as the weaker sex when she succumbed to the Deceivers offer. Satan will continue to target women, but women are also the most numerous and devout followers. Perilous time is why Christ entered Jerusalem for the last time in His earthy body. He came to Jerusalem to fulfill the Father’s wrath against His creation. He came to deliver the novice and naïve; from sin, and judgement. To save sinners like you and me as Paul said, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Cor 6:11

  

What are we to do with a text 

of Scripture like this?

Get serious about your relationship with Jesus Christ. In other words, make Him the number one priority in your life. Don’t bury your head in the sand thinking that this will all go away sometime soon! Remove the blinders, perilous times are here to stay and we must push on, persevere, until the Lord`s return. Walk by the Spirit and not by sight, emotions or your heart; you are easily deceived as Jer 17:9 says. Separate yourself and your family from this present world system and all it has to offer you. Do not be enslaved to the many enticements and distractions that are in the world today. Find spiritual substitutes, for example, fill your mind with Christian teachings, music, and meditation on the Word. Attend a Bible believing church regularly [meaning more than just Sunday’s] get plugged in with other believers and grow together. As things progressively get worse in this world this might mean that we might meet much more often than we do now.

 

Don't just believe or follow the world’s agenda, use discernment and test all things to all sufficient Scripture. 2 Tim 3:14-v17. There are many false teachers/worldly people, who will try to steer you away from the truth to the lies of this present world system. Redeem these dangerous days heavenly focused Why? The apostle Paul said “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Eph 5:16