Perilous Times Shall Come

Perilous Times Shall Come

Introduction:

The Apostle Paul often warned his brethren about “perilous times”, dangerous, fierce; a time when a falling away from truth would occur. (Acts 20:29-30) He warned the young preacher, Timothy, about this in I Timothy 4:1, as well as our text, II Timothy 3:1-9. He informed him about when it would occur, what it would look like, and the type of people involved.

Text: II Timothy 3:1-9

Body:

I. When Would It Occur? (Verse 1)

· In the “last days” is normally used in the Bible to refer to the gospel age or the Christian age.

· On the Day of Pentecost after Christ’s resurrection, Peter declared that his hearers were living in the “last days.” (Acts 2:14-17)

· The writer of Hebrews tells that God’s Son has spoken to us in these “last days.” (Hebrews 1:1-2)

· Christ was manifest in these “last times.” (I Peter 1:18-21)

· Therefore, since the death of Christ on Calvary, we have been living in the “last days.”

II. What Would Times Perilous Times Look Like? (Verses 2-5)

· Lovers of self (Philippians 2:21) [misplaced love]

· Lovers of money (I Timothy 6:10) [misplaced love]

· Proud – boastful, arrogant – haughty (Proverbs 21:4)

· Abusive – blasphemers, no regard for God or man

· Disobedient to parents – unconcerned for those who raised them and cared for them

· Ungrateful – no appreciation for all the good things they have received (I Thessalonians 5:18)

· Unholy – no regard for the sacred

· Unloving – heartless, uncaring

· Unforgiving – unappeasable; can’t be pleased

· Slanderers – the habit of making false, malicious statements about others (Proverb 16:27-30)

· Without self-control [like animals]

· Brutal – brutish [like animals]

· Not loving good

· Treacherous – traitors [turn one’s back]

· Headstrong – reckless

· Haughty – arrogant; swollen with conceit – defiles

· Love pleasure more than love God (Philippians 3:19)

· Appear godly but are not genuine – hypocrite

· Must avoid such people [obstinate; unwilling to change] 

III. Who Would Be Involved? (Verses 6-9)

· Men who would use any means [trickery, deceit] to lead others astray (Titus 1:10-11)

· Would appeal to others lusts (II Peter 2:14)

· Men who resist the truth – possibly the Egyptian magicians in Exodus 7 Minds are corrupted. (I Timothy 6:3-5) Deficient thinking – unreasonable

· They will ultimately be exposed for what they are. They will be eternally lost!

Conclusion:

We are certainly living in perilous times. We need to understand this. 

Bobby Stafford

August 17, 2014