Good morning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from 2 Timothy.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 ² Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; ⁴ And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
There is a modern form of false Christianity that is going on in the world today. In certain aspects, it looks Christian and sounds Christian, but if you take a closer look, it’s really not Christianity at all. It’s not the faith that was once given to the saints 2000 years ago. It has become modernized and culturized by worldly ideologies. A lot of these places are led by people who at one time, could not endure the pure teachings of God’s Holy Word. They left the church, and then eventually joined up with others who are in rebellion just like they are. Instead of becoming obedient and submitting to scriptural truth, they refuse the path of repentance. Like a child with a temper tantrum, they stomp their feet and walk out the door. They still want to believe that they will be in heaven, but they don’t want to abide in the things that Christianity teaches.
Titus 1:16 – “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”
So, instead of subjecting themselves to the will of God, they start up their own splinter group somewhere. They might wear a cross around their neck, or put one up in their building, but the truth is, they are enemies of the cross of Christ. They are impenitent, and make no attempt to come into compliance to the will of God. Instead of mortifying the imperfections of the carnal nature, they believe a lie instead. There are many unbelievers who wouldn’t step foot in one of these buildings today because they are being led by the wicked. Years ago I walked into one of these groups, when out came a woman dressed in a clerics outfit. I immediately got up, took my entire family and left. That happened so many times I finally gave up. Remember the road to heaven is narrow, and not many people are going to find it. On the other hand, the road to perdition is wide. It is filled with many who cannot endure God’s Truth. Rather than repenting, they cherry-pick a handful of verses, rather than repent and accept the entire doctrine of Christ.
Mark 4:16-17 ¹⁶ And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; ¹⁷ And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
In order to finish the race on the narrow path of Christ, obedient endurance to what we are taught in scripture is required.
Matthew 24:13 “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
How can you ever win a marathon unless you endure all the way to the end? Eternal life hangs in the balance.
Romans 2:7 – To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life
Those who profess to be Christian, must be capable of enduring the teachings of God’s Word, humbly submitting yourself to the doctrine of Christ.
Acts 2:42 “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
Salvation is more than just a profession of your faith, it is ultimately based upon doing the will of God from your heart.
1 John 2:17 “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
Matthew 7:21 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
Christianity is about doing the will of God rather than your own. It’s about actively submitting to God’s purpose and calling. It’s more than taking a few steps into the waters of baptism. It’s a daily walk of humble submission, continuing in the Christian faith until we eventually meet Him.
Colossians 1:21-23 ²¹ And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled ²² In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: ²³ If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
How are you supposed to get to work unless you continue driving down the highway? In order to get to heaven, one must continue in the doctrine of Truth. Salvation requires effort on your part. You must walk in the will of God and move on unto perfection.
2 Timothy 3:14 “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.”
“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;”
John 8:31 – “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;”
To continue in God’s Word, means to abide in the truth.
1 John 2:24 – “Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.”
1 John 2:28 – “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”
2 John 1:9 – “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”
In order to obtain eternal life and be blessed by God, it requires becoming a doer of the work. It requires conversion and transformation to the will of God rather than your own. It requires a change from worldliness to godliness. These things are not optional, they are mandatory if one expects to enter into heaven. Sinners must become saints, and our hearts must be purified through faithful obedience.
James 1:25 – “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
Luke 8:15 – But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience
Luke 11:28 – But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
Are you turning away from sin to become obedient to Christ? Are you walking each day in an effort to please Him? To obtain eternal life we must walk each and every day with this attitude, because they are the signs that you possess…
….A Lasting Faith
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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