| Progress Chart for Bible Study Series on Religion Denying The Power of God "...having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from SUCH PEOPLE turn away." (II Timothy 3:5) We can appreciate those who say "We belong to Christ and not to a religion"; however such Bible as James 1:27 dare not be ignored-- "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep one self unspotted from the world." (James 1:27) NOTE: Before Christians today have the courage to obey the above command from Scripture to turn away from and avoid certain sorts of such people in their churches and denomination, they must first of all understand the total context of II Timothy 3:1-9, then "this sort" of 2:17 like Philetus and Hymenaeus, then the kind of leaders and church members that lead us into the great apostasy called the Falling Away. This is nothing less than getting illumination on the total flow of II Timothy, what might be called a "this sort" or "such people" outline from II Timothy. It keeps us from calling names and pointing out certain groups of church members as the Bible has already done it for us. 1. A "That Sort" Outline of II Timothy. NOTE: It is your obligation and privilege to study to have God's approval by attention to ALL Scripture, and you must know how "this sort" and "such people" have lead us into the great apostasy of today. Some as Jesus said, "...he who endures to the END will be saved." (Matthew 24:13) 2. What Sort? 3. Sort Out This Sort "Avoid such people." (II Timothy 3:5b) 4. From Follies to Fables, II Timothy 3:9 and 4:4. 5. "Itching Ears" Theology, II Timothy 4:3,4. 6. What Happened to the Southern Baptist Convention and Protestantism? In fact all Christianity according to II Timothy and the supporting rest of the Bible like Jude and Revelation 1-3 on the 7 churches of Asia Minor. 7. Baptist Distinctives and the One Baptism {Salvation} of the book of Romans. 8. Priesthood of Believers. Perhaps it is hard to connect the dots but in previous Bible studies on the ALL Scripture approach and method of Bible study, it is also an appeal to exercise your obligation and rights among the "Priesthood of Believers"' for how can ALL Scripture given by inspiration of God be profitable to you unless you exercise your God given right to soul competency. |
| "LOVERS OF THEMSELVES, LOVERS OF MONEY, BOASTERS, PROUD" (II Timothy 3:2a) Sounds more like these men of "perilous times" and of "the last days" are more politicians, lawyers, or the wealthy than church members of some Christian religion; yet rather than being avoided today, or sorted out, such men are respected in the world and the church! Unfortunately these men of perilous times and last days are church leaders of different religions, and you know that you recognize them because they are wrapped up in themselves--the world might call it graciously a type A personality, they are given over to the making of money to the extent of greed--the world lauds calculated greed in the stock market, they boast at lot about their own accomplishments, albeit in a feigned humility and in debate where truth become more relative than absolute, and their pride in many things of this world is apparent and lauded by the world, what John calls "pride of life"--as much a lust as the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes. |