Bible Discussion Replies PAGE 181

Hello Richard,

Some people are given the gospel message over and over again until they either are born again or perish in death. And others, hear it once and believe. God has His reasons for such disparity. But we should always be ready to give an answer to those who ask about our hope in Jesus Christ and not give up on others, even if we have prayed and prayed and witnessed repeatedly.

And we can also need to realize that we may not be the one who leads one we love to Christ, but another was called to do so. We can be thankful that our prayers were answered and rejoice that now both people can enjoy the fellowship of this new believer.

Today if you hear His voice, "Today is the day of salvation" do not delay. Take it!

Heb. 3:15

Oh, that people would not harden their hearts when they hear the voice of God in the gospel message and the work of the Holy Spirit in that moment.

Better to come to Christ early than later. Fewer regrets and more days living in Christ!

Otherwise, with every delay in coming to Him is but "wasted days and wasted nights".

Jesus's fig tree parable is a humble warning,do not wait until its too late,to bare fruit.

here is 3 cultivating tips to help ensure a healthy yield

1st is no cussing,crazy thoughts, etc.

its not what goes into a person that defiles, its what comes out

2nd tip is help anyone in need,you can, thru out lifes journey

3rd is Do Not Work on Sundays, means alot to God

no ground maintenance, self gain etc.perfectly fine to feed family pets livestock etc

or some one in special position

guaranteed results with these 3 simple growing techniques

Hello Richard,

John the Baptist, imprisoned and knowing he will be killed needed assurance and encouragement that what he thought about Jesus and his own mission was not in vain. He was doubting, perhaps due to not necessarily knowing all about the Messiah's ministry, life, death, and resurrection.

Jesus sent back a messenger to John who did not scold John for his weakness of faith or for his lack of knowledge.

Jesus had the messenger quote from Isaiah about the lame walking, the blind seeing, etc. to show John that Jesus was the Messiah truly because He was fulfilling prophecies that John knew about from his training as the son of a priest.

How gracious of Jesus. I am sure that John was strengthened, but more importantly, he knew that he was chosen by God not only for his work as one calling in the wilderness, but as one who was God's own. He died knowing where he would end up and that was not in the punishment side of sheol. He died a violent horrific death, but most likely died in peace.

Hello Richard,

Concerning Judas Iscariot, Jesus did indeed know who Judas was and what He would do because He was there with the Father and the Holy Spirit in eternity past before creation when the Godhead agreed to the eternal decree that would fulfill God's purpose in creation to be accomplished through the electing of those who would be saved (vessels of mercy) and non-electing those who will be judged according to God's justice and wrath (vessels of wrath).

At the moment this decree was thought and willed, it was set in place to sovereignly come to pass without the input of any creature God would create in time. So, at that point in eternity Jesus knew all things from eternity past through time and throughout eternity future without exception and all would come to pass according to this divine decree immutably.

Jesus knew if Judas was elected to salvation or not. He knew Judas' character and every moment of His life from beginning to His last. He knew Judas was appointed to betray Him not just because it was prophesied to occur, but because, as the divine Son, Jesus all of Judas eternally.

So from a human perspective, none of us would choose Judas as our companion in ministry if we knew beforehand what he was like. But Jesus was not like us in this way. He was always obedient to the Father and did all things according to this eternal divine decree that was put into effect before creation when He assented to be the Savior of God's chosen elect, being slain from before the creation of the world.

An awesome doctrinal truth to consider with humility and reverence, for sure.

Hello Richard,

Thanks for this well balanced post about witnessing to the unsaved and what is most needed in individual circumstances. We definitely should go forth in the fear of the Lord in such a way that we ask the Holy Spirit to help us present the gospel for the sake of the person we witness to not for our own pride or to score a "win" for Christ. Everyone who comes to believe the gospel does so because God has foreordained them as one of those elected to salvation before the creation of anything. So, we should keep this in mind and agree to submit to God in witnessing as He works out His purpose for the person we witness to, for our own sanctification, and for the very situation and circumstances that brough about the opportunity according to God's sovereign will and purpose.

I especially love the verse you quoted about honoring Jesus, the Son of God, in the same way as we honor the Father.

When people reject the clear teaching of Scripture about the Son existing from everlasting to everlasting as stated in Micah Micah and that He is God with us-Emmanuel, Mighty God, as stated in Isaiah who incarnated in human flesh and nature to be fully God and fully Man, these people dishonor the Father and the Son in their rejection of these doctrine.

As believers, we should be careful that we do not resist what the Holy Spirit has revealed in Scripture concerning Jesus' revelation of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in one unified being. We should take into consideration ALL of what Scriptures teach about these topics and not bring up only Scriptures that speak to His perfect humanity in order to negate the Scriptures that speak to His eternal deity and oneness with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

@Bennymkje.....I really like the reading of Psalm 73....I am walking through a trial at the moment both personally and psychologically.....meaning faults that I have and faults of others that affect my being.....However I do not want it to affect my judgements towards man because only Our Heavenly Father should be the Judge of All. Thank you for sharing this reading

You're welcome Brother Jesse.

I've copied all of them and created a folder.

These lessons have been a enhancement!

Thanks and God bless.

Hello brother Spencer,

I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying the study of 1&2 Timothy. I agree that much of the teachings are relevant in our day. I'm close to being done with 2 Timothy and then on to Titus. I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel here. You have stuck with this study from the beginning and that means a lot to me so thank you for that.

Blessings to you also. The Lord is good!

Amen Richard.

I believe Hebrews 10:22-31 sums up much of what you stated when referring to a believer.

Blessings

Thanks so much Brother Jesse!

Great lessons in 1st and 2nd Timothy! Very relevant in these days.

Blessings.

Hi Brother Giannis.

I agree! I believe to present God as an angry God is misrepresenting God.

I would present God as Holy!

Nahum 1:3 reads "The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked (kjv).

However, "the wicked" is in italics. Perhaps it should read "The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit.

That means no one gets off!

Sin has to be paid for and the wages of sin is death!

And all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23.

Romans 6:23 reads "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

At this junction I would present God as a loving God pointing a lost soul to Romans 5:6-9 and " John 3:16-21" "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Romans 5:18 reads "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Adams sin has been imputed on to us. All human beings are counted as having sinned in Adam!

Jesus is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2.

God is Holy, Just and Love.

God bless.

Page 2. Giannis.

And then again, to a person who has no knowledge of who God is, nor of his own sins & judgement by God for them, needs to know as an essential part of the Gospel message, that his sins, like our own, condemned us before an Holy God. As a drowning man will even 'grab onto straws', so a sinner understanding his position before God & in great spiritual agony, must cry out for Someone to save him. If a sinner could save himself, or assist God in it, then I would agree that the fear of such a God would be almost absent. But we can't save ourselves - we must run to such a God Who has both the power to condemn us into a Christ-less eternity or Who quickly forgives us & accept us through His Son. Such was my testimony: no one shared the Gospel with me - my dealings were only with God's Spirit, and He made it abundantly clear during that time of spiritual wrestling, that the fear of God had long departed from me, leading me to a sinful lifestyle that only promised His Anger & retribution. But there still remained hope - and that hope the Spirit infused in me was found only in Jesus.

Brother, the full & True Gospel can never omit God's Anger against sin & the sinner, yet His Love provides a way of escape for all who turn to Him. If we go light on God's Anger & major only on His Love & Forgiveness, I believe we do this glorious Gospel great disservice & we risk seeing believers focussed on just the joyous part of salvation & eternity, and not on the seriousness of our state (even as those believers who toy with sin) before God. Blessings.

Page 1.

Thanks bro Giannis for sharing what you did, especially about the time of fellowship & instruction you had with that group of young people. Clearly, your son's gf, like so many others, fully embrace religion but have failed to know & embrace the living God, His Mercy & Forgiveness, & of course, that vital relationship as our Father in Heaven. I pray your words of wisdom & instruction to those there will go deep into their hearts which the Holy Spirit, in His time, will bring to remembrance as they may witness the futility, hypocrisy, & disease that such religious exercises brings.

As I wrote briefly to another person on these pages concerning evangelism, what we share & how we do it depends on where that person is at with his life & eternity. For some, as when you shared with that young girl, she already understood God's Anger against sin, but unfortunately, her understanding was only of a distant, angry, vengeful God, and not about an intimate relationship with Him. So, your words to her would take up that knowledge she had & develop it to lead her to biblical Truths: Truths I'm sure, that would be quite foreign to her and hopefully go deep into her heart and mind. Onto Page 2.

Matthew 11:7-18. In this section we see Jesus commending John the Baptist despite his apparent wavering faith; as being in prison no doubt weighed heavily on him. He asked them what they came out to see; and was using it later on to introduce a rather caustic commentary on their opinion of Christ. Verses 18-19 state: For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

19The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

No doubt these statements indicated the initial reaction of mass repentance based on John's teachings had faded as to the effectiveness; and they were probably having the same reaction after Christ's initial appearance and their wonderment turned to suspicion. Notice the multitudes were adddressed here; so it appears the assessment of the Pharisees had worked on their minds to disparage Christ's character to make them think the same irrational thoughts.

Jesus was only getting started; next He was to upbraid cities only recently preached to for their lack of faith. (verses 21-24). Not only were they telling them they were by and large doomed to hell but that it would be worse for them than pagan nations judged in the past. This is some serious stuff.

The rest of the passage talks about those who are meek (verse 28) and heavy laden; and informs them that their yoke is easy and burden is light (v. 30 at the end of the chapter). This is a sudden shift in emphasis to those true believers. This shows the goodness and severity of God (see Romans 11:22). What matters is the state of a soul as to the experience with God for eternity. We all should find it sobering that a population of a city can have only one opportunity to hear of the salvation of Christ; in the case of the book of Jonah we saw mass repentance; compared to the cities Christ pronounces judgment on.

Concluding thoughts on Matthew 10.

The Word of God through Christ shows His perfect life in all the aforementioned aspects regarding individual calling (after ALL night prayer) of the 12 disciples; and then the commission to preach and then warning of initial issues and much more extensive words all the way to the end of the chapter which reminds us of much later prophecies of Matthew 24. These words themselves have allusion to the personal persecution and martyrdom that would come to ALL the disciples (later referred to as the 12 Apostles with the replacement of Judas Iscariot bringing this number back from 11 after his suicide). They also foretell the end times persecution as we recall that Jesus said that all the cities would not be reached until the Lord came back ( Matt. 10:23). This verse could also predict that their current initial evangelism would terminate before that happens also but obviously the 144,000 and the 2 Prophets in Revelation will complete the process but the nation as a whole will not accept Him until He is almost returned as we see from the end of the book of Zechariah. This shows that all of the world and His Body at large has lessons that were to be learned and He prayed for all of us to be as one in John 17.

Going on to chapter 11 verse 2 we read: When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?"

I mentioned in an earlier post this situation; it would seem John should know better. The long space until Jesus was 30 and began His miracles may have been absent of miracles but you would expect the interlude until he was in prison would show him there were no doubts not to mention the reports of Christ's miracles. Nonethless Jesus in the next few verses merely gives them a first hand account of what He did but in a sort of third person report as God the Father would have dictated.

Matthew 10.

This chapter can be broadly characterized as having three sections.

Section 1: Calling the 12 Disciples together (verses 1-4)

Section 2: Marching orders (verses 5-15)

Section 3: Further implications (verses 16-42). These show future and far future prophetic insights into persecution and martyrdom.

Psalm 41 and 109 have a detailed description of the last Disciple Judas Iscariot; interestingly the only one prophesied about in the O.T. As being both part of the Godhead and man (or the Son of Man) in human logic it would appear insane to pick Judas Iscariot. Not only would he ultimately betray Christ leading to His execution; but he was a thief, and no doubt would have many other bad influences on the remaining disciples. If that weren't enough the rest of the motley crew weren't exactly the cream of the crop of society being lowly fishermen and worse the hated tax collector with Matthew who apparently was a poll tax collector sitting at intersections where were hated the most. With their deverse backgrounds it would have been intersting to see what conversations that had amongst themselves; but the scriptures are limited to interactions with Christ interspersed with their questions.

The next section through verse 15 gives the basic early "marching orders" of the disciples who later would indeed be told to bring money and provisions. For this initial thrust such provisions while Christ was still around were unnecessary. Given the upbraiding in the very next chapter it appears that with such miraculous abilities given to these individuals through Christ's authority for that time would indeed mean almost instant condemnation and judgment for rejecting this message of the Kingdom of God coming soon along with undeniable signs of healing and casting out demons.

The last section is the most extensive and mentions death; fractured families; and speaking before kings. Clearly it is relevant until the time of the end meant for us all.

For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. ( John 5:22-23).

God would without the intercession of His Son condemn us all to hell as we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

The fear of God however is the beginning of understanding ( Prov. 9:10; Psalms etc). By the terror of God we persuade men ( 2 Cor. 5:11); but also the love of Christ constrains us ( 2 Cor. 5:14) just THREE verses later. So therefore we need both as with medicine what is toxic and unpleasant brings healing.

A healthy fear of the Lord for a believer should characterize their lives to shine as salt and light drawing men unto Himself. This is still the same God who we fear in regard to destruction of our souls; but as it involves those who have been saved and sealed with the Spirit it is an AWE for His presence and that always is accompanied by a love for His presence and commandments.

One mistake I have seen by those who wish to share the Gospel is to find some way to drum up fear through a dramatic description of hell and the sufferings in store for the unsaved individual. This can usually only result in a fear of the CONSEQUENCES of sin; which isn't any different than what Judas Iscariot felt for unjustly causing the death of what he only could see as an innocent man; not the Son of God who came to save the lost. The opposite error is presenting the Gospel as some formula which is supposed to produce an intended result. That result only occurs when the Holy Spirit takes hold of a man and remakes him from the inside out and thus causes genuine repentance as a desire in men's hearts whereupon action is taken.

Finally the type of presentation as to whether verses on love and mercy or warnings of God's severity are more emphasized depends on the recipient. Both ideas are vital.

Dear Giannis,

I agree that presenting God in His anger to unbelievers will most likely cause them to bristle up against turning to Him. We all need to know that we are sinners and separated from God because He is perfectly holy and good. And that He will judge sinners with punishment unless they receive God's remedy for salvation from this judgment. Then present the gospel as God's generous, merciful, and grace-filled decreed way for any person to receive salvation and eternal life in Jesus. They need to knew who Jesus is and why He is the only Savior and what He did to save those who believe in Him.

Giannis, I am glad that you shared this post to explain why you first posed your query. I took your first post on this topic as a discussion on whether or not God is an angry God. Scripture surely describes Him as one who is always angry at sin. But His divine Being is multifaceted when it comes to what He has revealed about Himself. He is equally loving, just, holy, compassionate, powerful, etc.

I think it is helpful for every believer to do a serious study on how God has revealed His divinity in Scripture and in history. Yet, when it comes to witnessing to unbelievers, it does matter if such a person is open to learn about salvation from their sin and judgment or if they are hostile towards God and not softened to be willing to consider that they need salvation and reconciliation to God who made them and is sovereign over all of their ways.

I appreciate our conversations on this topic and now with this post of yours, I am glad that you were able to share about our Savior with the young people you spoke with.

Rev.20.4 "The Ancient of days"-(2 of 2)

Day of regeneration is also given to the Son under the Law. "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."(Mt.19.28) The First fruits have passed from condemnation and they are priests and kings.

The war of Gog and Magog concerns with Israel and left behind church. Mercy of God creates for them a revival beginning with this sign."And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen./ Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him."(Rev.1.6-7)

There is a remnant from them to saved and it is to which Jesus foretold. "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."( Jn 10.16)

What is the significance of seasons? Dan.7.12. It speaks of redemption and Jesus of God has become redemption for whosoever believes. The day of regeneration covers 'the other sheep I have'. This distinction made out in this verse. "till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he (Satan) must be loosed a little season."(20.3) There is no more time as indicated in Dan.7.12, "they(the beasts) had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time."

The Ancient of days where 'now' is the day of salvation and day of generation and any other days is decreed for the Son and he has given his dominion, 'is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.' Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever. (Heb.13.8; Dan.7.14)

Spencer, GiGi and Chris. 2/2

So, how should we present God to people? An angry God? The idea of an angry God may initially make people sin less but eventually one can not hang on such a God. People want someone to find help from. Someone to love them It is God's love that draws people to Him. The idea that God is a Father who like an earthy father wishes and does the best for His children. That is why I disagree presenting God as an angry God. In such a case fear will be created in one's heart. And fear draws people away from the person they fear. Let us think, who were going to Jesus at that time? People who needed to be healed, to get some help, to find an ascape from their sins. They needed someone to help them, whatever their problem was.

Yes we must tell them about the consequences of sinning, about God's Judgement, about eternity and hell. Jesus was always mentioning judgement. But the thing that will make the difference (if any) and create a hope in their heart is God's love for people. Otherwise people will always feel that they are chained in a condition they wish to escape from, like the prodigal son.

As a final concusion? Let the Spirit gives us words to talk to people's heart. He knows better what one needs to hear.

Blessings.

Hello Spencer, GiGi and Chris. 1/2

The reason I started this thread was on how do we see and eventually present God to unbelievers. Do we see and present Him as an angry God who is ready to condemn the sinner or as a God of love who wants all (but all) people to be saved?

Yesterday it was the first time I talked to my son's girlfriend about Jesus. There were 3 other young people in my house and my wife and we were having a nice christian fellowship. Some time my son and his girlfriend appeared. After some time my son went to his room and the girl remained with us and started asking questions about why we have switched from the Orthodox church to another church and more questions about Mary Jesus' mother and the saints. I knew she is a person that she is interested in such things, like her family does. But although as a family they knew things about God and attend their church often, they didn't know God Himself. Their life is like any other person's in this ungodly world.

I remembered that when someone talked to me about Jesus, he talked to me about God's love, about His love which was shown by sacrificing Himself on the cross. A God who is near us and not hidden up there in the deep space dealing with His own things. Not a God who is far from people and their problems. A God who is very close to people watching our lives and ready to help, ready to heal. And personally me I went to God to find a solution for some big problems I was having at the time. I needed someone to help me, not someone to punish me. And this side of God I showed to that girl and she was a bit confused in the begining. Because she knew another God, a distant God who is ready to punish people for their sins, a God who always tries to put limits to people's freedom and the pleasures of this life. A God who she respects but on the other hand fears. And she didn't know that God is not just a philosophical idea but a real person whom one feels ans sees things from, proving that He really exists.

Rev.20.4 "The Ancient of the days" (1 of 2)

"(The angel) and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season."

This seal refers to judgment and it is what we have in the night vision of Daniel. The Ancient of days or the Law of the Spirit is seated "And ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." (Dan.7.10). This vision is presented in terms of the Word was God. While we have the vision of St John in terms of the Word was with God to which the emblem of the Lamb slain serves as a tag. The seal of judgment is number 10 and accordingly when the beast arises from the sea his telltale tags gives us enough hints to tell apart from the 'one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven,"(Dan.7.13; Rev.13.1)

Of the fourth beast in the vision of Daniel however we see the selfsame number "and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns."(7.8) As we read further we have the little horn, "and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things." Thus this little horn motif shall take prominence as we come to the book of the Revelation ch.17. we shall come to it anon.

"I beheld till the thrones were cast down," (Dan.7.9) These thrones are in heavenly places and of the revolt of angels that did not keep their first state. Their fall however ties up with the fall of the four beasts, "As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. (v.12). This season is a period of time determined by the Law and time is separated by a millennium. This is what we read in Rev.20.3 "and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." This refers to the first fruits and millennium is the day God promised his Son by a decree. (Ps..2.6)

COGIC SUNDAY SCHOOL BOOK 03/22/2025 LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA WEST ANGELES COGIC CHURCH CATHEDRAL

John 20:19-23 KJV

MY COGIC WORSHIP: 1 Corithians 15:3-4 KJV

I Worship God that is God the Father and the Son , Holy Spirit . God that gives life and words that make you rise becoming a living soul and to walk.God of salvation and meaning. God of peace. God that brings to attention, remission of Sins Correction makes get back on right path Person of your word.

Ps.73.23-26 Who is in control?

"Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins."

The adverb 'thus' refers to the foolish notions of what earthly prosperity means in the foregoing verse. It may loom large like a green bay tree in girth awesome, and for height touching the clouds and its overreaching branches draw great many seeking its shadow like the satellite nations suing for peace under the aegis of King of Babylon. "And, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;/He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches." (Dan.4.13-14) The earth and the fulness thereof belong to God and according to the predetermined counsel of God events shall playout, so one nation flexes its muscles and lays down laws however irrational these be, causes great many upheavals but they shall simply vanish like smoke before a gust of wind, "For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.:(Rev.17.17). Man is bewildered because he sees circumstances but fail to understand the one who is in control of them. It is brought out clearly when Peter hazarded to walk on water, Matt.14.28-32

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water./And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus./But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me./And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased."Peter as with the rest were not fully convinced whether it their master or a spirit. "they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear."

Correction to part 13. I meant Luke 18:8. Also, in Part 15, I misquoted 1 Peter 2:2. However, the word of God is without duplicity or double meaning. My apologies!

(2 Timothy Part 15):

2 Timothy 3:8 - Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth:

These are two people who are amongst the magicians in the book of Exodus, that withstood, or resisted Moses. And it says so do these also resist the truth:

They don't want to hear it. They don't believe it. They say all I want to do is worship. I don't want to study the bible. And they'll say things like that is your interpretation, or that's your opinion. One of the false ideas going around in the body of Christ today is that the bible doesn't say one thing. People say the bible is relative. It's whatever it means to you.

1 Peter 2:2 shoots that down, because Peter said the word of God is without duplicity, without double meaning. Whatever the writer was inspired to write, that's what it means. It doesn't mean anything else.

They resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, and the word mind is the word for perception. They are reprobate concerning the faith. Reprobate means rejection. They reject the faith. And again, that doesn't mean that they don't believe in God. They just reject trusting Him. And they want to do God's work in their own hands.

(2 Timothy Part 14):

2 Timothy 3:6 - For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

For of this sort (out of this group of people that we've just studied about), are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women, and the term silly women means weak women, weakness of integrity, and there are 3 things: burdened down with sins. So, they're in the body of Christ seducing people. Secondly, being led away with divers lusts.

2 Timothy 3:7 - Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

And thirdly: ever learning. That is, they're always learning, but never able to come to the full knowledge, notice the translation, never able to come to the full knowledge of the truth, not just knowledge, but full knowledge of the truth.

These are people who are always learning, picking up bits of information, but they don't get the whole picture. This is an immoral activity in the church in the last days.

(2 Timothy Part 13):

2 Timothy 3:5 - Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Having a form of godliness. They can have any one, if not all of these characteristics. Denying the power thereof: To deny doesn't mean that they deny that God has power. Everybody that believes in God believes He has power. It doesn't mean that somebody denies that. It means to reject.

We're seeing this right now more and more amongst the church, having a form of godliness (outward form and system), but rejecting God's power, and instead doing it ourselves. Jesus said ( Luke 18:1) that when the Son of man comes, will He find the faith upon the earth? The apostasy of the last days will be a challenge to faith.

It has nothing to do with our performance. It's denying the power of God if it's my performance. God promises to do His work through us, not for us to take His work into our hands and run it for Him. It's gotten worse over the years. There seems to be a philosophy in the church that Jesus ascended up into heaven to the right hand of the Father, and He has left us to do His work for Him until He gets back. It's like He's not here, like He's not the head of the church, like He doesn't run things.

When Jesus comes, will He find the faith on the earth? Will He find people saying "Lord, we have been waiting for your coming according to your word, because we believe you can fulfil your word?" That's faith!

The command at the end of Verse 5 says from such turn away, disassociate yourself with such people. That's hard and stern advice. In 1 Corinthians, Paul says that corrupt morals affect good morals. It's not the other way around.

If I decide to hang out with people that are not of good morals so that I can influence them, the bible says that these people with their corrupt morals will influence me, not me influencing them. Paul says to disassociate with such people because they will affect you. You'll get caught up in it.

(2 Timothy Part 12):

2 Timothy 3:4 - Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Traitors. These are people who are not faithful. They'd turn you in if they had a chance.

Heady. These would be people who impulsively go by whatever passes through the mind.

Highminded. This literally means to be puffed up. This is a Perfect Tense in the Greek text which describes a condition, a person who is highminded, arrogant, puffed up. Sometimes we say that people are so arrogant that they are "blowing smoke," and that's where this comes from.

Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; This is very prevalent in our day. The word pleasures is the word hedonistic. It's not just a desire. Our culture thrives on things. When we have time off, we look to do things that satisfy our hedonistic desires.

But notice this: It says more than lovers of God. And again, this is the word PHILOS for love. People might go to church. They might say I love God. but most of their life is spent fulfilling their hedonistic human desires.

And with all of these characteristics, Verse 5 is in what is called Participial Form, which means that these people are in the church, they are not saved, but there's a certain characteristic about them. And their principle and doctrine can spread in the church and affect those people who are saved.