Are you living the godless lifestyle? 2Timothy 3
The Bible says this in 2 Timothy 3: 1-5:
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Why do I bring up this list of godless qualities as a post? Because there are many Christians who may have a right profession but live a lifestyle that disprove their profession. Let me clarify by stating what James said in his epistle:
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"--and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. James 2:14-24My point is I want to emphasize what the Bible teaches: if you are a Christian, your life will prove you are a Christian. Works do not save a person from sin, but works prove whether a person's profession about being born-again is valid or not.
Notice this list in 2 Timothy 3. These godless people are self-lovers and money lovers--these two qualities fly in the face of what the Bible teaches about loving God first, and others second ( Matthew 22:37-38) and that the love of money being a root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). It has been said that everything else in this list given by the Apostle Paul comes from these two qualities (See John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary 2 Timothy, p. 108., Moody Press, 1995). Can these two qualities be the leading heart qualities of a person who claims to be a servant of God? The answer is a resounding no!
Notice the last two items in the list: pleasure-lovers and not God-lovers (vs. 4). It is interesting to note that these godless people are ones who have replaced loving God with loving pleasure. Pleasure is their god! To how many so called Christians does the motto "if it feels good, do it" apply? Again, a person who is true Christian cannot serve pleasure as god and Christ as God.
Now if you realize that you have these godless qualities dominating your life you need to consider some things.
First, consider whether or not you are really a Christian. A true Christian, once they recognize their sins, are quick to confess them and forsake them--see King David's reaction to Nathan the Prophet pointing out David's sin about Bathsheba and killing her husband (2 Samuel 12: 1-13). If you realize you have sinned, but have no desire to change--this is evidence that maybe you are still in your sins. You need to honestly evaluate your heart and see if you need to become a Christian (see the page How Do I Become a Christian?). If you decide to wait till later to be honest about your heart's spiritual status you may miss the opportunity because today could be your last day on earth. Only faith alone in Jesus Christ alone (John 14:6) can save you from the coming judgment of God upon your sin (Colossians 3:5-6).
Secondly, recognize that if are a Christian, you don't have to live in sin. You can find forgiveness with Christ (1 John 1:9) and be able to have victory over sin controlling your life ({Romans 6:1-23). Ask the Lord today to help you through His grace live out the Christian life (Ephesians 2:8-10). Christ through His blood have given you the victory over sin's power!
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57Pastor Steve
Psalm119:89
