Avoiding Imposters
II Timothy 3:5-9
Purpose: To describe what false teachers look like.
Aim: I want the listener to be alert to false teaching and turn away from it.
INTRODUCTION: Sunflowers are fascinating. These large flowers actually follow the sun from sunrise to sunset. I remember seeing a whole field of them once, when I was living in South Carolina. No matter what time of day you drive by them, their faces are pointed directly at the sun. Watching hundreds of them do this in absolute unison is actually quite incredible.
I read recently that Sunflowers continue to track where the sun long after it sets. When the sun rises the next morning, the sunflower is already pointing toward the sun.
In the first nine verses of this chapter, Paul is pointing out that many in the world are not really in line with the Creator. In verses 1-4 we saw evil as it really is, so we could see it in all of its ugliness. Today, in verses 5-9 we will see what religious imposters look like when their masks are removed.
REVIEW:
1:1-2:13 I. How Should a Christian React to Stress?
2:14-26 II. How Should a Christian Relate to Fellow Believers?
3:1-17 III. How Can a Christian Reside in a Hostile Culture?
Vs.1 A. See the big picture
1. Jesus may come at any time “in the last days”
2. Serving Christ is hard “difficult times will come”
Vs.2-4 B. Identify evil
LESSON:
Vs.5-9 C. Identify religious impostors
I think that verse 13 makes it clear that Paul has two groups of people in mind here:
2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. (NAU)
Vs.5 1. An imposter’s character
✔ Imposters have religious activity that is not connected to a living relationship with Jesus Christ.
a. They love to look religious “form of godliness”
“Form” refers to an outward shape or appearance. They put style over substance. These are religious leaders who are attractive on the outside, but are morally bankrupt on the inside.
Listen to what Jesus said about them: Matthew 23:25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. (NAU)
b. They ignore the Gospel “denied its power”
Romans 1:16-17 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” (NAU)
Matthew 7:15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s [shepherd’s] clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. (NAU)
2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. (NAU)
What does God think of religion that does not produce holiness?
☛ Isaiah 1:10-18 10 Hear the word of the Lord, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the instruction of our God, You people of Gomorrah. 11 “What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. 12 “When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts? 13 “Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. 14 “I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. 18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, [Remember: God is talking to the super religious] “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool. (NAU)
Vs.6-9 2. An imposter’s conduct
Titus 1:16 They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed. (NAU)
Vs.6 a. They target the vulnerable “captivate weak women”
Some translations read, “those who creep into households.” Notice that the infection of false teaching is often a slow process.
"Seducers seek for corners, and love obscurity; . . . and therefore creep into houses. Further, They attack those who are the least able to defend themselves, silly and wicked women." [Henry, M. (1996, c1991). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible : Complete and unabridged in one volume (2 Ti 3:1). Peabody: Hendrickson.]
Paul is painting a sarcastic picture. These big strong self-appointed experts pride themselves in being able to convince the weak and sinful. It’s like the bully who picks on those that are half their size.
Vs.7 b. They emphasize the novel “always learning”
False teachers are always looking for something new and different. They are more interested in the sizzle than they are the steak. They are always looking for new, trendy, and exciting programs.
The word KNOWLEDGE refers to knowing Christ or being saved. 1 Timothy 2:4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (NAU)
C.S. Lewis wrote:
"Novelty, simply as such, can have only an entertainment value. And they don’t go to church to be entertained. They go to use the service, or if you prefer, to enact it. Every service is a structure of acts and words through which we receive a sacrament, or repent, or supplicate, or adore. And it enables us to do these things best – if you like, “it works” best – when, through long familiarity, we don’t have to think about it. As long as you notice, and have to count the steps, you are not dancing but only learning to dance. A good show is a show you don’t notice. Good reading becomes possible when you need not consciously think about eyes, or light, or print, or spelling. The perfect church service would be one we were most unaware of; our attention would have been on God
"But every novelty prevents this. It fixes our attention on the service itself, and thinking about worship is a different thing from worshiping. The important question about the Grail [cup used by Jesus as the Last Supper] was for what does it serve?’ “Tis mad idolatry makes the service greater than the god.”
"A still worse thing may happen. Novelty may fix our attention not even on the service but on the celebrant. You know what I mean. Try as one may to exclude it, the question, “What on earth is he up to now?” will intrude. It lays one’s devotion to waste. There is really some excuse for the man who said, ’I wish they’d remember that the charge to Peter was Feed my sheep; not Try experiments on my rats, or even, Teach my performing dogs new tricks.’”[From: Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer Further Wisdom on Liturgy and Worship By C.S. Lewis]
Thus my whole liturgiological [public worship] position really boils down to an entreaty for permanence and uniformity I can make do with almost any kind of service whatever, if only it will stay put. But if each form is snatched away just when I am beginning to feel at home in it, then I can never make any progress in the art of worship. You give me no chance to acquire the trained habit-habit dell’arte.
Vs.8a c. They fight the truth “oppose the truth”
We must never forget that Satan has miracle working power.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, (NAU)
Exodus 7:10-12 10 So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh, and thus they did just as the Lord had commanded; and Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers, and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts. 12 For each one threw down his staff and they turned into serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. (NAU)
Jannes and Jambres, whose names mean “he who seduces” and “he who is rebellious.” [ Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (2 Ti 3:7). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.]
"According to Jewish tradition, they pretended to become Jewish proselytes, instigated the worship of the golden calf, and were killed with the rest of the idolaters (Ex. 32)." [MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (2 Ti 3:8). Nashville: Word Pub.]
What is the truth? The truth is that Jesus is God in the flesh. The truth is that He died to pay for ALL of our sin. Jesus is the ONLY way for anyone to receive forgiveness. A forgiven person wants to please and follow Jesus Christ.
Vs.8b d. Their thinking is pointless “depraved mind”
"The same word is translated “debased” in Rom. 1 verse 28 and comes from a Greek word meaning “useless” in the sense of being tested (like metal) and shown to be worthless." [MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (2 Ti 3:8). Nashville: Word Pub.]
Paul has already given Timothy an example of useless thinking.
1 Timothy 4:1-3 1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. (NAU)
These people major on the minors. They emphasize things that have nothing to do with holiness and glorifying God.
Notice: 1 Timothy 6:3-5 3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. (NAU)
Vs.8c e. They have no relationship with Christ “rejected”
2 Peter 2:17 These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved. (NAU)
2 Peter 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. (NAU)
Jude describes them as, “wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.” (Jude 13 NAU)
Vs.9 f. Their hypocrisy will be exposed “their folly will be obvious”
Just because a religious leader may appear to have a successful ministry it will not last.
The magicians in Pharaoh’s court were able to imitate three of the miracles that God used Moses and Aaron to perform. But, they could not continue to imitate God’s power.
Exodus 9:11 The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians as well as on all the Egyptians. (NAU)
You cannot pretend to serve God while you are opposing God and get away with it.
Numbers 32:23 “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out. (NAU)
CONCLUSION What are the results of following an imposter?
You can’t handle storms…
You can’t deal with tough times…
You won’t be able to persevere in the midst of adversity…
You won’t be able to deal with the attacks of the enemy…
Your faith will become faulty…
Your praise will become passive…
Your witness will become weak…
Your testimony will become tired…
1 John 1:5-7 5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light [like sunflowers we must keep ourselves focused on THE source of light] as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (NAU)
Real religion radically changes a person’s character and conduct. Have you been changed?
