Post by Cindy on Jan 2, 2016 12:18:59 GMT -5
There's one phrase I've spent much time reflecting on “having a form of godliness but denying its power" (2 Tim 3:5) that's a big red flag that shouts for us to examine ourselves and see if we are in the faith, and if we are not, to get right with God. He's talking about people who call themselves Christians and think they are Christians, but really aren't. We can know they aren't because although they talk and act like they are, there is no power in their lives. They do everything in their own strength, and therefore will sooner or later fail and fall away. The scary thing to me is that all the sins listed in 2 Tim 3 start with self love, and that's something that the world brainwashes us with from the time we're born. While it's always been true, it's been taught more predominately in our time then ever before. It's taught at home by parents, in schools by teachers, by doctors, psychologists, and secular counselors. What's even more appalling is that it's now taught even in some churches and Sunday Schools that call themselves Christian. The reason I find that scary is because it's something that's not easy for us to realize is a sin. It's no problem for us to know that we shouldn't steal, lie, murder or swear, but we don't see a commandment that makes loving ourselves an obvious sin. The fact that it is a sin, is most certainly in God's Word, but it isn't stated obviously, just like the Trinity in in God's Word but not stated obviously.
Let me share what one of my commentaries says about the passage in 2 Timothy:
Here is a description of the moral deterioration that occurs in society when godlessness is its main feature. In Romans 1, Paul indicates that godlessness always precedes wickedness. ‘The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness (Rom. 1:18). And the list of sins given in 2 Tim. 3:2–5 begins with people who are ‘lovers of themselves’, and ends by saying they are not ‘lovers of God’. In between come all the other vicious qualities. We do not have to deal with each of these sins individually to see that if a person is driven by self-love at the outset, then all the other sins follow quite naturally. For when self is on the throne of the personality, then love for God and other people is of little consequence. Thus the list describes not only the breakdown in morals, but also the breakdown in human relationships within the family (parents and children), and in anti-social behaviour (lacking self-control, brutal, haters of the good). In addition, the godless society is materialistic, and governed by the senses in hot pursuit of pleasure and prosperity (lovers of money and lovers of pleasure). The most shocking aspect of this picture Paul is describing is that these godless people are actually to be found within the visible church—‘having a form of godliness but denying its power’ (2 Tim. 3:5). When Paul speaks of ‘a form of godliness’, he means that it is possible to engage in the outward ritual of worship, in the hymns, the prayers and the liturgy, but know nothing of the inward power of the Holy Spirit. And without the reality of the presence and power of God, religion is an empty formality, and empty religion makes for empty souls of which we have more than enough in many churches today. These people who emerge in the church in every age are very active in promoting falsehood and error under the guise of the church’s message. But the distressing truth is that, even within the visible church itself, there are those in positions of leadership as ministers who are zealous in promoting a counterfeit faith. Opening up 2 Timothy.
Jannes and Jambres are not mentioned in Scripture, but according to Jewish tradition they were the magicians who opposed Moses with their counterfeit and magic. Warning Timothy, Paul refers to them as an illustration of those who distort God’s Word. (2 Timothy 3:8) Opening up 2 Timothy
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” (2 Timothy 3:1–5)
For more information about what the Bible says about our self image, self esteem and self love, please see the following articles:
How should a Christian view self-esteem?
The Biblical View of Self-Image
A Biblical View of Self-Esteem
Let me share what one of my commentaries says about the passage in 2 Timothy:
Here is a description of the moral deterioration that occurs in society when godlessness is its main feature. In Romans 1, Paul indicates that godlessness always precedes wickedness. ‘The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness (Rom. 1:18). And the list of sins given in 2 Tim. 3:2–5 begins with people who are ‘lovers of themselves’, and ends by saying they are not ‘lovers of God’. In between come all the other vicious qualities. We do not have to deal with each of these sins individually to see that if a person is driven by self-love at the outset, then all the other sins follow quite naturally. For when self is on the throne of the personality, then love for God and other people is of little consequence. Thus the list describes not only the breakdown in morals, but also the breakdown in human relationships within the family (parents and children), and in anti-social behaviour (lacking self-control, brutal, haters of the good). In addition, the godless society is materialistic, and governed by the senses in hot pursuit of pleasure and prosperity (lovers of money and lovers of pleasure). The most shocking aspect of this picture Paul is describing is that these godless people are actually to be found within the visible church—‘having a form of godliness but denying its power’ (2 Tim. 3:5). When Paul speaks of ‘a form of godliness’, he means that it is possible to engage in the outward ritual of worship, in the hymns, the prayers and the liturgy, but know nothing of the inward power of the Holy Spirit. And without the reality of the presence and power of God, religion is an empty formality, and empty religion makes for empty souls of which we have more than enough in many churches today. These people who emerge in the church in every age are very active in promoting falsehood and error under the guise of the church’s message. But the distressing truth is that, even within the visible church itself, there are those in positions of leadership as ministers who are zealous in promoting a counterfeit faith. Opening up 2 Timothy.
Jannes and Jambres are not mentioned in Scripture, but according to Jewish tradition they were the magicians who opposed Moses with their counterfeit and magic. Warning Timothy, Paul refers to them as an illustration of those who distort God’s Word. (2 Timothy 3:8) Opening up 2 Timothy
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” (2 Timothy 3:1–5)
For more information about what the Bible says about our self image, self esteem and self love, please see the following articles:
How should a Christian view self-esteem?
The Biblical View of Self-Image
A Biblical View of Self-Esteem
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