2 Timothy 4:1-5
An Absence of Communication v.2
Luke 10:2 “And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
An Accumulation of Comfort vv.3-4
John 15:18-19 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
2 Timothy 3:1-5 “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”
Three Main Reasons the Truth is Offensive
- Truth is Exclusive and Absolute (John 14:6)
Some people are offended by truth because of its very nature— it is exclusive and it is absolute, not relative. The absolute nature of truth means that it does not depend on, nor is it changed by, people’s opinions. For example, if someone says, “There is no God,” that does not affect the existence of God.
- War Against God and Truth (Gen. 3:4 “But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.”
Another reason people are offended by the truth is because the Satan has waged a war against God and truth. He is the Father of lies.
- The Fallen Nature of Mankind (Romans 3:11 “no one understands; no one seeks for God.” Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”)
Another reason truth is often offensive to those who do not adhere to it is because people are selfish. We are flesh creatures who have a sin nature and live in a fallen world, and our flesh and sin nature combine to make us inherently selfish and self-centered.
An Adamant Desire to Fulfill the Great Commandment and Commission will Transform the World v.5
John 8:31-32 “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”