Lesson 5
The Foundation of Our Faith-The Books of I & II Timothy, Titus, and Philemon
Living in the Last Days
June 29, 2003

Focus Thought
The Bible gives us ample warning of the conditions of the last days. We
should reject the perverted pulpit and the ungodly lifestyles of this
generation.

Scripture Reference
Micah 7:1-18
Matthew 24:10-13
I Timothy 4:1-16
II Timothy 3:1-17

Expositional Passage
I Timothy 4:1-13
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall
depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of
devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot
iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath
created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the
truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be
received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a
good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of
good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto
godliness.
8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all
things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to
come.
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the
living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
11 These things command and teach.
12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in
word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Focus Verse
I Timothy 4:16
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in
doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

LESSON OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
I. SIGNS OF THE LAST DAYS
 A. The Spiritual Conflict
 B. The Great Apostasy
 C. The Corrupt Generation
II. REMINDERS OF NEW TESTAMENT MINISTRY
 A. Remembering Apostolic Teaching
 B. Rejecting Erroneous Teaching
III. INVESTMENTS FOR THE FUTURE
 A. The Benefits of Exercise
 B. Living an Exemplary Life
 C. A Person and His Doctrine
CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION
      As time passes and we become further removed in time from the historic
beginning of the apostolic church, the assault upon its foundational truths
and principles becomes more intense. In Paul's letter to Timothy, he warned
against false teachers and false doctrines that would inevitably threaten
the very character and nature of the apostolic church.
      Satan's assault on the church of this present day is his final attempt
to weaken and immobilize it, and prevent it from accomplishing its mission
of world evangelism. If we are to take a stand against false doctrine and
false teachers, we first must come to know and cherish the apostolic
doctrines and truths as they are set forth in the Word of God.
As we near the end of the age and the culmination of the battle between good
and evil, false prophets and false teaching will abound more and more.
Knowledge shall increase, yet people will continue in error and fulfill the
Scripture: "Ever learning, and never able to come to a knowledge of the
truth" (II Timothy 3:7).
      Although the truth of God's Word will shine brighter as we near the
dawning of a new day, gross darkness shall cover the people who choose to
walk in iniquity. (See John 3:19-20.)

I. SIGNS OF THE LAST DAYS
A. The Spiritual Conflict
      In an attempt to confuse and delude the church, Satan has crafted a
world view that seeks to obscure the clear distinctions that separate right
from wrong and good from evil. Today we live in a world culture that
acknowledges no moral or spiritual absolutes. Rather, society lives within
the gray shadows of relativism. Satan knows that if he can blur the
distinctions between holiness and unrighteousness-between right and wrong-it
will become easier to cause God's people to stray from the path of
righteousness and truth.
      "The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall
depart from the faith" (I Timothy 4:1).
      The word "expressly" in I Timothy 4:1 translates from the Greek word
rhetos, which means "clearly" or "distinctly." The voice of the Spirit, the
Word of God, speaks clearly and distinctly lest there should be confusion
and misunderstanding with regard to spiritual conditions in the latter days.
The Word of God warns us that sin will abound in the latter times and that
it will separate mankind from God further than ever before. Moreover, the
war for the souls of mankind will increase as every facet of man's existence
comes under strong attack.
      Times like these compel us to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ
clearly and distinctly so that as many as possible might come to a fuller
understanding and reception of God's grace. The message of repentance of
sins, water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,
and receiving the Holy Ghost is more important than ever before! Jesus
stated emphatically, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born
of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John
3:5).
      The term "in the latter times" and its equivalent "in the last days"
refer to the period of time immediately preceding the millennial reign of
Christ. It is an unspecified period of time closely associated with the
rapture of the church and the second advent of Christ.
      Joel 2 clearly points to a future fulfillment "in the last days" (Acts
2:17). This outpouring of the Spirit will follow a time of national
repentance upon the part of Israel just prior to Israel's complete
regathering and restoration. Israel will be exhorted by the sound of the
trumpet in Zion to repent with fasting, weeping, and mourning for "the day
of the Lord" will be near (Joel 2:1).
      To further illustrate the primary fulfillment of this event in the
last days, Joel continued, "And also upon the servants and upon the
handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders
in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The
sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great
and the terrible day of the Lord come. . . . For, behold, in those days, and
in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
I will also gather all nations" (Joel 2:29-31; 3:1-2).
      These events that shall follow the outpouring of the Holy Ghost "in
the last days" immediately precede "the day of the Lord" and the outpouring
of God's wrath. Therefore, as we see the spiritual conditions of "the last
days" deteriorating, we should strive to abstain from the ungodly lifestyles
and false doctrines of this present age that we might attain unto the
righteousness of the fullness of Christ.

B. The Great Apostasy
      Apostasy, or departure from the faith, translates from the Greek word
aphistemi and indicates an instigation to revolt or remove oneself from
apostolic doctrine and principles. Similarly, Israel will abandon the
promises that God gave to Abraham to possess the land of Palestine by
compromising its inheritance and making peace with the Antichrist.
      A similar Greek word, apostasia, occurs in II Thessalonians 2:3 and is
translated "falling away." It carries the meaning of defecting from or
forsaking the truth. As we draw nearer to the coming of Jesus Christ, many
who once professed apostolic truth will compromise their faith in order to
be at peace with the world. Declining moral and spiritual values will so
engulf these compromisers of the faith that they will become
indistinguishable from the world.
      A subtle spirit will seduce those who compromise truth, and it will
cause them to accept clever imitations of the master deceiver, Satan
himself. These deceptions and false doctrines will be disguised in language
and appearance that will appeal to those who seek self-justification. But we
should beware! (See I John 4:1-5.)
      The term "seducing spirits" translates from the Greek word planos,
which implies going astray or wandering out of the way; it is to be erratic
or to mislead as an imposter. Even now there are many false prophets and
false teachers who lead many astray by imitating the work and ministry of
the Holy Spirit while abandoning the admonition to walk before God in
holiness of mind and body.

C. The Corrupt Generation
      The unrighteous living of this generation is predicated upon pleasure.
The prevailing maxim of this age is "if it feels good, do it." Nothing is
considered bad that satisfies the appetite of the flesh. But the Scriptures
declare that in the last days individuals would love pleasure more than God
(II Timothy 3:1-4). How easy it is for them to rationalize their sins,
believing that the end justifies the means.
      Iniquity and deceit abound in every area of life as a testimony that
we are living in the last days. Isaiah's admonition to Israel is as relevant
in our day as it was then. "Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of
vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope: that say, Let him make speed,
and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One
of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it! Woe unto them that call
evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for
darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah
5:18-20).
      The pervasive spirit of sin has possibly been felt most fervently in
its assault upon family values. More than one-half of those who are
presently married have also been divorced, ranking the United States twelfth
among the nations in percentage of marriages ending in divorce. The nuclear
family consisting of father, mother, and children has become an aberration
rather than the norm. Now it is more often parent, step-parent, children,
and step-children; single parent and children; or live-in parent, parent,
and children.
      This generation has been victimized by the doctrines of easy-believism
and once saved always saved. Preachers of perverted pulpits preach a message
that suggests that a person can be saved by only a simple confession of
faith. This "gospel" of easy-believism requires no repentance and makes
water baptism an unnecessary option to be administered at the convenience of
the "believer."
      There is no record in the New Testament where anyone "accepted the
Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior" by a mere profession of faith.
But in all instances where men and women accepted the gospel, their response
of faith prompted them to repent of their sins and be baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he
that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16).
      Luke testified of the Samaritan believers, "But when they believed
Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of
Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. . . . Now when the
apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of
God, they sent unto them Peter and John: who when they were come down,
prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was
fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy
 Ghost" (Acts 8:12, 14-17).
      We can be saved only through the transforming power of the Holy
Spirit; Jesus alone can save us from our sins. (See Acts 5:31-32.)
      Others teach that it is impossible to fall from grace once a person
has become a believer, but the Bible teaches that we deny the faith when we
attempt to justify ourselves by the law. "Christ is become of no effect unto
you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace"
(Galatians 5:4). If we are saved by grace, we must walk in grace by
fulfilling the will of God. Jesus illustrated this principle in the parable
of the unmerciful servant who, though he had been forgiven an enormous debt,
refused to forgive his fellow servant the small debt he was due. As a result
he was cast into prison and delivered unto the tormenters.

II. REMINDERS OF NEW TESTAMENT MINISTRY
A. Remembering Apostolic Teaching
      The early church was built upon faith in God and His Word. Our walk
with God must not be dependent upon outward circumstances but upon an
unwavering faith in the promises of God. Through faith we have entered into
the kingdom of God, for we are saved by faith in His death, burial, and
resurrection.
      God's promises are true, and we will inherit eternal life if we hold
fast to His Word. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word
of God" (Romans 10:17). May the Word of God grow more precious to our hearts
as we see the day appearing for our departure.
      The true doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ will nourish and
strengthen the inner man in order to maintain fellowship with God. To love
sound doctrine is to love God's Word. As we grow in the knowledge of His
Word, we come to know God in His essence. As we walk in His Word, we come to
know God in relationship. It is impossible to love God and despise His Word,
for the Word of God reveals the very nature of God.
      Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments. . . . He that hath
my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that
loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will
manifest myself to him. . . . He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings"
(John 14:15, 21, 24).
      God is made manifest by His Word. "In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning
with God. . . . And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of
grace and truth" (John 1:1-2, 14). Let us, therefore, continue in the
doctrine of the apostles that we might be strengthened in the spirit of His
might.

B. Rejecting Erroneous Teaching
      God's Word admonishes us not to keep company with those who oppose
sound doctrine. Any teaching that is not supported by Scripture is false
doctrine, but we should especially reject any teaching that denies the
principles of the doctrine of Christ. The foundational truths of the
doctrine of Christ include 1. repentance from dead works, 2. faith toward
God, 3. the doctrine of baptisms (water and Spirit), 4. the laying on of
hands, 5. the resurrection of the dead (including the Rapture), and of o
eternal judgment (in hell, the lake of fire) (Hebrews 6:1-2).
      These basic and fundamental truths that encompass the necessity of the
new birth are fixed, inviolable, irrescindable, and nonnegotiable. Some
teachings may not oppose the doctrine of Christ, but they may be
unprofitable. These teachings are "profane and vain babblings" that serve no
purpose in the furtherance of the kingdom of God (I Timothy 6:20). The Greek
word kenophonia, translated "babblings," means a fruitless discussion or
communication to no purpose. "Old wives' fables" evidently referred to
Jewish traditions passed down from generation to generation that, when
examined by the light of Scripture, were found to be in error.
      Let us reject all false doctrine that opposes true biblical holiness
while striving to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3:18). All doctrine is subject to the light
of the ever-present, never-changing Word of God.

III. INVESTMENTS FOR THE FUTURE
A. The Benefits of Exercise
      Bodily exercise strengthens the physical body and rejuvenates the
mind, but it accomplishes very little in building spiritual strength.
Although physical or bodily exercise is necessary and vital to the physical
well-being of both men and women, we must not neglect spiritual exercise.
Eating healthful food and maintaining a healthful regimen of physical
exercise help to nurture a healthy body's resistant to sickness and disease.
      As the creation of God and the image of the heavenly Father, we should
not defile or neglect that which God has chosen to be the temple of the Holy
Ghost. Nevertheless, no matter how perfect our physique or how virile and
strong our physical bodies, it is of little profit if we neglect the
exercise of our spiritual man. Therefore, since physical exercise is
profitable to the body, how much more important it is to exercise ourselves
in the things of the Spirit!
      We are to focus our time and energy on things that promote godliness.
Exercising ourselves in prayer and the study of God's Word enables us to
stand strong against the forces of evil. Just as diet and exercise are
important and vital to our physical well-being, we need the nourishment and
strength that come from the Scriptures. "It is written, Man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God"
(Matthew 4:4). Meditation on God's Word gives us faith and confidence to
face each obstacle with an assurance of God's power and love. By exercising
our spiritual man in the things of the Spirit, we experience an abundance of
God's blessings in this present world and eternal life in the world to come.
      We rejoice in the blessings of the Spirit, but these blessings do not
come without labor. No athlete ever achieved greatness by being slothful in
his physical preparation. Rigorous exercise, which often pushes the athlete
to his or her physical limits, precedes great achievement. Likewise, if we
are to strive to attain unto the stature of Christ, we must be willing to
deny the flesh by keeping our body under subjection to the mind and will of
the Spirit.
      Living the Christian life and striving for godliness is an exercise
that tests the stamina and endurance of every believer. (See I Corinthians
9:24-27.)

B. Living an Exemplary Life
      We have only one life to live, so we must live it to the glory of God.
Life is too precious to squander for the momentary pleasures of sin. Our
lives should reflect the nature of God through the presence of the Holy
Ghost. When we are born again of the water and the Spirit, our lives begin a
transformation that enables us to be called the sons of God. By virtue of
the indwelling Spirit of Christ within us, we ought to let our lives be
seasoned with the grace of God and perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord.
Since God is love, we ought also to love one another. We are to love our
enemies and pray for those who despitefully use us (Matthew 5:44).
      As disciples of Christ we should strive for a spirit of meekness,
trusting not in the things of the flesh but walking in faith, knowing that
the promises of God are sure and steadfast. Let us also live our lives above
reproach in the fear of God and in the purity of His holiness.
      We ought to give ourselves to the reading of God's Word. By studying
His Word and applying it to our lives, we grow in grace and in knowledge.
The Bible exhorts, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Timothy
2:15). Reading God's Word requires discipline and the illumination of the
Holy Ghost.
      The exhortation of God's Word through preaching is of utmost
importance to every Christian. Even though we are exhorted to give
attendance unto reading, no amount of independent study is sufficient within
itself. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;
but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. . . . For after that in
the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the
foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (I Corinthians 1:18,
21).
      "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the
saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of
 Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-12).
      God has placed these various ministries within the church that we
might grow in grace and knowledge. Thus through reading the Scriptures,
exhortation of God's Word, and application of biblical doctrine we may
become complete in Christ.
      If we are filled with the Holy Spirit, let us also walk according to
the Spirit. As we walk in His Spirit we are able to overcome the temptations
of the flesh. The Holy Ghost is able to keep us unto the day of redemption
if we devote ourselves wholly unto the Lord.
      "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt
love thy neighbor as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take
heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the
Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:14-16).
If we are filled with the Spirit, we should desire to please God, laying
aside everything that might hinder our relationship with Him.

C. A Person and His Doctrine
      We must be on constant guard against false doctrine that denies the
foundational truths of the Bible. God's Word provides the pattern for our
daily lives and the object of our faith. The Scriptures came to us through
holy men of God as the Spirit moved upon them. It contains the whole counsel
of God and the basis for all doctrine and instruction in righteousness.
      We must beware of false teachers who would subvert the truth of the
Bible in order to promote the vain philosophies of men. The Bible is the
infallible Word of God. We must not add to or take away from God's Word lest
we bring damnation upon our souls. (See II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter
1:19-21.)
      As we draw nearer to the coming of the Lord, false teachers and false
doctrines will multiply against the true doctrine of the church. Jesus
warned His disciples, "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive
many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this
gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto
all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matthew 24:11-14).
      We should take heed unto ourselves and to our doctrine to make our
salvation in Christ sure. It is not enough to believe in Christ at our
initial conversion in order to be saved, but we must continue in the
doctrine of Christ by walking in His Spirit and commandments. Our salvation,
like Timothy's, is contingent upon our continuance in the truth.
      False doctrine, like false profession, will damn the soul and allow
sin to enter into one's life. If we are to inherit eternal life, we must be
begotten by His Word. To deny God's Word is to deny God. God's Word is the
seed by which we are born into the family of God. (See I Peter 1:22-23.)
      Furthermore, by teaching doctrine unto others, Timothy would save
others who would be instructed thereby. Doctrine is not a negative word to
be avoided in polite conversation, but doctrinal teaching and preaching are
essential to the salvation of a lost world. Preaching that avoids the clear
teaching of Scripture is not preaching at all. As we proclaim the apostles'
doctrine of repentance, water baptism in Jesus' name, the infilling of the
Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, and walking in
faith and holiness, we hasten the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ for His
bride.

CONCLUSION
      If we are to escape the delusions and ungodly lifestyles of the last
days, we must renew our love and appreciation for the truth. The surest way
to recognize the counterfeit doctrines of evil seducers is to familiarize
ourselves with the apostolic doctrines of the New Testament church. By
following after the apostles' doctrine, we can avoid the perilous paths of
compromise and human reasoning that pervert the gospel of Jesus Christ.
      It is not enough to know the truth, but we must cling to it with our
whole heart: "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now
letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that
Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his
mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: even him, whose
coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying
wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved"
(II Thessalonians 2:7-10).

REFLECTIONS
. Why is biblical doctrine important to the church today? Discuss.
. What is the sole benchmark by which all doctrine is judged? Discuss.
. Discuss what should be the believer's response to erroneous doctrine.
. What are some of the signs that indicate these are the last days? Discuss.
. What is apostasy? Discuss.

Open your ears to God before you open your mouth to others.
Isaiah 50:4
The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue
of the learned, that I should know how to
speak a word in season to him that is weary:
he wakeneth morning by
morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
YBIC, THOMAS AND YSIC, LINDA.
pofm@...