In The Last Days

  1. INTRODUCTION:
    1. SCRIPTURE READING:
      II Tim. 3:1-5 = "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
    2. "THE LAST DAYS"
      1. This refers to the period of time that began with the teaching of Christ and is referred to as the Christian Era.
        Heb 1:1-2 = "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;"
      2. The last days will continue until the second coming of Christ.
        2 Peter 3:3-4 = "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."
        Jude 8 = "Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities."
      3. The last days will be "Grievous times" (ASV) or "Perilous times" (KJV):
        1. Critical.
        2. Times hard to endure.
      4. Paul was not a pessimist, but he spoke direct and painted a word picture of these times:
        1. He told things as he saw them by the revelation of God.
        2. He did not hesitate to present the unpleasant truth.
          Isa 30:10 = "Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:"
    3. THE STUDY BEFORE US FOR THE NEXT FEW MINUTES WILL CENTER ON:
      1. The cause of the grievous times which is sin.
      2. I call your attention to these specific which were specified by Paul without hesitation.
      3. These sins can be listed in six difference categories or six basic kinds of sins.
  2. DISCUSSION:
    1. CORRUPT LOVE:
      Comment: This is just the opposite of what Paul wrote in I Corinthians 13:4-7.
      1. "Lovers of there own selves" [v.2]
        1. Selfishness will be characteristic during these days.
        2. Selfishness is found as the root of the other sins.
      2. "Covetous" or "Lovers of money" [ASV] [v.2]
        1. This greed for wealth.
        2. This involves a person that dwells only on the accumulation of wealth.
      3. "Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God" [v.4]
        1. Love ways of sensual pleasures more than loving the ways of God.
        2. These are those that will deny manifesting love for God for the enjoying of a fleeing pleasure.
        3. Instead of putting the Lord first, they put worldly pleasures first.
          Matt 6:33 = "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
      4. "Without natural affection" [v.3]
        1. Natural, or normal affection is centered around parents and children.
        2. The love between parents and children is one of the strongest ties known in nature.
        3. The absence of this natural affection is found basically in a classification that we would call BRUTES -- Among which are beasts, that are harsh and severe in cruelty
    2. PRIDE:
      1. "Boasters" or "Boastful" [ASV] [v.2]
        1. These are those that are offensively exaggerating one's own importance.
        2. They seek to give honor to themselves that is not rightly theirs.
      2. "Proud" or "Haughty" [ASV] [v.2]
        1. These are those that feel they are above, or better than, others.
        2. This is a combination of hatred and pride.
        3. This is usually manifested by those who look upon others as below their social status or rank.
          Example: The parable of the Pharisee and the Publican in Luke 18:10-14.
      3. "High minded" or "Puffed up" [ASV] [v.4]
        1. An excessive opinion of : One's self; One's appearance; or One's ability
        2. These are individuals that have a distorted and magnified view of themselves.
        3. They are so full of themselves that they have difficulty in passing through a door way.
          Example: One that thought too highly of himself was Herod.
          Acts 12:21-23 = "And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost."
      4. "Heady" or "Headstrong" [ASV] [v.4]
        1. One that is determined to have his own way.
        2. This individual is often referred to as being obstinate, or unyielding.
        3. This is the individual that thinks he has the only solution to every problem.
    3. HATRED:
      1. "Blasphemers" or "Railers" [ASV] [v.2]
        1. These individuals are those that are usually scornful and insolent .
        2. They also are very often in a class of people that complain with anger about people and things.
        3. The Greek word can be used in two ways:
          1. One being scornful and insolent toward a fellow man.
          2. One being scornful and insolent toward God.
      2. "Disobedient to parents" [v.2]
        1. The Old Testament has many statements about the condemnation from God upon those disobedient to parents -- One is in Deuteronomy 21:18-20, where a disobedient and rebellious son was to be stoned.
        2. Yet there is a caution given in the New Testament, that obedience is to parents is a requirement of God, but obedience to God is to come first.
          Eph. 6:1 = "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right."
          Matt 10:37 = "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."
      3. "Unthankful" [v.2]
        1. This is being ungrateful toward others for kindness shown.
        2. Ingratitude should be listed as one of the worst crimes manifested by man.
        3. The absent of appreciation for service rendered.
      4. "Truce breakers" or "Implacable" [ASV] [v.3]
        1. Those that do not keep any agreement or promise that has been made.
        2. They do not intend to perform that which they said they would.
        3. They do not hold to any obligation they have entered into.
          Luke 6:46 = "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"
      5. "False accusers" or "Slanders" [ASV] [v.3]
        1. Words spoken with the intent to damage the reputation of another.
        2. These individuals are often referred to as Character Assassins.
      6. "Fierce" [v.3]
        1. These individuals take on the characteristics or brute beasts -- savage and cruel.
        2. They have no control over their angry passions and hatred and strike back with a vengeance to harm.
      7. "Traitors" [v.4]
        1. This is an individual that stands ready to betray a trust.
        2. An individual that can not be trusted to keep a personal trust committed to them.
        3. This is gossiping and spreading that which should never be revealed.
    4. INTERMPERANCE: This is "Incontinent" or "without self control" [ASV] [v.3]
      1. This is a person with unbridled appetites and passions that are out of control.
      2. The is the absence of control of two elements within man -- The good and the bad.
      3. When the good (the better) controls the bad (the worse) – one is said to be in control of his temperment.
    5. IRREVERENCE:
      1. "Unholy" [v.2]
        1. These have no respect for things that are holy.
        2. They have a complete absence of any consecration to God or that which is pure and good.
      2. "Despisers of those that are good" or "No lovers of good" [ASV] [v.3]
        1. They often scoff at the holy lives that are lived by others.
        2. They are hostile to any word or work that is good.
        3. They have no appreciation for anything that is wholesome and good.
    6. PRETENSE: --- "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:" [v.5]
      1. They have no desire to keep that which the Lord has said if it does not suit them.
      2. Those who are Christian in name only, but denounce the Lord and do harm to that for which He died.
      3. These are those that secretly put on a front of doing but only have intent on seeking to tear down.
  3. CONCLUSION:
    1. YOU CAN BE FREED FROM THESE SINS OF THE LAST DAYS!
    2. THIS FREEDOM IS POSSIBLE ONLY BY ABIDING IN FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S WORD.
      2 Tim 3:14-17 = "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
      John 12:48-50 = "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak."


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