Equipped

Background Story: Scholars believe that Timothy was around 30 years old when Paul wrote to him the two letters. Like a father, Paul shares his heart and wisdom with Timothy on living a godly life while faced with persecution and deception.

Read 2 Timothy 3:12-4:8

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Big Idea: Stand against false doctrines by knowing the Word.

Today there are a lot of false versions of the gospel being preached. Ones that say that all ways lead to God or all “good” people go to heaven. Some that promise riches and financial blessings or never preach about sin or holiness. And the closer we get to Christ’s return, the more false doctrines and myths will be out there saying, “what their itching ears want to hear.” But the message of the gospel is not a changing truth that ebbs and flows with the times. It’s not a sitcom that gets a reboot with a more modern version. It is the living, breathing Word of God.

To guard against false doctrine, we must know the Word of God and the truth we hold to. The Apostle’s Creed was written in second century AD and is a statement of the Christian faith. Read it and check out the verses attached. Know what you believe!

“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, (Isaiah 44:6)
      Creator of heaven and earth. (Genesis 1:1)

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, (Luke 2:11, John 3:16, Romans 10:9-13)
      who was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35)
      and born of the virgin Mary. (Luke 1:26-27, Isaiah 7:13-14)
      He suffered under Pontius Pilate, (Luke 23:23-25)
      was crucified, died, and was buried; (John 19:20, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
      He descended to hell. (1 Peter 3:18, Ephesians 4:8-9)
      The third day He rose again from the dead. (Matthew 28:5-10, John 2:19, Acts 2:22-32)
      He ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9-11)
      and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. (Mark 16:19, Hebrews 1:3)
      From there He will come to judge the living and the dead. (2 Timothy 4:1, Revelation 19:11-16)

I believe in the Holy Spirit, (Genesis 1:2, John 16:13-15, Ephesians 1:13-14)
      the holy universal church, (1 Timothy 3:14-15, Romans 12:4-5)
      the communion of saints, (Hebrews 10:24-25)
      the forgiveness of sins, (Matthew 9:1-7, Hebrews 10:10-14)
      the resurrection of the body, (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)
      and the life everlasting. (John 10:27-28, Revelations 22:13-14, John 11:25-26)

Amen.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)

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