Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Titus 2:1-8.

 

“¹  But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.  ² Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.

 

³ Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, ⁴ so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵ to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

 

⁶ Likewise urge the young men to be sensible;  ⁷ in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, ⁸ sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.”  Titus 2:1-8.

 

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Purity in doctrine is not an excuse for us to be weird.  We must be sound in doctrine and be sensible and good.

We are not to be “nutty professors” of theology.  Possessing the right doctrine is not an excuse for us to be eccentric and offensive.  We should not be “hot and cold”.  Rather, we should be “temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance”.  Verse 2.

Good practical behavior is emphasized in today’s Scripture.  We are to love our family and be workers at home.  We are to be kind and teach what is good.  We should not be “malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine”.  Verses 3 and 4. 

In one sense, there does not need to be a balance in the sense that there is opposing forces between being sound in doctrine and being sensible and good that need to be balanced.  They are not opposing forces.  Being truly sound in doctrine will show itself to be sensible and good.  “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.  And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”  James 3:17-18. 

In another sense, there does need to be balance in the sense that there is only so much we can do.  We don’t have time to do everything, but we should prioritize and try to do as much as we can.  As a metaphor, we don’t rest on our natural beauty (doctrine).  We also try to be as attractive as we can be in additional different ways.  We are well-groomed.  We are well-dressed.  We have good manners.  But, so to speak, we don’t spend the whole day in the beauty parlor.  We don’t spend the whole day reading the Bible.  We also do a good job at the office.  We also take good care of our family at home.  We also do good deeds.  

In summary, “in all things”, we are sound and sensible:  “so that the word of God will not be dishonored” (verse 5) and “so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.” (verse 8). 

Today’s devotion comes from Titus 1:10-16.

 

“For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.  One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “ Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”  This testimony is true.  For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.   To the pure, all things are pure;  but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.  They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.”  Titus 1:10-16.

 

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We live in an day and age of tolerance.  But, there is no tolerance in today’s Scripture.  “For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teachfor the sake of sordid gain.”  Verses 10 and 11.

 

We need strong elders “holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”  Titus 1:9.

 

“For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers … (who) profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.”  Verses 10 and 16. 

 

The church needs to be protected from them.  These rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers do not deserve protection by attitudes and policies of tolerance, “because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.”  Verse 11.

 

“And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”  …  Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”  Matthew 16:6 and 12.

 

Let us remember Paul’s charge in the last chapter.  “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:  preach the word;  be ready in season and out of season;  reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;  but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.  But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”  2 Timothy 4:1-5. 

 

May we be found faithful.  “‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false;  and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary.”  Revelations 2:2-3. 

 

 

Today’s devotion comes from Titus 1:5-9.

 

“For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.  For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”  Titus 1:5-9.

 

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It is humbling to read these qualifications to be an elder.  There are so many qualifications in the category of what an elder should not be, and there are so many qualifications in the category of what an elder should be.  And, each qualification is tough to fulfill.  

 

But, there is hope!  God will provide.  

 

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.  There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.  But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”  1 Corinthians 12:4-7. 

 

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”  Ephesians 4:11-13. 

 

Therefore, let us be diligent to employ those gifts in serving one another.  “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”  1 Peter 4:10.        

 

As one example, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15.   

 

As another example, “Be hospitable to one another without complaint.”  1 Peter 4:9.     

 

As a final example, “Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God;  whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies;  so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen.”  1 Peter 4:11.

Today’s devotion comes from Titus 1:1-4.

 

“Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, but at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior,

 

To Titus, my true child in a common faith:  Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.”  Titus 1:1-4. 

 

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We know some of the things that Paul did.

What have we done “for the faith of those chosen of God”?

What have we done for their “knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness”?

What have we done “in the hope of eternal life”?

Hopefully, these questions turn us to God and that we seek to discover our spiritual gifts and to discover what work God is doing in our own lives for these things.  

Hopefully, we then kindle afresh the gifts of God within us and walk in the good works that God prepared for us to do “for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, in the hope of eternal life”.    

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

“For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.  Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,”  2 Timothy 1:6-9.

Like Paul, we do and “endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen”.

 

In conclusion, may this following blessing at the conclusion of today’s Scripture, like all blessings, cause us as needy children to raise our arms and open our hands to receive God’s blessings for our own sakes and for the sakes of those “chosen of God” to whom we minister.

                               

To all true children in a common faith:  “Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Timothy 4:16-22.

 

“¹⁶ At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me;  may it not be counted against them.  ¹⁷ But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear;  and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth.  ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom;  to Him be the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

 

¹⁹ Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.  ²⁰  Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus.  ²¹ Make every effort to come before winter.  Eubulus greets you, also Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren.

 

²²  The Lord be with your spirit.  Grace be with you.”  2 Timothy 4:16-22.

 

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“the Lord stood with me and strengthened me”.  “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom”.  The Lord be with your spirit.  Grace be with you.”  The focus of today’s Scripture is on the Lord and what He has done and will do.

                                     

Reformed Doctrine also focuses on the Lord and what He has done and will do.  The Reformed Doctrine of Salvation is “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, which focuses on what God has done and will do:  “Unconditional Election”, “Limited Atonement”, “Irresistible Grace”, and “Preservation of the Saints” (the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”).  Oh, and man contributed “Total Depravity”.  Because of man’s “Total Depravity” (that is, man is dead in sin, hostile to God, and ensnared to the devil), man is totally dependent on God to do everything.

                                 

“16  And He (the Lord) saw that there was no man,
And was astonished that there was no one to intercede;
Then His own arm brought salvation to Him,
And His righteousness upheld Him.
17  He put on righteousness like a breastplate,
And a helmet of salvation on His head;
And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing
And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle.
18  According to their deeds, so He will repay,
Wrath to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies;
To the coastlands He will make recompense.
19  So they will fear the name of the Lord from the west
And His glory from the rising of the sun,
For He will come like a rushing stream
Which the wind of the Lord drives.
20  “A Redeemer will come to Zion,
And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” declares the Lord.”  

Isaiah 59:16-20.

                                    

1 Corinthians 15:50-53 pits it a different way.  “Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;  nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.  Behold, I tell you a mystery;  we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet;  for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.  For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.”  Man cannot put on the imperishable by himself.  Man is totally dependent on God to put the imperishable on man.

                                 

And, who can find their own way to heaven?  Can man somehow pick himself up by his bootstraps and lift himself to heaven?  No!  But, even hypothetically if man could do so. where is heaven among the clouds?  Man is totally dependent on God to bring man to God’s heavenly kingdom.

                                  

In summary, we are dead in sin.  We are perishable.  We have no clue where heaven is.  We are totally dependent on God to bring us safely to His heavenly kingdom.  It is what Scripture states.  It is what Reformed teaches.  Through God’s grace, it makes sense to us, we believe it, and we rejoice.  “For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.”  Psalm 92:4

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Timothy 4:9-15.

 

“Make every effort to come to me soon;  for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica;  Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.  Only Luke is with me.  Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.  But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.  When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.    Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm;  the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.  Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching.”  2 Timothy 4:9-15.

 

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Yesterday, we learned about the Lord as “the righteous Judge”, Who will award the crown of righteousness “to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing”.  2 Timothy 4:8.  Today, we learn about the Lord as “the righteous Judge” Who “will repay him according to his deeds”.  In other words, a righteous judge not only rewards the righteous;  a righteous judge punishes the wicked.

 

What would we think of a judge who only rewarded the righteous and did not justly punish the wicked?  We would quickly throw him or her out of office.  If justice is so important to us for our earthly welfare, how much more important should justice be for our spiritual welfare!

 

But more importantly, Scripture is filled with descriptions of the Lord, as a Righteous Judge Who punishes the wicked.  Click here: BibleGateway.com – Keyword Search: punish  

 

Here are a few Scriptures.   

 

Proverbs 10:16
“The wages of the righteous is life, The income of the wicked, punishment.”

 

Isaiah 13:11
“Thus I will punish the world for its evil And the wicked for their iniquity;  I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud And abase the haughtiness of the ruthless.”

 

Psalm 81:15
“Those who hate the LORD would pretend obedience to Him, And their time of punishment would be forever.”

 

Proverbs 15:10
“Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way;  He who hates reproof will die.”

 

Isaiah 26:21
“For behold, the LORD is about to come out from His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity;  And the earth will reveal her bloodshed And will no longer cover her slain.”

 

Matthew 10:28
“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul;  but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

 

Matthew 23:33
“You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?”

                                      

“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;  and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;  and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter;  and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority.”  2 Peter 2:4-10.

 

 

 

“Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

                        

“The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance;
He will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
And men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
Surely there is a God who judges on earth!”  Psalm 58:10-11.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Timothy 4:6-8.

 

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;  in the future there is laid up 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 loved His appearing.”  2 Timothy 4:6-8.

 

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I confess that as I began preparation for this devotion, I first focused on the phrase:  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith”.  Pride started to swell up in me.  But, then I came to my senses.  I have not yet fought the good fight.  I have not yet finished the course.  I have not yet kept the faith.  I have not yet been poured out as a drink offering.  The time of my departure has not yet come. 

 

Do I really even love His appearing?  I had not even found Jesus in today’s Scripture when I just about completed today’s devotion. 

 

But, through grace, my Lord gently turned my head toward Himself.  I thought:  “If I love His appearing, then I should find His appearing.  Where is Jesus in today’s Scripture?

 

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Timothy 4:1-5.

 

“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:  preach the word;  be ready in season and out of season;  reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;  but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.  But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”  2 Timothy 4:1-5.

 

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There are those who “will not endure sound doctrine” and who turn aside.  They may distract us away from our ministry.  They may cause us to be discouraged and to delay our ministry.  But, Paul solemnly charges us in today’s Scripture:  “preach the word;  be ready in season and out of season;  reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction“.

 

This solemn charge follows yesterday’s Scripture:  “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17.  Although we cannot sometimes see the fruit of our labors, we must meditate on verses like 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and trust the power of God’s word to accomplish God’s purpose.  

 

Isaiah 55:11
“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;  It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”

 

And, we also need to be prepared for persecutions and sufferings (2 Timothy 3:11-12), beyond just being prepared for those who “will not endure sound doctrine” and who turn aside, Paul continues to solemnly charge us:  “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

 

Yes, these are commands from God.

 

Yes, this a commission from God:  “an authorization or command to act in a prescribed manner or to perform prescribed acts : charge” –  Click here: Commission – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

 

 

This is also a commitment from God from beginning to end.    

 

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.

 

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

 

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6. 

 

So, yes, we are under an Order.  “And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.”  Acts 10:42.

 

But, God fulfills all of His commitment and purpose.

 

“9  Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10  Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11  Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken;  truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.”  Isaiah 46:9-11.

 

Matthew 24:14
“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Timothy 3:10-17.

 

“¹⁰ Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, ¹¹ persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra;  what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!  ¹² Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.  ¹³ But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  ¹⁶  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:10-17.

 

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“It is a jungle out there!”  Paul knew it:  “persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra;  what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!   Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”  Verses 11 and 12.  Timothy also knew it.  He “followed” or kept track of Paul’s experiences.  Verse 10.

 

We can’t go out into the jungle with “Polo” shirts, cacti pants, and “Sperry” dock shoes.  We need to go out into the jungle with the whole armor of God.  “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”  Ephesians 6:10-13.

 

In other words, we can’t go into the jungle with only the Tampa Bay Times tucked under our arm, a Reader’s Digest in our hand, and love letters from our family in our briefcase.  We need the “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”.  Ephesians 6:17.

 

Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

 

I have nothing against Tampa Bay Times, Reader’s Digest, and love letters from our family.  I read them.  But, we need to rely on the word of God.  We can hold loosely to man’s words.  But, we need to grip tightly “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”.  We can watch TV at home in our pajamas sitting on our sofa.  But, we need to go outside into the jungle fully dressed in the armor of God.

 

Jeremiah 23:28-29 illustrates this distinction:  “The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth.  What does straw have in common with grain?” declares the Lord.  “Is not My word like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?”  

                                  

“7  The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8  The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9  The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
10  They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11  Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.”  Psalm 19:7-11.

                               

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  Verses 16 and 17.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Timothy 3:1-9.

 

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.   For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power;  Avoid such men as these.  For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.  But they will not make further progress;  for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.”  2 Timothy 3:1-9.

 

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“… Avoid such men as these” ungodly men.  Verse 5.

 

1 Corinthians 15:33
“Do not be deceived:  “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

 

Psalm 1:1
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

 

“But they will not make further progress;  for their folly will be obvious to all …”  Verse 9.

 

 

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked;  for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”  Galatians 6:7-8.

 

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,”  Romans 1:18. 

 

“And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil;  full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice;  they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;  and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.”  Romans 1:28-32.

 

“For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,  in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”  2 Thessalonians 2:11-12.

 

 

“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom;  to Him be the glory forever and ever.  Amen.”  2 Timothy 4:18.

 

“and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority.”  2 Peter 2:7-10.

 

                                        

“1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2  I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!”
3  For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper
And from the deadly pestilence.
4  He will cover you with His pinions,
And under His wings you may seek refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.
5  You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
Or of the arrow that flies by day;
6  Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.
7  A thousand may fall at your side
And ten thousand at your right hand,
But it shall not approach you.
8  You will only look on with your eyes
And see the recompense of the wicked.
9  For you have made the Lord, my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place.
10  No evil will befall you,
Nor will any plague come near your tent.
11  For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
To guard you in all your ways.
12  They will bear you up in their hands,
That you do not strike your foot against a stone.
13  You will tread upon the lion and cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.
14  “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
15  “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16  “With a long life I will satisfy him
And let him see My salvation.”  Psalm Chapter 91.