Sermon Tone Analysis

Perilous Times

We are not introducing perilous times but are investigating them today.

Perilous means: full of danger or risk; exposed to imminent risk of disaster or ruin.

So as we look at our passage today, we do not want to be light hearted about it.

It is a strong teaching, warning to Timothy and for the church.

We are half-way through 2Timothy, and now as we start into chapter 3 there is a strong emphasis on knowledge and responsibility.

Paul is giving some knowledge about end times, perilous times and the expectation, direction of what to do with the knowledge, you know, take responsibility for it.

So, in case you are wondering, when did these “last days” come or are they to come (2Tim3:1).

Last days came with coming of Jesus earthly ministry (Heb1:1-2)

Last days will be completed when He returns (2Pt3:3ff)

The mockers will come, mocking, mocking in own lust, discounting the promise of Jesus return and Jesus coming judgment.

In our passage this morning we will see the description of the perilous times, and the perilous men, next week we will look at what to do!

Though have to touch on it some today too.

Paul foretold of the coming apostasy through Luke and also directly to the church at Thesalonica (Act20:29-30; 2The2:1-3)

act20:29-30 “29 “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.”

And now look at

Paul foretold to Timothy (2Tim3:1-12) our passage this morning.

(Transition) This is a huge, deep section of scripture that meant something to Timothy and to those living in those days “last days” - “perilous times” that should mean something to us today too.

So here is the breakdown for this morning.

The coming of perilous times (2Tim3:1)

The nature of perilous times (2Tim3:2-5)

Perilous men to avoid (2Tim3:6-12)

The coming of perilous times

We have already defined perilous and the seriousness of it.

We have looked at when they were to come.

Now we will expound more on perilous times.

Perilous times will come in the “last days” 2Tim3:1

KJV, NKJV says Perilous; Terrible (NIV); Difficult (NLT, ESV, NASB); Dangerous (AMP, MSG); Hard (CSB) and grievous (ERV)

Notice it says “will” not “may” - now may we press on to the last days

Last days (Act2:16-17; 2Pt3:3; Heb1:1-2)

This phrase was spoken by Peter Act2:16-17 “16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: 17 ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams;”

Consider again 2Pt3:3 “3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,”

Also, also, mentioned before Heb1:1-2 “1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”

Similar usage; phraseology (1Cor10:11; 1Tim4:1; 1Jn2:18 )

End of Ages have come

ANd we mentioned 1Tim4:1 a little bit ago, you can go back and look

Then consider

Last days, end of ages, and here last hour.

(Transition) Since the cross of Christ we have been living “in the last days” so we should not be surprised by Paul, Peter writing of “perilous times”

The Nature of Perilous Times

From the description of the coming (when), to the description of the times (what), things we can, should know (2Tim3:2-5)

(Do not need to read the above scripture, just leave on the screen)

They will be lovers of self, lovers of money (v.2)

Notice that love, lovers is brought into it from the start, for these lovers of self, of money have lost their first love (ref.

Rev2:4), the love of God

The heart of every problem is a problem in the heart.

They will be boastful, arrogant, revilers (v.2) (ref: Rom1:25; Gen3:5)

If we become lovers of self, we are prideful, boastful and become arrogant and revile against the truth.

We love self and things more than we love God and others.

Having the truth and trading the truth, Paul said Rom1:25 “25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.

Amen.” - - - is that not what happen in the garden (think of Gen3:5)

They will be disobedient to parents(v.2)

This lie, this apostasy reaches into the heart of the family.

They will be ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable (unforgiving).

(vv.2-3) (ref: Eph6:2)

Children forget to be thankful for all a parent does and tries to teach them and they are disobedient and rebellious.

They become unholy in actions for they are to honor their mother and their father, for this was the first command with a promise (ref.

Eph6:2)

These are people who do not even try to be reconciled, to agree, they are unyielding and irreconcilable and must have their own way is the way Wiersbe puts it.

They will be gossips (slanderers), who lack self-control and are brutal (v.3)

They become slanders, gossips, false accusers and try to tear down the character, reputation and integrity of others.

Lack of self-control today is easy to see, “if it feels good do it!”

or “Do your own thing and enjoy it.”

The Lack of self-control can be manifested in other ways too, like being brutal, untamed, fierce.

People act out when they do not get their own way.

They will be haters of good.

(Ref: Isa5:20)

When they don’t get their own way they.

They stop honoring what is good, they despise good and honor what is evil (selfishness, self-centered actions) Isaiah says Is5:20 “20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

(Do not need to read the below scripture, just put on the screen and leave it there)

They will become treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure vs. lovers of God.

(v.4)

Reckless , rash, acting without careful thought, for this is a foolish endeavor

They claim a form of godliness, but deny it’s power (v.5)

These are people who put on a face of religion on the outside in word and actions, but are not true Christians by faith.

They are form without force, religion without reality (Brooks)

Here is one not on your outline but I think is another good example for us.

Men who are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness.

They are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God and violent

They are proud, boasters, inventors of evil things and disobedient to parents.

They are undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful.

And, finally, they approve of those who practice these things.

(Transition) these things, these hard things to look at and discuss were happening in Paul’s day; and are alive today and Paul gives some instructions on avoiding now.

Perilous men to avoid

We sing a song about the perilous times, but what about the perilous people that we should avoid.

Can we recognize them, can we

Well, OK, this section, this portion of the message will be about men to avoid, perilous men, and men that were unlike the perilous men.

Perilous men to avoid like Jannes and Jambres (v.8)

Why?

They make way into households and deceive (v.6)

Why?

They appeal to the lusts of the flesh (2Pt2:3, 18)

Look how Peter puts it

and then down in (v.18)

They exploit they entice, who those who are easily persuaded in these perilous times.

Why?

Why?

Because those listening are not learning the truth and arriving at true knowledge of the truth (2Tim4:3-4; Exo7:11, 22; 8:7, 18; 1Tim1:19-20; Mt10:26)

OK, let me expand a little on Jannes and Jambres, it says they opposed Moses, it is believed, tradition holds it that they were two of the magicians for Pharoah who resisted Moses and Aaron (you can look at Exo7:11, 22; 8:7, 18)

Those who resist the truth are of corrupt minds, rejected in regard to the truth.