In this passage of Scripture, we find the Apostle Paul penning his thoughts in a highly reflective state of mind. As he nears the finish line of his ministry, matters of time seem to be at the forefront of his thinking. The past, present, and future elements of life are condensed into three picturesque verses. In the past, churches have been planted, leaders have been trained, sufferings have been endured, and imprisonments have been experienced. Through it all, Christ was glorified.

In the present, Paul describes himself as being poured out as a drink offering. As he peers into the future, he states the time of my departure has come. He speaks of the crown of righteousness which the Lord will award him on that Day. He is conscious that he is nearing the finish line of the race set before him. Paul is determined to honor his Lord and end well. May this be the goal of our lives as well.

In our passage today, the faithful Bible teacher is commissioned: “tell us what God has to say,” or, “preach the Word of God.” It’s crucial that the whole church listen to what Paul says to Timothy here because it outlines the measure of faithfulness for every pastor/teacher at all times.

Luke 23:44-49 offers us perspective regarding the final three hours of Christ’s experience on the cross.  Just before darkness descended upon the land, Jesus found strength to assure a repentant criminal on an adjacent cross with the words Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise (23:43).    Furthermore, John describes our Lord’s provision for his mother by arranging for John to offer her care and support (John 19:26-27).

As our perfect substitute, we recognize that Jesus did not die in sin, but rather for our sins. Christ’s finished work on the cross means that nothing can be added to nor substituted from what our Savior secured. As the Apostle John noted, Jesus said It is finished, then bowed his head and gave up his spirit  (John 19:30). As we prepare our hearts for receiving the communion elements, reflect upon the significance of Christ’s finished work.

As the Apostle Paul passes on the baton of pastoral responsibility to the next generation of leadership, he reminds Timothy of what is changeless in changing times.  Wisely, the Apostle Paul draws Timothy’s attention to the Word of God.  In 3:16, Paul begins to  develop the classic statement regarding the inspiration of Scripture with the words All Scripture is breathed out by God. At this point in time, the Scriptures pertained to the Older Testament, with Paul emphasizing that they have their origin in God.

We will be examining the purposes of the Scriptures in this passage.  Note that they are profitable. Each purpose described in this passage is prefaced by the word for. We’ll observe that they are profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. The intended result of investing time studying God’s Word is that we will be complete, equipped for every good work. This morning let’s study God’s Word together, as we continue in our worship of him.

In 2 Timothy, Paul emphasizes God’s sovereignty: he saves the elect (2:10), he knows those who genuinely belong to him (2:19), he ‘may grant’ repentance to opponents (2:25-26), and, in all their rebellion, it is certain that false teachers ‘will not get very far’ (3:9).

In our study today (3:10-13), we see a description of a godly life complete with content, tripping hazards, and ongoing opposition. Note that Paul never asks the “why” question about godly suffering. Instead, he underscores the endurance and power that accompanies maturing godliness, and the certainty that, under God’s gracious sovereignty, “the Lord rescues” the godly from every persecution (3:11).

As we look at Mark 10:13-22 today, we discover that Jesus addresses the question about who can enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

He explains that only those who recognize their weakness and helplessness and submit fully to the God of Heaven will enter.

In our opening verse, Paul wrote But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty (3:1). What does Paul mean by the phrase in the last days? He is referring to the period of time that began with the coming of Christ and will continue until the day of Christ’s return. As Hebrews 1:1-2 reminds us, this is a period of time established by God for the fulfillment of his plan for his people.

A major distinctive of the last days is the presence of false teachers. At least 18 different characteristics are used by Paul to describe these people in the verses we are considering. Critical to Paul’s portrayal of them are the words having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power (3:5). Paul’s counsel to Timothy is to avoid such people. As a congregation committed to the truth of God’s Word, let’s examine these verses carefully, and apply these thoughts to the times in which we live.

In every generation, the church will face false teachers who try to twist and distort what God has said clearly. To do this, these false teachers often generalize on a theme (in our passage, it’s the nature of the resurrection, v.18) and then run down a path of human speculation about that theme. The most dangerous false teachers arise from within the church (1 John 2:18-19; 2 Peter 2:1; Numbers 16; Galatians 1:6-10).

The question in this passage (2:14-26) is, “How shall the Church deal with false teachers?” As Paul encourages Timothy, the pastor at Ephesus, he speaks to all Christians everywhere about the work, the integrity, and the self-control that is required to deal with false teachers.

God is building his covenant people on the firm foundation of his inspired, preserved and infallible Word. In every generation there will be unique challenges to God’s definition of sanctification and holiness (how shall we live?) and the gospel (what is the ‘good news’?) and Christian doctrine. In every generation, God's people cling to his Word.

As we experience questions, doubts and even challenges to God’s Word and authority, it is incumbent upon us to respond with wisdom. In our passage today, Paul instructs Timothy that there is a time to “remind” and to “charge,” but there is also a time to “avoid” the trendy topics.

In Ephesians 4-6, Paul outlines how Christian people will (and must) relate to one another and to the world around us. His instruction involves church life (4:1-5:21), family life (5:22-6:4), work life (6:5-9) and a vigilant attention to our own relationship with God (6:10-20 and chapters 1-3).

As we focus on 6:1-4, we will see clear instructions for those who have dads (like you) and those who are dads. These instructions are always life-giving to the whole church, so that those who are dads, those who are orphaned, those who had a rough situation with an earthly dad, and those who are not yet a dad will learn what is “right,” and all of us will honor our Father in heaven.