Jude (Program #6) – The Basic Structure of the Epistles of Peter and Jude (2)

The epistles of 1 and 2 Peter and Jude have occupied us now for the past nine weeks on this program. And today we conclude the life study of these three short but very significant books in the divine record. But not with the systematic or academically summary but rather by following the spiritual thread that links these three books. Though they are separated in the canon scripture by the three epistles of John in their subject and basic structure they bear a striking similarity and easily warrant being considered as a group.

All three were written against the back drop of the degradation and decline of the church, a time of apostasy. And therefore all three can be considered as an inoculation against the heresies that were damaging the testimony of the church at that time. Yet they also shared a basic structure that is one hundred percent positive and absolutely in concert with the central focus of the entire New Testament. And that is that we would all be brought into the real enjoyment of the Triune God. In order that through His operation in us we would be transformed that we would be built up into His spiritual habitation so that He could indwell us and that we would express Him for eternity.

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2 Timothy (Program #9) – The Issue of the Decline

The apostle Paul gave an intimate word to Timothy in his 2nd epistle to him in 4:9 “Be diligent to come to me quickly;” and in verse 10 we find the reason for Paul’s eagerness to see Timothy, “For Demas has abandoned me, having loved the present age.“

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2 Timothy (Program #4) – The Spread of the Decline

“avoid profane, vain babblings, for they will advance to more ungodliness, And their word will spread like gangrene,” 2 Timothy 2: 16-17.

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2 Timothy (Program #3) – The Inoculator

The apostle Paul predicted in 2 Timothy, the last of his 14 epistles, that the church would decline. And during that decline the Lord will raise up faithful man, who would inoculate the church against the decline.

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2 Timothy (Program #2) – The Basic Factor of the Decline-Forsaking the Apostle and his Ministry

2 Timothy 1:15 contains a very short but very pungent word that describes the apostasy at the end of the apostle Paul’s life.  “All those who are in Asia turned away from me.”

Today in our second life study from 2 Timothy, we are going to look at the basic factor of the decline of the church which is forsaking the apostle and his ministry.

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1 Timothy (Program #7)- The Prediction of the Decline of the Church

In reading the Bible, sometimes it is the short, simple words that can provide the greatest insight into the richer meaning been conveyed. For example take the little word “but”.  In Chapter 4 of 1 Timothy, Paul begins with this three letter word, the clear implication been that what is about to be spoken is in start contrast to what’s been previously presented. And likely no way in scripture is the contrast between two adjoining verses any more start than these passage.  Listen as the apostle Paul turns from one of the highest revelation in the entire Bible to one of its’ darkest portions.

In Chapter 3:15-16 Paul says, “But if I delay, I write that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and base of the truth.  And confessedly, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory. But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons.”

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1 Timothy (Program #3) – Prayer to Carry Out God’s Desire for Man’s Salvation

The apostle Paul wrote the books of 1 & 2 Timothy during a period of decline and degradation among the Churches that have been under his ministry. In respond to this negative situation he first laid the foundation for good spiritual health by refocusing them on God’s economy. This is in 1 Timothy 1:4.

Then in Chapter 2 he exhorts Timothy, his faithful co-worker to take the lead in the most crucial area of all in dealing with degraded and trouble situations and that is in the matter of prayer.  Listen to 1 Timothy Chapter 2 : 1-3. “I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men; On behalf of kings and all who are in high position, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and gravity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of our Savior God,“

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1 Timothy (Program #1) – God’s Dispensation versus Differing Teachings

The book of 1 Timothy was written during a period of decline and even degradation in the Church. And interestingly the apostle Paul takes the opportunity to point out a clear distinction between the central focus of the New Testament and general, random Christians teachings.  And remarkably very few Bible readers have ever taken notice of these important verses. Listen to 1 Timothy Chapter 1:3-4 “.. I exhorted you, when I was going into Macedonia,” Paul writes to Timothy, “to remain in Ephesus in order that you might charge certain ones not to teach different things. Nor to give heed to myths and unending genealogies, which produce questionings rather than God’s economy, which is in faith.”

What are these different teachings that are versus God’s economy?  We will explore this marvelous, broad and critically important topic in the coming days and weeks in this new life study of 1 & 2 Timothy.

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