Am I in love with, and believing, the power of Christ?
Paul preached one message, constantly, you either love the world, or you love God, there’s no in between.
2Tim.3
[1] This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
[2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
[3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
[4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
[5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
[6] For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,†
[7] Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
[8] Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
[9] But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
[10] But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
[11] Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
[12] Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.*
[13] But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
[14] But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
[15] And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
[17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
A test for faith and love… Apparently these men had a way about them that was, a little silly. True love and faith doesn’t just look like godliness, it acts like it, and it suffers for Christ, knowing his power sustains those who love him.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18
The power of God is the gospel of Christ and the cross, aka suffering. Notice the contrast between those who seek their own fame and those who seek God’s fame. The former seeks the pleasures of the world, and the latter seeks only the renown of God. His reward is suffering with assurance that God’s power saves him. The real fool just wants worldly gratification. Am I seeking praise and worship for myself, or for God? The evidence is persecution. The fruit is faith, and love.
*Who is causing suffering but those who want the ones telling the truth to shut up so they can have their pleasures without regard for consequences? What else proves that you’re a fool more than denying the Truth of God’s power and his justice that his gospel saves us from? Otherwise, we’d never have need of love and gratefulness, but as it is, ours is the salvation of repentance to thankfulness and mercy. We love him because he first loved us. That is the test of faith and love.
†pleasure leads to abortion, the men that have women seeking to kill their children before they’re born are only seeking pleasure, and this folly is “manifest” as murder of the most innocent, and pride in their shame.
18For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. Philippians 3:18–19
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