“Guard …the Treasure”

Scripture: II Timothy 1:13-14

C.I.: The Diagnosis & Treatment of Apostasy

So far in this series… - Yet God warns that the church is headed towards a terminal disease called apostasy (“falling away”).
In today's lesson God gives us both the signs and symptoms of this dreaded spiritual disease – as well as its treatment!

I. “Apostasy”: It's a Killer, (II Timothy 3) - Apostasy = “To fall away”

A. The Signs & Symptoms of Apostasy, (vs. 1-9)

1. ( v. 1 ), “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.”
a. Many religious people believe the “last days” Are those just before Jesus returns.
1) Yet the world has been living in the last days since Jesus earthly ministry.
2) ( Heb. 1:1-2 ), “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in
many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things….”
3) Contrary to many who teach a time of tribulation/paradise – after these days… heaven/hell.

2. Symptom #1: Personal Issues, ( vs. 2-4 ), “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.”
a. Symptoms in the middle of list are caused by the problems at the ends, lovers of self vs. lovers of God.
1) The problem in the world is not that there isn't enough love ( “What the world needs now…” )
– but that the love people have is misplaced (self versus God)!
2) When people love themselves more than they love God – we will see all of these behaviors!

b. Several of these symptoms are “self-contrasted” with what they are not; “ dis obedient to parents, un grateful
un holy, un loving….”
1) Remember what Satan did in Eden – he added the word “NOT,” ( Gen. 3:1-4 ), “Has God said.
2) Yet the “last days” are not devoid of religion but are indeed filled with it (but to no avail).

3. Symptom #2: Religious Issues, ( v. 5 ), “…holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; avoid
such men as these.” – (As we saw above, the problem is not that we don't have “religion,” but that it is misplaced)
a. “Form” = external, on the outside. –– Note 3 things…
1) They teach morality but practice immorality.
a) ( v. 6 ), “For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women
weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses.”
b) The problem is not always on the surface ( form ) – but what is below the surface!
c) ( Jude 4, 12 ), “For certain persons have crept in unnoticed…ungodly persons who turn the
grace of God into licentiousness. – These men are those who are hidden reefs in your love
feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves.”
2) They claim to be scholars - but accept every godless fad in opposition to truth.
a) ( v. 7 ), “…always learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
b) (Remember, Paul has already warned us about this, ( quote I Tim. 4:1-2 ).
3) The put forward the counterfeit but claim that it is real
a) ( vs. 8-9 ), “Just as Jannes & Jambres opposed Moses, so these men oppose the truth, men of
depraved mind, rejected as regards the faith. – But they will not make further progress; for
their folly will be obvious to all, as also that of those two came to be.”
b) ( Ex. 7:12-14 ), “Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh, and it became a serpent. –
Pharaoh called for the wise men and the sorcerers, and they are also the magicians of Egypt,
did the same with their secret arts. – For each one threw down his staff and they turned into
serpents. – But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs.” – There is power in God's ways!!!

B. Treatment for Apostasy, (vs. 10-17)

1. Continue in the Work of God, ( vs. 10-12 ) (If Jannes & Jambres are examples of Satan's ministers, - Then Paul is
our best example!!! – So Paul uses his own ministry as an example)

a. ( vs. 10-12 ), “But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, 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 delivered me! – And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
1) Notice Paul continues to work in every area of his life: doctrinal ( teaching ), personal
( conduct ), motivational ( purpose ), his dependence ( faith ), his expectation ( patience ), his goal
( love ), his endurance ( perseverance ), his worldly response ( persecutions & sufferings )

b. Thus, one of the best ways for us to treat apostasy (personal/congregational) – continue if God's work!

2. Continue in the Word of God, ( vs. 13-17 )

•  ( vs. 13-15 ), “But evil men and imposters will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. – You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them; - and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you wisdom that leads to salvation which is in Christ Jesus.”
1) There were two sources which convinced Timothy: his believing family, ( II Tim. 1:5 ) and
godly men, ( II Tim. 2:2 ).
2) Sacred writings = Scriptures: this includes both the old and the New Testaments…
a) ( I Timothy 5:18 ), “For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle the ox while it is
threshing,' [ Deut. 25:4 ] and ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages' [ Lk. 10:7 ] .”
b) Both a believing family & Bible – can lead a person to salvation!

•  ( vs. 16-17 ), “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
1) This is why the theme passage for this book is so important!
a) That “treasure,” those “sound words” are the literally inspired word of God.
b) We guard it because these words (when “retained”/”guarded” ) – can “teach” people
the truth so they can be saved, “reprove” (convict/rebuke) them when they teach
error, “correct” those who have been taught error as truth, and “training people in
righteousness” that they may grow as God desires!
2) So, once again, if we are to avoid either personal or congregational apostasy – we need to be
sure we continue in God's word!
3) ( Heb. 2:1, 3 ), “For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift

away from it … for how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?”

CONCLUISIONS:

Apostasy is a spiritual disease, just like pneumonia is a physical disease (and both of them can kill).

But with a proper diagnosis and treatment - a person can do just fine!

If today you are concerned about your spiritual health – God is always ready to restore us to perfection… ( Acts 22:16 ).