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welcome to everyone I think that there is a hymn sing tonight is that correct after the service yes okay so after the evening service if you like to sing some more you can go upstairs and sing some more so for our call to worship this evening we're going to read Psalm 19 Psalm 19 one of the parts of our exposition tonight and second Timothy 3 there'll be a consideration of the power of God's Word or the ability of God's Word so Psalm 19 is a fitting way to introduce the service to consider that power at the outset Psalm 19 beginning in verse 12 the chief musician a psalm of David the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows his handiwork day on today utter speech and night unto night reveals knowledge there is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard their line has gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world in them he has set a tabernacle for the Sun which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber and rejoices like a strong man to run its race it's rising is from one end of heaven and it's circuit to the other end and there is nothing hidden from its heat the law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple the statutes of the Lord are right rejoicing the heart the commandment of the Lord is pure enlightening the eyes the fear of the Lord is clean enduring forever the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether more to be desired are they than gold yea than much fine gold sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb moreover by them your servant is warned and in keeping them there is great reward who can understand his errors cleanse me from secret faults keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins let them not have dominion over me then I shall be blameless and I shall be innocent of great aggression let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight Oh Lord my strength and my Redeemer amen well please turn in your Trinity Salter to Psalm 122 Psalm 122 will stand as we sing together let us pray our God and our Father we come again on this Lord's Day evening to worship you and as we just sang certainly it is a glad our when we get to go to the house of the Lord we thank you for the Sabbath rest we thank you for the blessing that you have given to us not only in creation but in Redemption to observe this one day and seven when we can come in out of the world and we can gather in your name to sing your praises and to confess the glory of Christ with the church corporately we thank you as well father that you have given us these means for your glory and for our well-being help us to persevere and the use of these things help us to make much of those things that you have ordained for our well-being and as we worship tonight we pray that Father Son and Holy Spirit would be glorified and we would come to the Father through the mediation of the Son and by the power of the Holy Spirit that God would be all in all in this place that you would be well pleased as well to to dwell in the midst of your people here she would encourage our hearts and strengthen us with might she would fit us and for a new week and help us God to leave from this place having met with our God and may it be the case that we are more and more conformed unto the image of the Lord Jesus and give us a boldness outside of this church building to testify concerning the grace of God in our Lord Jesus Christ we pray for opportunities with friends and family and unconverted people that you would just cause us Lord God to to joyfully explain the truth of the cross of our Lord Jesus we ask that you would help us to function in a manner that is consistent with your word and that we would bring glory and honor and praise to you we ask father that you would look with favor upon each and every one in this local church we know there are many with physical trials we know there are many with struggles God in heaven we just commit them to you into the word your grace we ask that you would look with favor upon each and every one that though they suffer outwardly may they be renewed inwardly and may they might make much of the Lord Jesus be with the new felts and we prayed they would be able to treat this these symptoms the stroke and that our brother would be feeling well again we know God that he is ultimately in your hand and under your care and we would pray that he would realize this and that Karen would realize this and they would be encouraged even though these things look bleak we pray as well for mrs. Faber who has surgery tomorrow we just ask that you would look with favor upon her we pray that this would go well Lord God and that she would have health and strength we pray from Marilyn in this recent news concerning her hip we just commit her to you and to the word of your grace and pray that you would bless the means that are applied to her and that you would just cause her to be encouraged by the things of God and built up in her faith we ask for each and every one Lord that you would be merciful that you would be gracious and kind as well we pray for all of us with spiritual needs all of us with the temptations that we face in this lower world all of us with the trials and the difficulties that dubis at the Church of Christ help us to press onward faithfully and help us in the midst of these things to bring glory unto you the Apostle tells us to rejoice always again I say rejoice we know God that it's difficult at times to rejoice in the midst of outwardly trying circumstances we always have that inner peace of the Lord Jesus Christ which does surpass all understanding and help us to reflect upon gospel truth each and every day and may these things encourage our hearts for perseverance we ask that you would look with favor upon the civil government the Apostle tells us to pray for kings and all who are in authority that we may lead peaceable and quiet lives our Father we pray that you by grace would protect these these blessings that we do have we would ask that you would give wisdom to those in high places that they would rule with right and with equity God we pray for your blessing in a land that sanctions wickedness we pray that you would turn things around not to bless us in increasing lawlessness but to change the hearts of men so that we would call good good and not not evil good we pray against the sins of abortion and sodomy and euthanasia we know that these are wicked things in the sight of a holy God certainly they ought to be wicked things in the sight of this church and I pray that you would give us grace to go daily to the throne of grace and to pray that your will would be done on earth as it is in heaven all that we pray for the persecuted Church and the brothers and the sisters suffering under wicked governments those suffering under wicked terrorist organizations we would ask that you would just surround your people that you would grant grace and strength to them in the midst of these difficulties to nevertheless to own Christ as Lord and Savior we pray for missions we thank you that we have the opportunity and the privilege to pray for those brethren in China we thank you as well Lord God for brethren and Pakistan and for churches and bodies of believers throughout the world we pray that your glorious gospel would progress or advance we pray that more and more people would be turned from idols to the true and living God and we pray that your name would be hallowed in the lands and even now Lord we ask that you would forgive us for all of our sins and our transgressions she would bless this hour of worship that you would receive glory that you'd be please Lord God to dwell in the midst of your people here and we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord amen well please turn with me in your Trinity hymnals to number 477 number 477 again we'll stand as we sing together you I you for our scripture reading tonight you can turn the lamentations chapter 1 lamentations chapter 1 written after the destruction of jerusalem and the temple by the by the Babylonians this is the book of lamentations Jeremiah's all and lament over the destruction of the city and over the destruction of the temple so I want to read beginning in chapter 1 at verse 1 how lonely sits the city that was full of people how like a widow is she who is great among the nations the princess among the provinces has become a slave she weeps bit early in the night her tears are on her cheeks among all her lover's she has none to comfort her all her friends of dealt treacherously with her they have become her enemies Judah has gone into captivity under affliction and hard servitude she dwells among the nations she finds no rest all her persecutors overtake her in dire straits the roads to Zion mourn because no one comes to the set feasts all her gates are desolate or priest saw her virgins are afflicted and she is in bitterness her adversaries have become the master her enemies prosper for the Lord has afflicted her because of the multitude of her transgressions her children have gone into captivity before the enemy and from the daughter of Zion all her splendor has departed her Prince's have become like deer that find no pasture that flee without strength before the pursuer in the days of her affliction and roaming Jerusalem remembers all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old when her people fell into the hand of the enemy with no one to help her the adversary saw her and mocked at her downfall Jerusalem has sinned gravely therefore she has become vile although honored her despise her they have seen her nakedness yes she sighs and turns away for uncleanness is in her skirts she did not consider her destiny there for her collapse was awesome she had no comforter the Lord behold my affliction for the enemy is exalted the adversary has spread his hand over all her Pleasant things for she has seen the nation's enter her sanctuary those whom you commanded not to enter your assembly all her people sigh they seek bread they have given their valuables for food to restore life see a lord and considered for I am scorned is it nothing to you all you who pass by behold and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow which has been brought on me which the Lord has inflicted in the day of his fierce anger from above he has sent fire into my bones and it overpowered them he has spread a net for my feet and turned me back he has made me desolate and faint all the day the yoke of my transgressions was bound they were woven together by his hands and thrust upon my neck he made my strength fail the Lord delivered me into the hands of those whom I am NOT able to withstand the Lord has trampled underfoot all my mighty man in my midst he is called an assembly against me to crush my young men the Lord trampled as in a wine press the virgin daughter of judah for these things I weep my eye my eye overflows with water because the comforter who should restore my life as far from me my children are desolate because the enemy prevailed Zion spreads out her hands but no uncomfort sir the Lord has commanded concerning Jacob that those around him become his adversaries Jerusalem has become an unclean thing among them the Lord is righteous for I rebelled against his commandment here now all peoples and behold my sorrow my virgins and my young men have gone into captivity I called from my lover's but they deceived me my priests and my elders breathe their last in the city they sought food to restore their life see Oh Lord that I am in distress my soul is trouble my heart is overturned within me for I have been very rebellious outside the sword buries at home it is like death they have heard that I sigh but no uncomfort Smee all my enemies have heard of my trouble they are glad that you have done it bring on the day you have announced that they may become like me let all their wickedness come before you and do to them as you have done to me for all my transgressions for my size or many and my heart is faint now just a couple of comments from this first chapter in the first place the Book of Lamentations is a poetic masterpiece the first couple chapters are all the first two chapters are 22 verses each there's 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet so each verse it's an acrostic so it goes through the various letters of the alphabet the third chapter is 66 so you have series of three for that acrostic and then the last chapter there is no acrostic and I think there's a particular reason for that will consider when we get to chapter 4 but as I said the occasion is Jeremiah's lament for the fall of Jerusalem on Wednesday night we considered in second samuel chapter 1 when David heard about the death of Saul David wet David grieved David shed tears as a result of that particular news and one would wonder why would David cry over Saul I mean Saul was a wicked man Saul was pursuing David Saul wanted to destroy David and nevertheless when David finds out about it he weeps well there is in the heart of a believer the ability yes on the one hand to affirm and to rejoice in the righteous justice of god but on the other hand to be touched with and to feel a pain for the death of image bearers the same sort of thing is evident here in the Book of Lamentations in chapter 1 it is evident why there was destruction notice specifically in ver five because of the multitude of her transgressions her children have gone into captivity before the enemy verse a Jerusalem has sinned gravely therefore she has become vile all who honored her despise her because they have seen her nakedness yes she sighs and turns away so the Prophet acknowledges that what occurs to Jerusalem is just it is righteous it is legit the people of Israel violated the Covenant of God and as a result God raised up Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians and destroyed the city so even though it was a just act nevertheless Jeremiah the weeping prophet is able to shed tears over this and again I think there's a parallel with the Lord Jesus Christ prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 Jesus announces this in Matthew chapter 24 but even going into that particular chapter at the end of her at the end of chapter 23 jesus laments over Jerusalem he knows they're wicked he knows that their judgment is righteous it's just but nevertheless he weeps over that particular city so brethren the lesson is that even though the righteousness or even though there is a righteous judgment of God that is poured out upon the enemies of God nevertheless we are human beings and we ought to realize that apart from the grace of God we would be a Saul we would be an apostate Jerusalem we would be any number of persons that deserve that full fury and wrath of God so in light of that we ought to be a people that are mixed with not only that that righteous anger toward the enemies of God but also a lament and a weeping over the tragedy or over the the results of those sorts of things well let us pray our Father we thank you for the word of God we thank you for the fact that it depicts for us and teaches us the various responses that we should evidence as God's people the one hand we do cry out for justice and the righteous execution of the wrath and fury of God against the enemies of the church of god on the other hand lord i pray that you would make us to be a people like the psalmist who said rivers of waters run down from my eyes because men do not keep your law give us grace to imitate the prophet give us grace to imitate our Lord Jesus and even the Apostle Paul who wrote to the Philippians even weeping in warning them against the enemies of the cross of Christ we thank you for the word we thank you for what it instructs us and we pray pray to you now through the Lord Jesus Christ amen well for our final him before the preaching we'll look we'll sing number 335 335 will stand as we sing together you can turn the second Timothy chapter 3 second Timothy chapter 3 our focus tonight will be verses 13 to 15 essentially what we have in this section is a series of contrasts Paul sets forth the ungodly men that will punctuate the perilous times of the last days in chapter 3 verses 1 to 9 and then in verse 10 he says but you have carefully followed and he sets forth Timothy in his past performance as a Christian man and Minister as a reason or an argument for an exhortation to Timothy's continued faithfulness as a minister and so what we have in verse 10 and verse 14 as I said our contrasts Paul's intent is to encourage Timothy to press onward to be steadfast and to be a faithful man of God so I'll just read the section versus 10 to 6 17 and then as I said our focus will be on 13 to 15 but you have carefully followed my doctrine manner of life purpose faith long-suffering love perseverance persecutions afflictions which happened to me at Antioch at Iconium at Lystra what persecutions I endured and out of them all the Lord delivered me yes and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution but evil men in Impostors will grow worse and worse deceiving and being deceived but you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of knowing from whom you have learned them and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be complete thoroughly equipped for every good work amen well let us pray our Father we thank you for the word of God we thank you for its value its power we thank you for what it teaches and how it blesses the people of God we would pray tonight that we would receive this admonition this exhortation from Paul to Timothy that we would remain steadfast that we would persevere that we would continue in the things that we have learned for God certainly there are those who defect and apostatize there are those who make a profession and fall away may not be the case with us Lord God we pray now that your Holy Spirit would guide us as we look to Scripture we pray that your Holy Spirit would conform us unto the image of your beloved son and we pray that you would forgive us now for our sins and our transgressions and we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord amen so what we have as i said in verses 13 to 15 is an exhortation to continued faithfulness to timothy and then paul ends this section in verses 16 and 17 by highlighting the usefulness or the utility of the scripture of the word of god he alludes to it or he mentions it in verse 15 and then in verses 16 and 17 he amplifies redevelops that in a bit more detail because that's such an important section and not to say that what we are in is not important as well but because the doctrine of Scripture is a foundational to the church will treat that on another night it probably won't be next Sunday night we have the Lord's Supper but God willing we will look at verses 16 and 17 on their own but let's look specifically at this exhortation to continued faithfulness in verses 13 to 15 note in the first place the conduct of evil man and then in the second place tonight we'll look at the exhortation to Timothy note verse 13 he says but evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse deceiving and being deceived I think again what we have is a series of contrasts here's what evil men look like in chapter 3 verses 1 to 12 9 actually man that are engaged in wickedness and lawlessness and godlessness paul highlights himself in verse 10 as an example to be followed he commends Timothy for having followed his example now he returns in verse 13 to consider the reality that these evil men are not going to go away as well I think that this is a reason for the persecution that all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer Paul gave that general Maxim in verse 12 he assures us he asserts this reality it is the fact it is the case that if we desire to live godly in Christ Jesus in a world that is in opposition to God in Christ Jesus we will suffer persecution the presence of evil men and imposters means there will be difficulty in trial and persecution for the people of God just because we're converted doesn't mean that all bad men magically disappear know when we are converted and when we strive to live according to the to the truth of God's Holy Word we will see that oftentimes we are targets for those ungodly men and for those imposters so Paul identify specifically in verse 13 this reality evil man and imposters will grow worse and worse that is the condition of man apart from the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ man does not get better man is not somehow going to a higher plane the evolution of man that they like to try and preach and proclaim that he's getting better that is he gets more knowledge and he gets more wisdom he gets more more enlightened and more able to deal with things that's just simply not the case evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse evil men is the general statement imposters is a specific sub point and the word that's used here was originally the word sorcerers perhaps referring back to Janice and jam breasts in verse 7 the Apostle is using this particular term to highlight the sorts of things that that confront Timothy there in Ephesus but it's not just sorcerers it had a range of meaning jugglers or cheats or swindlers so imposters is a good word that is that is translated by the New King James and probably most other versions here so evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse they're not getting better they're not getting friendlier they're not getting nicer they're not getting more helpful to the Church of the Lord Jesus they grow worse and worse and notice as well they deceive and they themselves are deceived towner says as false teachers they actively deceive and enslave others with their false message you see sometimes I think the church doesn't really get this and I don't mean you know each and every person in the church but we typically have this idea that everybody's nice and everybody's kind and nobody really wants to lead anyone else astray but that's simply not the case when Paul charges the Galatians in Galatians chapter one he says there are some who want to prevent the gospel there are those who want to distort the truth of the gospel and in the same case the Apostle here says they deceive you if there's money in it if there's power in it if there's prestige in it they will deceive you they will do what is necessary to bring you subject to their particular ways he's already described that in detail in verses 1 tonight so Tyler says as false teachers they actively deceive and enslave others with their false message while they themselves are equally deceived it's an unfortunate condition that this man or men find themselves it they grow worse and worse they themselves to see or they deceive others and they themselves are also deceived towner says this language of deception was associated typically with idolatry and false prophecy in the Old Testament as well as with the phenomenon of heretical Christian movements whose deception as we have seen was itself a dominant element in the last day scenario so this is a bad set of man that effect and plagued the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ now it's interesting when we compare verse 13 2 verse 9 some may suppose that we have something of a contradiction note what Paul says in verse 13 evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse deceiving and being to see notice in verse 9 but they will progress no further for their folly will be manifest to all as there's also was John MacArthur and his study bible says all the dangerous movements this is a comment on verse 13 he says all the dangerous movements of the false teachers will become increasingly more successful until christ cops we must ask the question where does this success take place he doesn't amplify it doesn't explain he doesn't elaborate on that but I suppose he would argue within the church because these persons as he says all the dangerous movements of the false teachers will become increasingly more successful until Christ calms is that what Paul is teaching is he teaching that everything is getting gradually worse to the point that even the false teachers are ultimately going to be victorious in the Church of the Living God I think that's an exegetical comment driven by dispensationalism and not from the passage of scripture itself I believe what we have in verse 13 is a comment on the intensive nature of the evil within particular Matt and what we have in verse 9 is a comment concerning the extension of the extensive influence of those evil men it is quite possible for a man to grow worse and worse deceiving and being deceived and yet not being able to affect an entire group of churches so there's no contradiction Paul is looking at this from two different angles and I want to read from George night as I think he highlights well what's going on so there's no contradiction he says this verse verse 13 recognizes that evil becomes intensively worse as time goes on the other verse 9 recognizes that the teaching of evil does not necessarily capture a wider audience as it becomes more intense and therefore does not become more extensive as it becomes more intensive I hope that you follow the logic there I think that is precisely what Paul is bringing to the forefront on the one hand there progress or they will progress no further terms of their extensive effect upon the churches of Jesus Christ but in terms of their own ethics in terms of their own false teaching in terms of their own deception and being deceived they will grow worse and worse now that's not to say they won't have an effect upon some it's not to say they won't have an effect upon churches but it is not the same as saying that they will grow continuously successful until Jesus Christ returns that is simply reading too much into this particular statement it is important to remember that while evil men and imposters grow worse and worse that does not the growth of the kingdom of God most high it does not stop the chariot of the Redeemer it does not bind his hands or tie his arm behind his back or keep him from doing what he promised in Matthew 16 he will build his church and the gates of Hell itself shall not prevail against it evil men and imposters notwithstanding Christ knows how to deal with evil men and with imposters the emphasis in the passage is for us along with Timothy to be faithful to remain steadfast to continue going forward to not forget the things that we have learned to not forget those who we learn them from we need to be a faithful Church in the midst of the reality that evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse deceiving and being deceived if that is the case you need to be on your guard that you're not deceived you need to be on your guard that you are not taken captive you need to be on guard that you are not swindled by these false teachers who come speaking peace peace saying sort the sorts of things that that may sound good on the surface but they have to be rooted in the Holy Scripture that brings us to consider the exhortation to Timothy in verses 14 and 15 again the contrast but you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured up if evil men and imposters grow worse and worse if they are deceiving and being deceived then you Timothy must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of the Apostle has already highlighted Timothy's past faithfulness and again he didn't do that simply to parade Timothy as a wonderful guy Timothy you've carefully followed my doctrine my manner of life my purpose and all those other things because you're a great guy it's not what he's doing Timothy you have done it in the past and I'm writing to you presently so that you'll continue to do it into the future I don't want you to be a flash in the pan I don't want you to fall prey to these deceivers I don't want you to fall prey to these swindlers or pasta imposters you must continue in the things that you have learned notice or before i get into the object Calvin says and undoubtedly this is the actual trial of faith when we offer unworried resistance to all the contrivance 'as of Satan when I read these Calvin quotes I hope you don't just go wow there's Calvin the reason I read quotes is so that you realize we are connected to the church we are part of a much larger hole if I just give you my views and my thoughts that is laws are right and their biblical and their exegetical irresponsible that's good not because I'm saying it I hope you get the point there but to hear what Calvin says dear what Spurgeon says to hear what Owen says to hear what the great confessors of the faith throughout the centuries past all say the same when I read these Calvin quotes he describes the kind of Christianity that i myself want and I myself hope that you want he says and undoubtedly this is the actual trial of faith when we offer on we read resistance that's what we are to offer unworried resistance that means you may be tired you may be cast down but you continue to resist the contrivances of Satan and we do not alter our course for every wind that blows that's the kind of women that these men creeped into in their houses and again he's not defining all women as gullible and loaded down with various loss but that's a subset of women that had that propensity they go from thing to thing to thing to thing that's not something confined to gullible women and Ephesus in the first century there's a lot of that going on among gullible men in the 21st century in North America he says we are not to go or alter our course for every wind that blows but remain steadfast on the truth of God as on a shore anchor so the command in verse 14 you must continue what must him if he continued in in the things which you have learned and been assured of the things which you have learned and been assured of this is in fact the truth of God Paul will specify the ones from whom Timothy learned these truths but that's the emphasis you must continue in the truth of God you must continue in the Word of God you must continue in what the Lord has spoken that's the imperative that's the emphasis that's what Timothy is supposed to do notice the contrast further evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse deceiving and being to see but you must continue while evil men and imposters grow worse and worse Timothy you grow more and more like the Lord Jesus Timothy while these evil men and imposters are growing one way you need to grow the other way and the way or the means by which you do that is by faithful adherence to the word of truth you see in the final analysis many many sermons come down to this basic truth you need to read your Bible you need to be where the Bible is preached you need to take in the Word of God timotheus told he must continue in the things which he had learned and been assured of like that verb been assured of convinced of Timothy didn't hold the truth with a limp wrist Timothy did not hold the truth as if it were something he didn't need to cleave to he had been assured of it there's a conviction wrought by the Spirit of God in the heart of a man when he comes to the truth of Holy Scripture it is that inward testimony of the Holy Spirit by which ultimately we know that we are dealing with the truth of God's Holy Word and when we come under conviction and when we come to recognize and when we come to appreciate the power of Scripture there ought to be conviction there ought to be assurance notice that the Apostles didn't suggest they didn't offer recommendations when Peter is preaching on the day of Pentecost he says to Jerusalem sinners know assuredly that God has made this Christ whom you crucified both Lord and Christ there's no possibility or contingency or we hope it's the case there is a shore conviction and that is what Timothy possessed you must continue in the things which you have learned and been a short of I like Gil here he says skepta mysm a skepticism is very unbecoming one that calls himself minister of the gospel Jefferson giallo steen on Larry King Live that skepticism with a capital s well you know I'm not sure it's terrible to represent Jesus Christ and say I'm not sure God has called a man to preach the gospel he is called the man to testify with earnestness concerning that gospel Hill says skepticism is very unbecoming one that calls himself a minister of the gospel and when a man is assured of the truth and reality of gospel doctrines it would be shameful in him to drop them or depart from them my brother likes to point out Osteen is low-hanging fruit and he's easy to pick on this is equally applicable to those who renege when it comes to the biblical standards set forth by God in terms of marriage some other at one time decent churches now entertain the thought of homosexuality as a legitimate expression as long as it's monogamous for persons to glorify God in a skepticism either the Bible is the truth or it's not it's not silly putty it's not something that we massage in our hands it's not something we conform to the spirit of the age it is the objective truth of God's Word of God holy word and we are not to hold it as skip it but we are to be assured of it notice you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of knowing from whom you have learned that i love this emphasis here and what he draws out in verse 15 they'll specify these sources where he has already at least indicated some of them but the apostle indicates what Spurgeon said falsehood has no beard but truth is hoary with an age immeasurable let me just read that again I know it's late and I know you're tired as I around here think everybody ought to give themselves a good firm pinch on the thigh and wake up because this is most important exhortations to continued faithfulness are a means by which God produces continued faithfulness in his people we cut ourselves off from the means that the father has ordained for our well-being then it may be the case that we don't continue faithfully Spurgeon says falsehood has no beard what do you associate beards with yes virility and matcha no usually with age you don't get a beard on an eight-year-old because he's not old enough right you get a beard on an older man falsehood has no beard falsehood just shows up from time to time falsehood I mean it's there always but it always takes on you know some new spin on an old heresy and Spurgeon says falsehood has no beard but truth is whoring that means grey hair that's really old we have gray hair with an age immeasurable now some of us just went gray when we were young so I don't know that that's always the consistent trade-off but but truth is whoring with an age immeasurable towner says to veer from what had been passed on by trustworthy predecessors without some good reason was the exception and not the rule novelty had little intrinsic value and was regarded with suspicion that's a great statement that's a great indicator a great expression of why we hold to a confession of faith we do not believe our confession of faith is inspired authoritative the way that the scriptures are but it is a great statement of the confessing Church concerning those things most surely believed among us listen again to towner to veer from what had been passed on my trustworthy predecessors without some good reason those trustworthy predecessors could have been wrong so we should fear from them in that instance but if they were not wrong it was the acceptor it's the exception and not the rule to veer from them he said novelty that's new doctrine knew things had little intrinsic value and was regarded with suspicion note what Paul is saying to Timothy he says you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of the word of God knowing from whom you have learned them and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures you see that's the focal point that's the central emphasis that's what Timothy is to continue in and Timothy learned this a prescription in by two particular means he learned first from his family notice and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures he didn't know Paul in childhood he knew his mother and he knew his grandmother Timothy at a Jewish or a Gentile father and so the religious instruction for Timothy fell to his mother and his grandmother fact if you look back at second Timothy chapter one in verse 5 Paul says when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and I am persuaded is in you also you see what Paul is saying Timothy the things you learned in your you the Holy Scripture that was brought to you by Louis and buy units those things that were brought to you in family religion in family worship that scriptural truth Paul is endorsing underscoring highlighting and telling us yes as Lois's and as eunice's and as bills and as Bob's and as John's and as Frank's we ought to bring up our children on the Holy Scripture that's Paul's the things that you have learned and been a short of and remember those who taught you these things in this particular instance Louis and units but he not only learned from Louis and Eunice he learned from the Apostle Paul's already indicated that in verses 10 and 11 but you have carefully followed my doctrine my manner of life my conduct my my purpose rather my faith long-suffering love perseverance persecutions and afflictions so from his youth he learned from his mother from his grandmother when he's an older man or a young older man he is then brought into the sphere of apostolic TJ and he learns the truth from the Apostle Paul and he learned from them what is most important and that is indicated in verse 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures and interestingly notice how Paul links the Holy Scripture is here with the truth of the gospel that he preaches now when you look at verse 15 and when you look at verse 16 do you know what Scripture is in view it is primarily the Old Testament now I will argue when we deal with this passage the New Testament is certainly included but at this particular point when Paul is writing to Timothy they didn't have you know the old and new Testament sort of bound together in one volume so when Paul says scripture here he's talking to a man who had been steeped in the Old Testament why do you guys teach the Old Testament in your church because it's full of Christ because it's about the way of salvation it's about the Lord Jesus that's why the Holy Scriptures notice what Paul now says concerning this particular truth he speaks to its power and its purpose and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation there's an ability in the scripture they are able they are powerful as we read in Psalm 19 the Word of God converts the soul now we know that the spirit must attend we know that the spirit must regenerate we know that the spirit does indeed bring this to pass but the instrumentality is the word of God James 118 of his own will he brought us forth by what by our free will now by his own truth in Ephesians 113 the Apostle highlights the importance of the gospel in terms of that which we believe in order to be saved first Peter chapter 1 verse 23 having been born again according to the Word of God we see this emphasized throughout Scripture pastor cam referred to Romans 10 17 this morning in our study of the confession faith comes by hearing right and hearing by what hearing testimonies that may be an encouragement and it may be a help hearing by what the Word of God you see that is absolutely crucial and Paul points out that power and that ability and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able you see why it's so important when you talk to people you give them scripture you tell them what the Bible says because they are able to make one wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus so the power is displayed and the purpose is described notice the purpose they are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus that's a tremendous statement that is a tremendous statement concerning the validity of the bible as well but if the old testament why do you study judges because it's able to make us wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus Christ why are you study accidents because they're able to make us wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus Christ why do you study the vet Achatz how many people here well don't raise your hand if started Leviticus and didn't finish it Leviticus is all about Jesus I don't know how you can understand the book of Hebrews if you don't know what Leviticus is about that day of atonement ceremony and he in Leviticus chapter 16 what's Moses doing he's preaching Jesus to us we've got those two goats the one is slain and the blood is sprinkled and then that other goat that the high priest lays his hands on the head of that goat and he confesses the sins of Israel and then they send that goat out into the wilderness to glorious picture of redemption in Jesus his blood cleanses us his blood expiate source in it removes our guilty he sends it out of the wilderness you see the old testament scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus there is value there is profitability there is power involved in the scripture the scriptures of the Old Testament are not moral lessons designed to promote a better you or provide self-help I think people stumble here they read the book of Judges for moral lessons and they say will I dare to be a jephthah lie dare to be a samson will I dare to be a Gideon I mean some of those men they live by faith and they are mentioned as honorable men of faith in Hebrews 11 but along the way you certainly see their their mistakes don't you when you look at the patriarchs Abraham Isaac Jacob do you want your sons to be up to be a Jacob you know Jacob means right supplanter deceiver listening to a sermon by James Dolezal the other day and he mentioned that you know James is a derivative or you know it's from the Jacob word group he said I hope my parents didn't think deceiver supplanter when they gave me the name James and I thought to myself I hope that's true for me too they they call me James that means deceivers a planter you see the point is brethren that the Scriptures set forth man even with their blemishes do you want to be a dare to be a David in second samuel chapters 11 and 12 you want to dare to be a david taking man's wife and then killing her husband to cover up the sin no you see those are not moral lessons designed for us to go thou and do likewise showing us the necessity of a hero a true hero even the Lord Jesus the old testament scriptures are about salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone notice as well what Paul indicates in this statement he says they're able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus this means that the old testament scriptures are christ-centered turn to a couple passages with me just to see this further evidence Luke 24 reason I emphasize this is because I think under the effect of dispensationalism at least over the last couple hundred years and some other movements within the church we don't appreciate the Old Testament as I think that God wants us to believe God wants us to see not only the New Testament but the Old Testament as vital for our spiritual needs notice the Christ centeredness of the Old Testament and Jesus teaching Luke 24 25 to 27 then he said to them o foolish ones and slow of heart to believe and all that the prophets have spoken ought not the Christ who have suffered these things and to enter in things and to enter into his glory and beginning at Moses and all the prophets he expounded to them and all the Scriptures the things concerning himself its appointed statement concerning the value of your old testament with reference to the Lord Jesus notice in chapter 24 verse 44 then he said to them these are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms notice concerning me turn over to John 5 John 5 Jesus dispute with the allegis leaders notice in verse 39 he says you search the Scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life and these are they which testify of me again the New Testament was not complete at this particular time again Jesus is referring to the Old Testament somebody ever asks you what is the Old Testament about don't say well it's a collection of weird laws where you know they couldn't eat shrimp they couldn't eat lobster they couldn't mix you know certain types of fabric it you know it's just kind of puzzling know it testified concerning Jesus Christ notice in verse 46 for if you believed Moses you would believe me for he wrote about me so we see from Paul statement second Timothy 3 15 the Christ centeredness of the Bible as well we see something concerning the one way of salvation in both the old and the New Testaments you see some have taught that under the Old Testament it with salvation by law you are a good Julia did the midst vote or the the commandments and you you subscribed fully to to those things that then you are in there's no salvation by law Samson and jephthah and Gideon are in heaven based on the beauty of Jesus Christ based on the doing and the dying and the rising of our Lord Jesus Christ by faith there is one way of salvation old and new testaments brethren this is a proof tax for you no one can ever tell you well you know they were saved differently under the Old Testament that's not what Paul says Paul says that the old testament scriptures were able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus I already alluded to this but it bears reminding the connection between the Old Testament and Paul's gospel don't mistake what Paul is doing here Paul sees himself as continuous with the Old Testament it's not the false teachers it's not those according to chapter one fire to be teachers of the law they're not continuous with Moses and the prophets it's the Apostle Paul trace through the book of Acts when Paul is on trial he says I have in change for the hope of Israel the Apostle Paul is the one that is continuous with the Old Testament not the Judaizers not those who bastardize the scriptures but rather Paul is the natural outflow of the Old Testament as Paul records and expounds the truth as it is in the Lord Jesus Christ again towner says the Pauline gospel may be seen as continuous with the power and intention of the ancient scriptures and it is possible that the usefulness of the Old Testament needed to be reaffirmed in the wake of heretical misuse of yet so there's our exposition I want to drive home just a couple of points before we close in the first place I've already alluded to it the necessity of perseverance you see this is something that Paul doesn't just say here in second Timothy 3 this is something that bears repetition probably every day for all of us you could put a note on your mirror hey buddy you need to persevere today you need to be steadfast you need to provide on we read resistance when it comes to the contrivance 'as of st. it you need to hold fast because you see that is what we are charged to do just several places in the path and in the letters to Timothy fact when we read through these you'll think wow Paul just wanted this message to be brought forth first Timothy 118 first Timothy 118 will go quickly through these this charge I commit to you son Timothy according to the prophecies previously made concerning you that by them you may wage the good warfare notice in chapter 4 verses 6 and 7 if you instruct the Brethren in these things you'll be a good minister of Jesus Christ nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed but reject profane and old wise fables and exercise yourself toward godly notice in chapter 4 verses 12 to 16 let no one despise your youth but be an example to the believers in Word and conduct in love and spirit and faith and purity till I come give attention to reading to exhortation to not to duck to doctrine do not neglect the gift that is in you which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership meditate on these things give yourself entirely to them that your progress may be evident to all take heed to yourself and to the doctrine continue in them for in doing this you will say both yourself and those who hear you notice in chapter 6 verses 1 in fault I'm sorry verses 11 and following but you O man of God flee these things and pursue righteousness godliness faith love patience gentleness fight the good fight of faith lay hold on eternal life notice chapter 2 I mean second Timothy chapter 1 verses 13 and 14 hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus that good thing which was committed to you keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us second Timothy 2 1 u'd there for my son be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus second Timothy 2 verses 3 and following essentially Paul tells Timothy he needs to be devoted he needs to be disciplined he needs to be diligent notice in 215 be diligent to present yourself approved to God a worker who does not need to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth to 22 and following flee also youthful us but pursue righteousness faith love peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart so you see this is not just a thing for Paul in 2nd Timothy 3 this is why he's writing to Timothy may I say that if Paul wants Timothy to persevere and as far as we know Timothy was a sterling character of a human being I mean Paul says you have carefully followed me if it holds for Timothy then certainly it holds for us we need to persevere we need to go forward we need to express continued faithfulness secondly we need to understand the importance of family religion and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures you know the Shema in the Old Testament in Deuteronomy 64 hear o Israel it's called shema because that's the Hebrew word for hear hear o Israel the Lord our God the Lord is one you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul with all your strength and these words which I command you today she'll be in your heart the notice you shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house when you walk by the way when you lie down and when you rise up you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates remember Joshua and that final exhortation to the children of Israel he says as for me in my house we will serve Yahweh Ephesians 6 fathers do not provoke your children but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord Timothy is told there Timothy is reminded or pointed back to his early religious instruction if Timothy had come out of your home could Paul say this if Timothy had come out of your home under your authority calling you mommy and daddy would Paul be able to say and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures you see brethren we get one kick at the can with reference to rearing our children and if we mess up you can't unring that Bell right so for you parents that have little children put them under the scripture read to them pray with them katica is that teach them the truth as it is in Jesus this is absolutely crucial Deuteronomy 6 Ephesians 6 the example of Joshua in the example of the lowest of the unit's Louis and a Eunice exhibited this kind of faithfulness they didn't say well we don't want to upset your Gentile father so we're not going to bring the Torah to bear upon you know with reference to your Gentile father we're going to still go ahead and teach you the Torah and we are going to teach you about the Messiah described therein and we are going to point you to him you see the necessity of family religion is underscored in this passage because Timothy knew from his childhood the holy scriptures and children if by the grace of God most high you have a Louis or you have a Eunice pay attention listen be thankful that you have the privilege of coming under the scripture don't let it be the case that we say on Sunday morning it's time to go to church and you go I don't want to hear that there is nothing more important for you and to you than the Holy Scriptures because the Holy Scriptures are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus so if you by God's grace come under the sway of the scriptures may I encourage you to pay attention to listen to do what caught the Lord says the psalmist says how can a young man cleanse his way what's the answer by taking heed according to your word you with that question assumes that question assumes the doctrine of total depravity it assumes the presence of sin how can a young man cleanse his way doesn't this imply that his waist hands in need of cleansing it is the scriptures that make you wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus it is the scripture that instructs one on how to get cleansed and if you look at the particular balance of the passage before us you see the emphasis in verse 15 on justification this wisdom that makes us wise for salvation through faith in Christ and then sanctification is developed in terms of the profitability of Scripture in verses 16 verse 16 specifically with a specific application to the man of God Timothy in verse 17 so the Bible is sufficient for all matters of faith and practice well there's our exposition for us as believers we need to persevere too many statistics out there there's too many people out there that make a show they make a profession they say the right things they do the right things but they don't persevere brethren the secret the key to the Christian life is getting up tomorrow morning and being faithful and doing that until you drop dead even if it's in 40 or 50 or 60 years from now perseverance over the long haul steadfastness availing yourselves are the things that God gives to encourage you along the way if you haven't read it recently read Pilgrim's Progress you'll note the Christian on his journey to the celestial City stops at various places and he's refreshed what's Bunyan telling us bonyen is telling us that on the way to the celestial City we need refreshment we need nourishment we need encouragement and most that that comes from the scripture comes from the house of God it comes from the Sabbath day these are means and helps to us along the way so that we will by God's grace one day cross that River Jordan into a manuals land will let us pray our Father we thank you for the word of God and we thank you for its emphasis upon Jesus Christ that glorious one help us father to appreciate both the old and the New Testaments help us the value of the profit and knowing Scripture and grant us grace to not be skeptics when it comes to biblical truth but to hold it fast with both hands and to love the truth as it is in Jesus we ask that you would go with us now we pray that you'd watch over us in this coming week we pray that you would be glorified in our lives as individuals and as families and as a local church and we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation and those interested can then go upstairs for the hymn sing you