Godliness or Godlessness is a sermon teaching us that you cannot claim Jesus as your Savior if you live an ungodly life. You can only serve one master.

Serving God or Not

II Timothy 3 teaches key biblical doctrines, and the first part of the chapter focuses on the differences between those who serve God, and those who do not. There are some characteristics that remind us of our present time but also, what happens to those who endure. In a godless generation, there needs to be a light for those in darkness. Which side of the coin do you fall on, godliness or godlessness?

It is said that we live in the last days, and it has been said for many, many years. There are things that will happen that will help us understand that those of us who stand up and serve God, will not be an easy road all the time. The easy road is to not follow the bible and go to a health and wealth church that will make you feel good, but they will give you a false sense of security.

Being Godless

In II Timothy 3, scriptures tell us about godlessness. Aside from all the things you were taught to sanctify, to shun, to study, to be faithful to God, to kindle the fire within you, to have the spirit of power, we must also be aware of false doctrine. Times are going to get worse and perilous times will come. It will not always be peaceful because we live in a sin-cursed world.

Scriptures say that people are going to be told to go away from the truth and we absolutely see that today. You will know who these people are because of the way they act, talk, and are convinced of things. They are without feeling and just don’t care. You can tell them all the things you want to tell them, but they have already made their choice to reject God.

In the end times, difficulty will come before Jesus returns, and before the Tribulation begins. Strong delusion will occur during the Tribulation period to those who reject the Savior. They will not have a second chance because they have chosen to stay away from God. But, during these end times, God gives us multiple chances to come to Him.

Just as the bible describes, in the end times men shall be lovers of their own selves. People care more about themselves than others. We see this every day. There is not a lot of joy out there today, there is a lot of selfishness. People will be covetous, wanting things they don’t have. There will be boasters about themselves, claiming they achieved their success themselves. The proud, desiring recognition, will also rise up, as will the blasphemers who take the Lord’s name in vain. There will be those who are disobedient to parents, disrespecting them. Unthankful people fill our society today, not thankful toward others or to God. People will be unholy, not recognizing the sanctity and deity of a Holy God. There will be people without natural affection and trucebreakers whose promises are broken and empty. False accusers will lie about others for self-gain. There will be more people who will be losing their self-control. The fierce and despisers of good will flourish. All these will give rise to a godless society.

People can choose to follow the wrong way and God will give them up to a reprobate mind or they can choose to go the right way for good. There will be those who are traitors, heady or rash, high minded, and lovers of pleasures of this world more than lovers of God.

Only One Master

At the sermon on the mount, the first publicly recorded sermon, Jesus taught us to not lay treasures on Earth as others can rob you of all you have leaving you with nothing. But save your treasure in Heaven where nothing can take it away. God is going to have it secure for you. What you set your affection on is what you are going to go for. You cannot serve two masters, only one.

These people try to conceal themselves by having a form of godliness. They act like they want to have your best interest and appear like Christians but are self-serving and seek to ruin you and your testimony. They act like they know God but deny the power of God. We must turn away from these people and cut them off.

The way these people attack is described in scripture as creeping into houses and leading captive weak-minded women, who are not grounded in God’s Word, into many sins — they are easily swayed to follow a lie or the latest trend. Or, these people are led away from the truth, not being properly taught. We do not need to go with the newest wave of doctrine taught, it is what Satan wants us to do. Instead, stay grounded in truth and faith.

Be on Guard

There will be people who will try to take advantage of you, don’t let them. There are false teachers who cause others to fall. They are bold in their lies and will try to convince you that their teaching is right. If you are not rooted in the Word of God, they are going to sway you away. And you will be bound to their teaching because they sound good. But where is the substance that puts it all together? Eventually, they will have to account to God. It is our duty to be on guard against false teachers and teachings. Godlessness can take on many forms. It can be bad to disastrous.

Being Godly

The godly example is given in scripture and Timothy knew Paul’s testimony. Paul cared for other people, his faith was true in his manner of life and how he walked with God. Before that, Paul was an enemy of God. Paul knew his purpose was to reach all people but specifically, the gentiles. Paul was known for his love and patience. Paul has suffered many persecutions and recorded in the book of Acts, they occur back to back. Three times in a row he suffered persecutions. But he endured and God delivered him from them all.

Those who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. It is better to suffer persecution now and then live in the glory of Heaven forevermore. Some say live your best life now and not endure persecution, but this is not what Jesus taught. There will always be those who will try to put a stop to God’s Word being spread. But we need to continue in what we have learned. We are getting closer to the end of the last days and there will be people who oppose you for your faith. But do our duty and work to lead others to Christ.

Like Paul, we can endure, and God will deliver us. Ask yourself if you are godly or godless. If you are not leading a Christian life, you cannot claim Jesus as your Savior. Trust Jesus. If you want to be delivered out of the things that are happening now, trust Him. If you need hope, trust Him. Christian living is not the easiest, but it is a blessed life.

Godliness or Godlessness sermon starts with verses from II Timothy 3:1-13:

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.

Also verses from I Timothy 4:1-3:

¹ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

² Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

³ Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

II Thessalonians 2:1-12:

¹ Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

² That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

³ Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

⁴ Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

⁵ Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

⁶ And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

⁷ For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

⁸ And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

⁹ Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

¹⁰ And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

¹¹ And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

¹² That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Romans 1:29-32:

²⁹ Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

³⁰ Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

³¹ Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

³² Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Matthew 6:19-24:

¹⁹ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

²⁰ But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

²¹ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

²² The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

²³ But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

²⁴ No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

II Timothy 2:15:

¹⁵ Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Acts 13:50-51:

⁵⁰ But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

⁵¹ But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

Acts 14:1-5:

¹ And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.

² But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

³ Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

⁴ But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

⁵ And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,

Acts 14:19-20:

¹⁹ And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

²⁰ Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

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