By: Robert Serreyn

Question? What does “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” mean in 2 Timothy 3:5?

2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Answer:

In the previous four verses Timothy describes the attitudes people will exhibit during the last days, As V1 says…

This know also, that in the last days perilous (Gr. CHALEPOR = Difficult or Dangerous) times shall come.

Question? Why will the last days be Difficult or Dangerous (Perilous)?

Answer: (2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves (4) more than lovers of God

In other words people will become so SELF CENTERED, and SELF RIGHTEOUS that their “Moral Compass” is way out of tune spiritually that the Lord describes them for what they really are in Verses 2 through 4.

(2) 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.

V5 states…

Having a form of godliness- although these people are SPIRITUALLY DEBUNK (Unsaved) THEY in their own minds THINK that they are godly by and through their own standards (works, righteousness) are alright in the eyes of God but as God further states in V5 these people deny the power thereof”

NOTE: The word POWER in V5 IS THE GOSPEL (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), it is BELIEF ALONE in the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ it is THAT POWER ALONE that saves and keeps the believer saved and nothing else.

In Conclusion:

V5 further exhorts (warns) “From such TURN AWAY”, Also Romans 16:17 states…

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

We are to MARK THEM (point out, make known) those THAT TEACH false doctrine and then we are to TURN AWAY from and AVOID THEM, Why??? for the simple reason so that we (the believer) DO NOT get corrupted by false teaching and bad doctrine by their influence.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.

The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.

-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8

-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24

-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9

“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23

IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH