God’s people pay attention to the environment they are living in and clearly discern what is happening around them - 2 Timothy 3:1-5 - “But understand (ginosko: know) this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant,(conceited) abusive,(blasphemer) disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,(wicked) 3 heartless,(loveless) unappeasable,(unwilling to reconcile) slanderous, without self-control, brutal,(savage) not loving good, 4 treacherous,(traitor, betrayer) reckless,(rash, thoughtless) swollen with conceit,(stupid with conceit) lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness (looking godly) but denying its power. (1 Corinthians 1:18) Avoid such people.
God’s people pay close careful attention to the creepers (diabolos) who come to draw the weak in faith away to entice and entrap them. - 2 Timothy 3:6-9 - “For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind (depraved) and disqualified (rejected) regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly (senselessness) will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
God’s people are careful to follow proven godly leaders and are secure in what’s to come, knowing Christ will rescue His people.- 2 Timothy 3:10-13 - “You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, and His people) my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
God’s people hold firm to sound doctrine, which they have learned and tested by scripture alone in Christ alone. - 2 Timothy 3:14-15
God’s people learn, test, reform their ways, and grow in the virtue of doctrine through scripture alone by the Holy Spirit guiding us in all truth to accomplish His purpose and plan. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 -
