2 Timothy chapter three this morning. With this being Reformation month, I want to briefly speak of an English reformer many may have never heard of, preacher and church historian John Fox. Born in Lincoln Shire, England, a year before Luther authored his 95 Theses in Germany. During his youth, Fox quickly grew into a highly intelligent young man. While studying at Magellan College, Fox began studying church history, and throughout his studies, it led to him embracing the Protestant movement, you could say, or Protestantism. And this embrace led to him being denounced from college as a heretic and disowned by his own family. for he strongly rejected the Roman Catholic Church, which led to his fleeing of England after the rise of Catholic Mary Tudor, or as we may know her as, Bloody Mary, as she rose to power. He was known for writing Protestant books, so he had a target on his back, so he fled. One such book that he wrote is more famous than the others. A book you might have heard of. A book that is credited with shaping many of the English views of Catholicism and one of the main reasons for the nickname Bloody Mary. For this book, it chronicled the martyrs from the early church all the way up until the ones murdered by Mary and the Catholic church at the time. originally titled, A History of the Lives, Sufferings, and Triumphant Deaths of Many of the Primitive as Well as Protestant Martyrs. It has now simply become known as Fox's Book of Martyrs. Fox's Book of Martyrs, written by John Fox and published in 1563. My entire life, I heard stories of this book of the persecution of Christians, of the persecution of the church. I would hear of it and I would be saddened by the history that it depicted. Men and women killed for the faith. Yet, even though I was saddened, it always seemed so foreign to me. To be persecuted for the faith. You know, that's in the past. That's from like the days of Nero. when Christians were killed under the rule of Nero, or that is the days of Bloody Mary when Christians were killed then, or that's in a foreign, pagan country, not here in America where we aren't persecuted. So many in American evangelicalism, I believe, have this view. But in light of that view, How are we to take verses like 2 Timothy 3.12? Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. And no doubt, not all persecutions are the same in their severity. We have seen variations of the severity of persecution throughout history, from culture to culture, country to country, even in our day. But this morning, I want to challenge the notion that Christians today, even in America, aren't persecuted. And I want to do that by first defining persecution. Persecution is not always imprisonment or death. It's any opposition or hostility faced because of one's faithfulness to Christ. But defining that as well as what it means to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. And I want to examine the relationship between the two. As we go through the text, I hope to answer the questions, are all Christians persecuted? As the text says, are Christians today persecuted or are Christians even in America persecuted? We have some examples, but as a whole, are they? Why or why not? And what does this mean for us? Not what does it mean to us? What does it mean for us? If you find yourself in 2 Timothy 3, if you'd please stand as we reverence the reading of God's holy word. Beginning in verse 10, continuing through the end of the chapter. Paul, writing Timothy, says, you, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 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. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. while evil people and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God. and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, and that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. Let us pray. Father, this morning, we are thankful for your word. Lord, as we continue, Lord, where we left off here in 2 Timothy, I pray that, Father, you'd give us grace. Pray that you'd help me, Lord, as I preach, to preach your word rightly, to be faithful to the text, Let me be applied rightly that you would guide my every thought, my every word this morning. Send me the great help that I need this morning that you might strengthen my voice. Lord, that you would give us ears to hear as we hear this text and we hear it preached, Lord, and that we all may, as individuals and as a church, apply this rightly. Lord, that it might bring you glory, that it might be for the good of the church, for the edification of the church. Lord, may we make much of Christ this morning. May the preaching of Your Word make much of Christ this morning. Father, may we rely solely upon Your Holy Spirit. May You meet with us this morning. We ask all this in Christ's name. Amen. We pick up this morning Where we left off, we left off after verse 11, we pick up this morning with verse 12. And as usual, we're going to work through our text almost word for word or phrase by phrase. But our text here that we're gonna focus on begins in verse 12. And verse 12 begins with the word indeed. And this word indeed is linking to the previous text. In fact, this indeed is connecting to the broader context of this passage as well as the letter as a whole. And if we remember, and I know sometimes it's hard to remember, I think once a month, once every month and a half, preaching in 2 Timothy, but the context of this book is suffering. You know, we suffered a great loss last month with the loss of Votie Bauckham, and he summed 2 Timothy up about the best I've heard. When he said, he summed it up like this, Paul to Timothy, Timothy, they're going to kill me for preaching the gospel. You preach the gospel until I kill you. That's the context that we see here in this connection back to the previous verses. So he's saying to Timothy, if we just want to look back to verse 10, he's saying to Timothy, so Timothy, you have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness. and even my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra, persecutions that I endured, but was rescued from by the Lord. All of these distinctions, if you remember, we talked about being distinct, that these things made Timothy distinct from the world, distinct from those of the last days. In all of these distinctions, they influenced how Paul and then Timothy would live in and react to this world. But at the very same time, these distinctions also would change and would cause a reaction, and they would change how the world lived and reacted to Paul and Timothy. And the same should be said of all believers. And Paul is using these previous verses as support for the next statement that he's going to make. They're linked. So this indeed is used as an affirmation to that support. And he's going to provide more support from this. And we kind of first see the effect and then the cause. And we see that Paul suffered persecution. He even gives examples for Timothy to understand that, I suffered persecution at Antioch and at Iconium and at Lystra. And then he clearly says why. Why he suffered persecution. And in that statement, we see a great part of the why of a believer's suffering. In particular, the suffering of Paul here, but also the suffering of Timothy. suffering of believers in regards to their suffering of persecution. I want to look at this statement for a few moments in verse 12. I want to break this up into three parts. In this verse, three things are given. We have a range, we have a requirement, and we have a result. We start with the range, or you could say the scope. He says there in verse 12, so he's talked about persecution, this is verse 11, which persecutions I endured, yet from them all the Lord rescued me, indeed all. This is the Greek word of pontes, which means, it means each one. It means all of them, the whole lot, every and all. So each one, each what? What is the condition of this range? We see that this range is all, each one. What is the condition of this scope? We find the answer here as Paul makes a distinction. We see a range, and then he provides a requirement to be in this range of all. He provides a requisite. And that is those who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. So put this together. The whole lot, each one, of those who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. And before we get to the next part, let us understand that. those who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. This is only true and can only be true of those who are genuine in their faith. That this, desiring to live a godly life in Christ Jesus, is a definition of their life. Their life is marked by this. What is that life? What is it that defines it? What does it look like? Well, it looks like a life that is lived with a desire. What is a desire? This would be a want from within, not just a thought, but rather a desire. This would not be someone who is insincere or someone who is playing a game or playing a part, but to have a heartfelt desire. What is that desire for? Well, in our text it says, indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. So this is an inward desire that results in action. And that action is a life of godliness. So you can think of godliness, godlikeness. A life that follows the life of Christ who was God in the flesh. People who by God's grace are resolved to live a life in devotion to Christ. A life in devotion to Christ. Not a day of the week. Not a play a part on Sunday, but who live a life, and their whole lives are in Christ Jesus. Given to Christ. A desire evidenced in the way they live. You could go back to verse 10. A desire evidenced in the teaching that they follow. or what they might teach, a desire that's evidenced in their conduct, a desire that's evidenced in their aim of life, a desire that's evidenced in their faith, their patience, their love, their steadfastness, and as well as we'll see in a moment, their persecutions and sufferings. Who should that describe? Who should this describe? desire, indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. Before we get to the rest of this verse, who should that describe? You know, maybe those who belong to Christ and follow Him. Since this is a godly life in Christ Jesus, do we have a word for that? For these people? Yes, the word is Christians. Those born again in Christ who will, by God's grace, live a life marked by their desire for Christ. Their desire to live a godly life in Him. If you don't have that desire, if you don't have the desire evidenced by your life, then you may very well not be a Christian. So we need to pause before we get to the rest of this. Before we talk about persecution, let us pause here. Is this you? Is your desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus? And is your life an evidence of that? Does it back it up? If the answer is no. No, it is not my desire to live a life in Christ Jesus. And no, my life does not back that up. It does not speak of a desire to live for Christ Jesus. My encouragement to you right now, in the middle of this sermon, at the beginning of this sermon, repent today and believe upon Christ. Call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. But understand something, that in this world, there are consequences to this life in Christ. Now they are nothing compared to the consequences of the next life for those not in Christ, in eternity in hell. But there are consequences here. We have a range, we have a scope, we have a requirement. And now in verse 12, we have a result. that all, the whole lot, each one of those who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus, the ending of verse 12, will be persecuted. Those who desire to live for Christ. That's the distinction of the persecuted. Why will they be persecuted? Because of that fact, they desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. This speaks of certainty, not might, will be. Paul did not view his sufferings and his persecutions as peculiar for those in the faith. Our range and scope of those desiring to live a godly life in Christ Jesus that would be persecuted was all. And the problem today in modern evangelicalism is that most within it would say that persecution is peculiar. But Paul didn't see it that way. And maybe the reason why it seems so peculiar to so many in evangelicalism today is because they live a life that is very different than that of Paul. And I'm not meaning different as it relates to a time period in history, but different in their firm stance upon the truth of the gospel in the midst of a wicked generation. Now I will note, not all persecution looks the same and not all will be persecuted in the same way. All will not die for the faith as Paul did. But all will face persecution and rejection as they live for Christ. This is the norm of Christianity. But why? Why will that, why will desiring to live a godly life in Christ Jesus lead to persecution? Why does that fact matter and why is the result of that persecution? Because it sets them as separate from the world. Paul's faith shouldn't seem so different or peculiar to that of Christians today. But their faith should make them different, and their faith should make them peculiar. And that is different from the world. Peculiar in the eyes of the world. Because desiring this life, to live a godly life in Christ Jesus, puts them at odds with a wicked and a godless culture around them. Because they desire to live a godly life, while the world lives an ungodly life. That's an important difference. Because the world will be, look at verse 13. So indeed, verse 12, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and imposters will go on, from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. Note that this is happening at the same time. This is wild. So all the while the believer is desiring to live a godly life in Christ Jesus and being persecuted for it, the world is an evil people. evil people and imposters. The world is going from bad to worse, wicked and getting worse. The world is deceiving and being deceived. The world is deceiving as it's being deceived, leading others astray as it is astray. You know, think back to verse 8, Janice and Jambres here, the magicians that Moses opposed with Pharaoh. And Paul is warning of this deception and evil from those who are even within the visible body as well. From those who claim to be in Christ, wolves in sheep's clothing. And this is not new. This is not new from the world. Just as their father is evil and the great deceiver, and just as their father Satan hates God, the world hates God. They hated Christ, they still hate Christ, and this will lead to persecution for those who are desiring to live a godly life in Him. This is the reaction of the world to that fact in their lives. They will simply be treated as He is treated, as He was treated. Some may wrongly read verse 12 and say, well, it just says desire. It doesn't say anything really about what all we do. They desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. Well, that's wrong for many reasons, but for two reasons. First, if it doesn't lead to action, it may be a thought, or you may like the idea of it, but it is not a desire. A true desire leads to action. Some may note, well, that's not true. You know, I desire to be an NFL football player and I haven't made it. Well, I would say even if that desire may be impossible, if that is truly your desire, I will see you out here on the road running. I will see you in a weight room lifting weights. I will see you out on the football field training because your desire, even though you may never fulfill it, your desire is to be an NFL football player and you're going to work and there's going to be action behind that desire. If it's a desire, you're going to do it. For those of you that are lost this morning, why aren't you a believer? Because you don't desire to be. Why don't you pray? Because you don't desire to. Why don't we read our Bibles more? Because we don't desire to. And I know there are providential cases and hindrances to actions and what you can do. But most of the times, if you don't count those within those circumstances, we don't do things for Christ most of the time because we don't want to. Because we don't want to. If you're healthy, and you can be at church, why do we skip church for other things, events, things like this? Because a lot of times, we have more of a desire for those things. So that's one reason why that would be false. And second, the world ain't gonna persecute you for a thought in your head that produces no fruit, no words, or expectually action. Think what you want, as long as it stays up there, think what you want, they don't care. But if you're living for Christ, the world is gonna care. Because rightly so, it sees you as its enemy. The one who exposes its darkness and its sinfulness. And maybe you hear all of that and you say, well, why am I not being persecuted? I do wanna note, you shouldn't have a persecution complex. Like I'm gonna leave out from here, after Pastor Jacob gets done talking about persecution, I'm gonna leave out from here, I'm gonna go seek it. I'm gonna go at harps, and I'm gonna find somebody to persecute me, and I'm gonna force them to persecute me so I can say, hey, I'm being persecuted. That's foolish. We shouldn't have a persecution complex. And we understand that some places see less persecution because of governments, cultural values, and laws having all been influenced by Christianity. However, even in those societies, the unbelieving world remains hostile to the truth. They remain hostile to the gospel. We see it in our society. We see this in America. Maybe the idea of murder our society would claim to be against, until you bring up abortion and the murder of babies within the womb, and then that murder holding the same consequence as other murder in our society, and all of a sudden, our society doesn't really care about murder. Maybe the idea of a family, some within our society, would support, yeah, families are good, maybe. But when you push for God's design for the family and for genders, then all of a sudden they forget about being against murder. How angry they will get. And again, not all persecution is physical harm. But however, a thought we need to think. I am not saying this is you. But a consideration we may need to give. Maybe the reason you aren't being persecuted in whatever form, is because the world sees you as their own. We need to mention yet again, to maybe help drive home the point, this is something that all those living in obedience to Christ, following the example of our Lord, will face in a form or fashion. This truth is spoken of throughout Scripture. Matthew 5, 10 through 12, blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. That's a form of persecution, uttering all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad. For your reward is great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets before you. Matthew 10, 28. And do not fear those who could kill the body. Why would they want to kill the body? but cannot kill the soul, rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body and hell. John 15, 17, these things I command you, so that you will love one another. If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it has hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. That's a sobering truth. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. But because you're not of the world, but because I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember that I said to you, a servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. There towards the end of John 16, He talks to them that the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think that he is offering a service to Me. Actually, this is the beginning. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father nor Me. But at the end of chapter 16 it says, I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world." And in 1 Thessalonians 3, 4, Paul writes, for when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer persecution just as it has come to pass and just as you know. These are examples of Scripture, of Christ, of Paul predicting and telling that those who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus would be persecuted. We see that Jesus was persecuted and He spoke that the prophets were persecuted and He spoke that the disciples were going to be persecuted. They were going to be killed. We read of Paul's persecutions at Iconium, at Antioch, and at Lystra. This should be a comfort. These should be a comfort. A lot of times we look at these persecutions and we think, I don't want that to be me. This should be a comfort because this is warned of in scripture. It is by God's design for it to happen and we are not alone in this. Our Lord is with us and so is the church. Our Lord faced persecutions. The servant is not greater than his master. If he faced persecutions, if they persecuted him, why would we think they wouldn't persecute us? And then as the church age was born, the church has faced this. The church of the past has faced this. The church of the present is facing this. And the church of the future will face this because there is but one church. The reformers faced this. Some died for their faith. John Fox risked his life to record the sufferings of Christians under persecution. And his book of martyrs still stands as a testimony that those who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. That what Paul spoke of all those years ago was true in the day of John Fox and it is true in our day today. Many are still dying today. Some even in America. That may not be you. Maybe what this looks like for you is rejection from friends and family because your stance upon the truths of Scripture. Maybe it's being labeled all kinds of things because you won't budge on the truth. Or maybe it's something else. We could have a list if we had time. But examine yourselves based upon this truth. Indeed, all those who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. This is how the world is going to react to those who are in Christ. But how should we respond? How do we respond in the midst of a godless and wicked culture while desiring to live a godly life in Christ Jesus and being persecuted for it? Paul gives this great application here. Paul warns of persecution, but he doesn't leave Timothy without direction. In verses 14 and 15, he gives the anecdote to fear and compromise with continue in what you have learned. The Christian's response, verse 14 and 15, but as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believe, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. He begins verse 14 with, but as for you, This is the exact same Greek words and phrasing at the beginning of verse 10, where in the ESV, it translated as, you however. That's the same here, but as for you, you however. And just as verse 10 tied back to the preceding verses, this verse does in the same manner. It also is in regards to the same issue. Verse 10 tied back to verse 1, the people of the last days. But understand this, this is chapter 3 verse 1, but understand this, in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness but denying its power, avoid such people." Those people are mentioned again in verse 13. It's the same people. while evil people and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. Paul is tying back to that. And wait, last time we were in 2 Timothy. He uses verse 10 to make a distinction between Timothy and those people. He is doing the same here once again. And once again, we see this as a distinction of not just Paul and Timothy versus the world, but all believers as well. This is the truth of the world. during the last days. This is what they will do, Timothy. Church, this is what they will do. This is what the world will be. This is what they will do. But you must not. They will do this, but you will do that. We see in this the response of the believer to the wickedness of the world, as well as the response to the persecutions face due to the world being so wicked and deceptive. So maybe you ask this morning, what must I do? This world is wicked and it is getting more wicked. They hate God and they hate those who follow God. They are persecuting us. We read about them killing us. They are saying all kinds of evil against us. They are doing this, they are calling us this, they are spitting upon us, I'm losing friends and family. We are in this battle and it is hard. What must we do? The very thing here that Paul is exhorting Timothy to do. And this absolutely supports and is linked to verse 10 and the things that Timothy had followed. Continue in what you have learned and firmly believed." Hold fast to the truth. What Timothy had learned and firmly believed, what did he learn? It says in verse 15, the sacred writings, the Old Testament, Paul is telling Timothy, don't run to anything new, Timothy, to the latest trends and such or other things that people may be trying to sell you. Rather, hold fast to and continue in what you have learned. He had learned. He learned the Old Testament, no doubt, he was taught this, maybe from his mother and grandmother being included here, we read of them a couple of chapters ago. Being learned from Paul, he learned from Paul's teaching, he had followed Paul's teaching and he followed that of others. They taught him of the gospel, of the faith. He said to continue in it, knowing from whom you have learned it. It's important to know who you're learning from. Today, we're kind of very, I think, foolish at times in this regards. It's important to know who you're learning from. Are they faithful? You may say, well, that's not important, just what they teach. Wrong, it is important. We don't learn from only perfect people. The scriptures are perfect, but we learn from others that aren't perfect people. But why learn from someone unfaithful when God has given us so many faithful teachers to learn from? You know, that includes those that are mere men that weren't perfect. That includes past preachers or theologians or pastors or other believers, children that includes your parents. Learn from the scripture and learn from godly people. Timothy was learning from Paul, who was not perfect, but Paul had evidence in his life that he was desiring to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. Too many today stop with that, stop with learning. He says, continue in what you have learned and firmly believe. Learn it. Learn good doctrine. Learn the truth. Learn the gospel. But don't stop with learning. It did not stop at learning for Timothy. He firmly believed it. Believe it. It is one thing to learn the truth. It is another to believe it. To be convinced of its truth. And now, I know this is only a work of the Holy Spirit, but too many today are learned, but they don't believe. This will not be much help. Too many with knowledge just to have knowledge. This could be with those who claim to be in reformed circles as well. If you don't believe it, go to Twitter. A lost person who can greatly articulate theology is going to hell. And they are condemned by that knowledge. Knowledge is good. Doctrine is good. Have great theology and believe it. Be convinced of it and live by it. What had he firmly believed? The truth. Continue in what you have learned and firmly believe, knowing whom you have learned it and how from your childhood you have been equated with the sacred writings. He had learned the truth. What truth? Well, the Old Testament for sure. Timothy had not been instructed on the entirety of all Scriptures. We have it. but he had been on many truths of Scripture as well as the Gospel. And Timothy in the face of persecution would need to hold on to these truths. The truth of Scripture, the truth of the Gospel would sustain Timothy and he could trust it in a world full of lies. We must hold firmly to the truth as well in a world full of lies. We have the truth. We have the perfect, inerrant, infallible Word of God, and we must hold on to it. We must learn it. We must read of it, study it, and be firmly convinced of its truth. Read it, believe it, be firmly convinced of it. Verses 16 and 17, we'll cover these in November. All Scriptures breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete equipped for every good work. We must hold fast to it. Continue in it. Hold fast to the Gospel. He says, you've been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, or in Christ Jesus. Timothy had the Old Testament. It was able to make him wise. Paul is specific here to what kind of wisdom? Saving wisdom. From the Old Testament? Is the Gospel there? Of course. Of course it is. Paul here supports that the Old Testament, we study it through the lens of Christ. That Christ is all throughout, that the Gospel is in the Old Testament. That Old Testament saints were trusting in the future work of Christ. They were saved by faith. Through grace. You say, well, what is the gospel? Salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Guilty sinners made new by the work of Christ. By His perfect life, His perfect obedience. That they could not live, that we could not live. Verse 12, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. Who is the perfect example of a godly life? It is Christ Jesus. He lived it perfectly. Then He died the pituitary death of the cross for the sins of His people. At His resurrection the third day, declaring His people free, the debt had been paid in full. Oh, what a gospel that we have! Rotten sinners! To quote Piper Nelson, rotten sinners saved by the grace of God. This is for all those who will repent and trust in Christ, trusting in the completed work of Christ. We need this gospel church. This is how we battle the wickedness and the persecutions of the world. We must be gospel oriented. We don't move from it. Don't think that it's no longer needed. Believer, I don't care if you've been saved for 50 years, you need the gospel. It is the answer. Don't change it. In a world full of what our text says, deceivers, those that are deceiving and being deceived, those that are distorting the gospel to lies, hold true to the truth. Hold fast to the truth. Hold fast to the true biblical gospel. Remain true. Don't change it. Don't move from it. And take the gospel to the world boldly. Proclaim it. How can one be saved? Is there hope? For our wicked and godless culture, yeah, there is hope, but it is only through Christ Jesus. He is the only hope. How can this wicked world be saved? Only through the proclamation of the true gospel found in Scripture. Take the gospel to the world. This is the opposite of the course of the world. A godly life in Christ Jesus is opposite to the course of the world. This is why one foot in the world and one foot in the church will never work. This scripture makes it very clear. Our text today makes it very clear. There is no riding the fence. You are for Christ or you are against him. You are his friend or his enemy. Which are you? Our text this morning as we get close to landing the plane, as Quatre would say, we can see our destination. Our text this morning is full of applications for believers today, just as it was for Timothy. Just as Timothy was, we are living in these last days, as we await the return of Christ. And in these last days, those in Christ living in obedience to the Word of God, will be at odds with this world. They will face rejection, persecution, which will look different from person to person, as we stated earlier. But is this true of you? If it is, if you're different from the world, there'd be different reasons that you're different from the world. If you're different, is it because of your desiring to live a godly life in Christ Jesus? If so, press on with the hope of Christ. There are those out there that we see today that they're persecuted not for Christ, but because of their own pride and their own desire for notoriety instead of making Christ known. I won't argue that this is true. We see this from those who claim to be, I am in full support of street preaching. There are those that do it wrong. There are those that do it out of a desire to make a name for themselves and they're wrong and they're foolish. And they are persecuted because of their foolishness. If this has been you, repent of this. But if you say no, I don't face persecution for my faith. And like I said, that could mean there's no difference. There's no friction between the world and myself. No rejection, no friction. Examine yourself. Are you trusting in Christ? Are you a believer? If not, repent today and believe. Are you truly living a life that is given to Christ, given to the gospel? Are you standing for the truth in the midst of lies, no matter the cost? Because the truth is, if you stand, upon and live out a godly life in Christ Jesus and the world sees it and sees that you stand against the wickedness that is accepted as normal today in our life, friction will occur very soon. Even from some who claim to be within the church. Maybe you're in Christ, but the reason you're not There's no friction and like you're not looking for friction, as we said before. Maybe it's because we've cowered. I'm guilty. I'm guilty of the truth needing to be spoken, and I've cowered and not spoken. Maybe we all have. Maybe from time to time we've cowered. Maybe you have. I have. What must I do? Run to Christ. Be forgiven. Pray for boldness that you might boldly stand upon His truth. Be aware of the world. We have been warned time and time again in Scripture that this world is chock full of evil people and imposters that are going from bad to worse. They are deceived and you must not be. The world hates Christ and therefore if you're in Christ, it hates you. Know this and be on guard, but don't be without hope. Take the gospel to this world. They need the Gospel. They need the Gospel. They too can be saved. But it is only through the work of Christ. It is only through His Gospel. So continue in this truth. Continue in the truth that you have learned. The truth of Scripture. Hold fast to it. Hold fast to the Gospel. Remember what a hope we have in Christ in the midst of our sufferings and persecutions, whatever they may be. And understand that this is how we battle in the midst of a godless culture that persecutes us for our faith. We battle with the gospel of Christ. By God's grace, we dive headlong. We don't cower, we don't hide behind these four walls. We dive headlong into this world with the gospel as our shield and as our sword. So church, in an age where evil men grow worse, we are called to grow firmer, or more firm, holding fast to the word, grounded in the gospel, steadfast in Christ, whose the text we read earlier has overcome the world. Don't be dismayed, church, for the victory is in the hands of the King, our King, our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us pray. Father, we are thankful for Christ. May we make much of him. Lord, we live in a world that hates you. We live in a world that crucified you. Lord, and today, if you were to come back, contrary to what many may proclaim. You would be crucified again. Lord, you've exposed the darkness of this world and they hated you for it, and therefore those who are in you, they will hate as well. Forgive me, forgive us where we have cowered in the faith, where we have cowered in sharing the gospel. May we not seek to go out and be persecuted just to make a name for ourself or to claim that we've been persecuted. Father, may we just do this simple thing, desire to live a godly life in your Son, in Christ Jesus. And Lord, come what may with that. May that be our attitude. We're going to desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. We're going to do it, come what may. Lord, if we see revival, praise be to you, who is the sender of revival. If we face persecution, praise be to you. Praise be to Christ, for he has overcome the world. May our hope be in him. Lord, may we repent for our cowardice. May we be emboldened to take the gospel to the world, for it is the only hope they have. We've been commanded to it. May we hope in Christ, may we may we be planted firmly on scripture in your gospel and not move from it. Lord, in times of weariness and in despair. Father, whether that be persecution for faith, whether that may be suffering loss, first suffering loss of a family member of a church member, Father, may we understand that we have hope in Christ. He's worthy, and it is in His name that we pray. Amen.