THE PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS
2 Tim. 3:12
Morning Meditation 12/15/16
Verse 12 says, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
One of the great things about America is freedom of religion. It is my firm conviction that there is only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ. I also believe that the way one is saved is through repentance toward God and faith in Jesus (Acts 20:21). I believe that is the only way of salvation. Therefore I believe that many of the cults, false religious movement, and so-called Christian Churches who do not preach what I believe the Bible to teach on this subject are sending their followers to hell through their false doctrine. I said all that to say this. I believe they have the legal right according to our constitution to spread their false doctrine. The moment I deny them the right under our constitution, I deny myself that right.
The world is filled with enemies of truth. Paul is speaking to Timothy and telling him that there are people out there that hate the truth and will oppose it by persecution. Let’s examine what Paul said to Timothy.
Our text says, “Yea, all that will live godly . . .” The word “Yea” translates “de” and is a conjunction and connects what has just been said to the affirmation of this verse. This conjunction is translated by the words, “now” and “then” and “also” and with several other words in our King James Bible. The truth to which it connects Paul’s statement to Timothy is verses 10-11: “But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 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..” Paul was a persecuted Christian. Paul would probably not know how to operate under the freedom that most of us enjoy today. Paul is giving Timothy information that will sustain him during times of persecution. When things go wrong, one of the first things we do is say to ourselves, “What did I do wrong?” It may be an indication that you are doing things right.
The word “all” translates “pas” and means “each and everyone.” This is all inclusive. No one is without persecution if he or she fits what is said in this verse. The words “that will” translate “thelo” and means “to desire, to will, to long for.” It is a present active participle. The present tense represents action that is continuous in the present tense. It is on going. It is speaking of a person who is continually desiring to live godly in Christ Jesus. We might contrast it to someone who is worked up emotionally in a preaching service, who has a sudden desire to live godly, but after the shallow emotions that brought about that decision dies, he no long has the desire. Paul is not talking about that in the use of this verb form. There is no doubt that Timothy had a continual desire to live godly in Christ Jesus. It was not a spirit of emotions that motivated him. It was a desire that was continual in his heart.
The words “live godly” describes that kind of life that Timothy continually wanted in his life. There are some people who continually desire sports. They live for sports. There are others who continually desire fishing or hunting. There are other things that can possess the desires of man. But Paul is talking about one whose passionate desire is to live godly. The word “live” translates “zao” and means “to live, “to breathe, to be among the living.” It is also a present active infinitive. This means that the desire to “live” is right now in this present life. The word “godly” translates “eusebos” and means “to be pious.” We sometimes use this word in negative comments, i.e., that man is a pious hypocrite. This means he thinks he is better than anyone else and does not even practice in his personal life what he preaches. There is a true piety that should be the desire of every Christian. This is the piety of which Paul speaks.
The words “in Christ Jesus” identify the sphere of the life of godliness. The word “in” translates the Greek preposition “en” denoting a fixed position (in place, time, or state.). Godliness apart from being in Christ is mere human religion. There are basically two religions in the world. One has to do with human effort, the other is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and it is a gift from God. The one is what man does for God to obtain His favor. The other is what God does for man because of His mercy and grace. The one deifies man and says “man has the power inherent in him to please God if he will.” The other accepts God’s verdict that all are sinners, depraved to the point that they can never do a thing in their own strength to please God, and is willing to trust what God has done in Christ to redeem them. There are two religions in the world. One is works for salvation the other is grace alone. There is no difference in the Buddhist who believes he will be right with God by his good deeds and the Christian who mixes his performance with what he calls faith as a basis for salvation. Both believe that without good deeds you will not go to heaven.
No one is “is in Christ Jesus” who got there by his own works. This is one sphere where you cannot go around and climb over the back fence and get in. You cannot climb through a window. You must go through the ONE DOOR. John said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” Then he tells us in John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Did Jesus tell the truth when He made these claims? When Jesus said “I am the door,” was He right? He didn’t say, “I am a door as if He were just one of many.” He said, “I am THE DOOR,” setting forth the truth that He is the only door. Then He cleared up any reason for doubt when He said in John 14:6 that no one comes to the Father but by Him. A man who believes that works for salvation will gain acceptance with God, believes that is a door. You will either have to reject this idea or say Jesus didn’t know what He was talking about. Do you see how believing what we believe the Bible to teach will get us in trouble with those who disagree. The man who believes in works for salvation may say, “I also believe that you will be saved believing what you believe.” Now, he is being nice to us, isn’t he? Now here is where the hair gets in the butter! I don’t believe he is saved at all. In fact, I believe he will suffer in hell forever. I didn’t come up with this. This is what Jesus says in John 10:9 and John 14:6. You may not agree with Jesus. But if you read these verses, you have to see that this is what He is saying. If you don’t see that you are not honest enough to be in the discussion.
The words “shall suffer persecution” translates “dioko.” and means “ to run swiftly in order to catch a person in order to abuse or mistreat him.” It is a future passive indicative. The future tense has Paul saying that the person (no particular one in mind) will in the future suffer persecution because of his godly life. The passive voice means that the persecutor will do it to him. It will not be a mistreatment that he causes to himself. His life offends and as a result the offended party will come after him with the intent to do harm.
Paul says there is no way to avoid this. It will happen. Is this verse one that just applies to Timothy and the people of his day? I think not. Godly living will bring persecution in our day as well as then.
When the laws of a country protect us from persecution, the persecution takes on a different flavor.. Sometimes it comes out in a visa office where a missionary tries to get a visa to spread the gospel in a country. The man in the visa office does not believe that another church is needed. He is in a denomination and has seen people leave his church to go to a church like the one this missionary wants to build. So remembering this, he does everything he can to drag his feet and sometimes causes long delays or even the rejection of the missionary from entering the country.
Then there are others who so hate the doctrine the preacher is preaching (because it exposes the heresy of the other), lies are told and every effort is made to discredit him. A lie can effectively ruin a preachers influence and neutralize his ministry.
Paul tells us to expect things like this to happen. He says they will happen. What do you do about it. We need to be as careful as we can to avoid the appearance of evil so that if something is said that is not true, there is no evidence that will support the lie. Then we need to do with persecution what Jesus said. Matthew 5:1112 says, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” To do this is to walk by faith. To fight back, is to walk after the flesh. The Lord can protect our reputation. But we must do what He says. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.
May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
Bro. White
