Expounding 2 Timothy 3:8-9 — False Teachers Exposed

Expounding 2 Timothy 3:8-9 — False Teachers Exposed [Print Document]

2 Timothy 3:8-9

“[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.”

In this article we are going to expound and discuss 2 Timothy 3:8-9. We will look at how the sorcerers of Egypt, who withstood Moses, are no different than false teachers who resist the truth. We shall see how God will have to deal with them and with those who follow them.

Jannes and Jambres

Let’s start with Jannes and Jambres, two of the sorcerers in Pharaoh’s court. (Note: The Old Testament doesn’t mention them by name, but the Jews knew who they were.)

Exodus 7:10-12

“[10] And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. [11] Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. [12] For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.”

These sorcerers decided to copy what God did through Moses and Aaron. But, God’s ways are higher than the devil’s, and the serpents of the sorcerers were eaten by the serpent that God had made from a stick. Jannes and Jambres were among these sorcerers and they used satanic power to mimic God. But, God showed His power is greater than the devil by having the serpent eat up the other serpents.

The devil and his servants mimic God, but they distort the truth. They hold a Bible in their hands and teach from it, but they twist the scripture to fit into their own unbiblical and ungodly belief system. They say, “God bless you” with their mouths, but they do not truly care about your soul or where you will end up after you die. They look good on the outside, but they are full of iniquity on the inside, in their hearts. Jesus said this about such people:

Matthew 23:27

“[27] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. [28] Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

Expounding Galatians Chapter 5, Verse 1 ― Stand Fast in the Liberty (Part 2 of 2)

Expounding Galatians Chapter 5, Verse 1 ― Stand Fast in the Liberty (Part 2 of 2)
[Print Document]

(Read part 1 here.)

Galatians 5:1

“[1] Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

This is the second part of our article expounding Galatians 5:1. In the first part we learned about what God’s grace is, and what it isn’t. We saw how false teachers, mentioned in 2 Peter 2, would teach excessively about grace (or liberty), and ignore the teaching about true repentance from sin.

In this article, we will see how Aaron, out of fear of the people (i.e. peer pressure), compromised his standards and built an idol for the people. And, we will see how false teachers are building golden calves of false doctrines, which are destructive to those deceived by them.

The Golden Calf

In Deuteronomy 9, Moses was speaking to the Israelites that had come through 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Moses reminded them of the golden calf that they worshiped after he had gone up to Mount Sinai. Listen to what he said:

Deuteronomy 9:9-12

“[9] When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water:

[10] And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.

[11] And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the LORD gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant. [12] And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image.”

After Moses went up to the mount, the people began to remember the idols of Egypt. Many of them did not desire God. The reason many came up with Moses was to escape the bondage of slavery in Egypt, but not really to serve God. Their hearts were not really toward God. When their spiritual leader left to get the Ten Commandments, and had been gone for over a month, they began to speak of building and worshiping a golden idol.

Exodus 32:1 ― “[1] And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.”

Aaron Built the Golden Calf (but Later Repented)

Expounding Galatians Chapter 5, Verse 1 ― Stand Fast in the Liberty… (Part 1 of 2)

Expounding Galatians Chapter 5, Verse 1 ― Stand Fast in the Liberty... (Part 1 of 2)
[Print Document]

 Galatians 5:1

“[1] Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

The very first words we read in Galatians chapter 5 give Christians a command to stand fast in the liberty purchased by Jesus at the cross of Calvary. What is this liberty from? Is is liberty from the Levitical laws of the Old Testament, such as burnt sacrifices and offerings, observing feast days, not eating pork, etc.? Indeed, Jesus fulfilled the law, and purchased our redemption at Calvary. But, what kind of liberty is God giving us in Galatians 5:1? Is it the liberty to live for selfish reasons?

God does give us liberty from the Old Covenant of works, such as the Levitical laws and duties. God does give us grace each moment so that we can live in fellowship with Him, and not be under the bondage of sin. God’s grace gives us the power to overcome sin and to triumph over it, not be overcome by it (1 Cor. 15:56-57).

Sin itself is made strong by the law, but when we give place to sin, God has grace so that we can be forgiven and turn back to Him.

Romans 5:20-21

“[20] Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: [21] That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Grace ― What It Is and What It Isn’t