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"All who desire to live godly in Christ..."

Text: 2 Timothy 3:12

THE TEACHING OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

It was the Lord Jesus Himself who taught His disciples that they must be prepared for suffering in life if they chose to believe in Him and to walk in His footsteps. These words of warning were carefully and clearly recorded in the Gospels (Matthew 24; Luke 21; John 16).

THE TEACHING OF THE APOSTLES

The two leading apostles, Peter and Paul, wrote to encourage their disciples to learn how to cope with suffering. 1 Peter is a classic text on the subject of suffering for the Lord Jesus. Paul had this to add.

“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus
will suffer persecution.”
2 Timothy 3:12

1. Challenging fallacies

a) That good and righteous people do not suffer.

b) That only the wicked will suffer evil things.

2. “Yes, and all who desire to live godly lives”

a) “All”

We must all be prepared to take suffering (if needs be).

b) “Who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus”

i) Even godly people will suffer.

ii) This is a sobering reality.

c) “Godly in Christ”

i) These seek to follow the Lord Jesus faithfully.

ii) They seek to live in a godly and righteous manner.

3. “Will suffer persecution”

a) Persecution may come in any form.

i) Verbal abuse

ii) Physical violence

iii) Even death

b) Persecution

i) This must not be feared.

ii) The Spirit of God will be with us.

iii) He will strengthen us in our hour of need.