“Here is what I want you to know. There will be TERRIBLE TIMES in the last days. People will love themselves and money. They will brag and be proud, tear others down, not obey their parents and won’t be thankful or holy. They won’t love others, forgive others. They will tell lies about people. They will be out of control, wild, hate what is good. They will turn against their friends. They will act without thinking. They will think they are better than others. They will LOVE WHAT PLEASES THEM INSTEAD OF LOVING GOD.” (2 Timothy 3:1-4) And finally, “They will act as if they were serving God. But what they do will show that they HAVE TURNED THEIR BACKS (apotrepō: shun, avoid) on God’s power. HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THOSE PEOPLE.” (2 Timothy 3:5)
Those who have a form of godliness are those who make an OUTWARD DISPLAY OF RELIGION. They present themselves as godly, BUT IT IS ALL FOR SHOW. There is no power behind their religion, as evidenced in the fact that THEIR LIVES ARE UNCHANGED. When the power of God is present, it will be accompanied by the form of godliness, and is shown through the Holy Spirit by the TRANSFORMATION OF OUR LIVES. “I ask you in a serious and emotional way brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a LIVING SACRIFICE, holy, acceptable to God, which is your REASONABLE service. And DO NOT BE CONFORMED (suschēmatizō: keeping the same form like everyone else) to this world, but BE TRANSFORMED (metamorphoō: to miraculously changed into another form) by the renewing of your mind, that you may PROVE what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Your personal Pastor -Bill Stockham