Persecution Is Inevitable. 2 Timothy 3:12-13.
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, While evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving, and deceived.
Dear Saints,
Paul wants Timothy to understand that what happened to him is not unique or limited to him alone.
Persecution of the Elect (v. 12). The assumption of the teachers of the gospel in the New Testament is that those who are in Christ will desire to live godly lives. Such a desire is an inevitable invitation to persecution. This is so because a godly life is an indictment on the unrighteous and is evidence of God’s power to save. Satan will not be rejoicing when you live a godly life and will use the unrighteous to make life uncomfortable and, if possible, impossible for the godly. It follows that the absence of persecution should cause one to reflect on one’s life. As my friend Dave Robertson used to say, “If the devil ain’t bothering you, you ain’t bothering him none.”
Progression of Evil (v. 13). The evil and impostors (read hypocrites) will not remain at the same spot. They will go from bad to worse. Once a person chooses the path of evil, they on a downward spiral that spins faster and faster into deception. The end of it is their doom, which of course is Satan’s desire, all along. There is no comfort zone. One is either in Christ, desiring to live a godly life, or either evil or a hypocrite, deceiving and being deceived, and spiraling downwards to destruction. Take your pick.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.