08-23-2026 Sermon Title: A Form of Godliness, but No Power
This is the last letter Paul wrote
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1–5 (ESV)
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
NOTE! Jesus said….Matthew 24:36, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
Introduction
Paul wrote this between AD 64-67 1,962 years ago
Paul warned Timothy:
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times\terrible times; shall come.”
—2 Timothy 3:1
When we hear the phrase “perilous times,” we may think about wars, violence, political unrest, economic uncertainty, or natural disasters. However, Paul’s warning focuses primarily on the spiritual and moral condition of people. AND PEOPLE’S HEART
Paul says people will be lovers of themselves,(SOCAL MEDIA) lovers of money, boastful, proud, disobedient, ungrateful, unholy, unforgiving, without self-control, and lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.
Then Paul makes one of the most troubling statements in this verse: AND THE MOST CONCERING ONE…..
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”
—2 Timothy 3:5
Here’s the problem…..
These people are not necessarily atheists. They have a form of religion. They may believe that God exists, attend church occasionally, pray when they are in trouble, and consider themselves good people. But their faith has no transforming power. (ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION…. HAS JESUS CHANGED YOUR LIFE?)
This resembles what sociologists call Moralistic Therapeutic Deism, or MTD. And It Is THE FEEL GOOD GOD THAT’S PERMEATING CHURCHS TODAY
Moralistic Therapeutic Deism teaches five basic ideas:
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God created the world and watches over us.
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God wants everyone to be nice, good, and fair.
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The main purpose of life is to be happy and feel good about yourself.
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God does not need to be involved in your life unless you have a problem.
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Good people go to heaven when they die.
That may sound comforting, but it is not the gospel of Jesus Christ. It presents a God who exists for our comfort but not our transformation—a God we call when we need help but ignore when He calls us to holiness.
Paul describes this as having the appearance of godliness while denying its power.
Here’s The PROBLEM
1. MTD Makes Self the Center
Paul begins his description by saying:
“For men shall be lovers of their own selves.”
—2 Timothy 3:2
The first characteristic Paul mentions is self-love. (WHAT DO YOU SEE TODAY…. ME, ME, ME, ME, This does not refer to having a healthy understanding of your God-given worth. It describes a life in which self occupies the place that belongs to God.
Moralistic Therapeutic Deism makes the individual the center of faith. God becomes a supporting character in our personal story. We believe His purpose is to make us happy, comfortable, successful, and emotionally secure.
We begin to say:
“God wants me to be happy.”
“God understands, so I do not need to change.”
“God would never ask me to give up anything that makes me feel good.”
“I am a good person, and that is all that matters.”
But Jesus never said the purpose of life is simply to feel good. Jesus said:
“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
—Matthew 16:24
The gospel does not place self on the throne. The gospel calls us to surrender the throne to Jesus Christ.
We do not follow Jesus merely because He makes us comfortable. We follow Him because He is Lord.
2. MTD Replaces Holiness With Niceness
Paul says people will be:
“Unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good.”
—2 Timothy 3:2–3
Moralistic Therapeutic Deism teaches that the central requirement of religion is to be a nice person. Certainly, Christians should be kind, compassionate, fair, and loving. (NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT) But biblical holiness is much deeper than social niceness. (PEOPLE CAN BE NICE AND KIND, BUT ON THEIR WAY STRIGHT TO HELL)
A person can be polite and still be spiritually lost.
A person can give to charity and still refuse to surrender to Christ.
A person can treat others respectfully and still reject the authority of God’s Word.
The gospel does not merely tell bad people to behave better. The gospel announces that spiritually dead people can be made alive through Jesus Christ.
We do not simply need better manners. We need new hearts.
Nicodemus was a moral and religious man, but Jesus told him:
“Ye must be born again.” —John 3:7
Cornelius was devout, generous, and prayerful, yet God still sent Peter to proclaim the gospel to him.
The rich young ruler was respectable and morally disciplined, but he walked away because he would not surrender the throne of his heart.
Good behavior cannot replace the new birth. Salvation is not God rewarding us because we are nicer than someone else. Salvation is God rescuing sinners through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Our good works are the fruit of salvation—not the price of salvation.
3. MTD Treats God Like an Emergency Service
Paul says people will be:
“Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.”
—2 Timothy 3:4
MTD teaches that God does not need to be deeply involved in our lives unless we have a problem.
Under this view, God becomes like an emergency number. We call Him when the doctor gives us bad news. We call Him when money is short. We call Him when the marriage is struggling. We call Him when our children are in trouble.
But when the crisis passes, God is placed BACK IN THE BOX UNTIL THE NEXT TIME WE NEED HIM.
We want His protection without His direction.
We want His blessings without His boundaries.
We want His comfort without His correction.
We want a Savior, but we do not want a Lord.
God invites us to call upon Him in trouble, but He desires more than an emergency relationship. He wants us to abide in Him daily.
Jesus said:
“Abide in me, and I in you.”
—John 15:4
God is not merely someone we visit when life becomes painful. He is the source of our lives. We need Him when the sun is shining just as much as we need Him during the storm.
Prayer is not only a distress signal. It is fellowship with God.
Worship is not only something we do when we need a breakthrough. It is the response of a heart that recognizes God’s worth.
God is not our spiritual servant. He is our sovereign Lord.
4. MTD Has Religion but Lacks Transforming Power
Paul writes:
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”
—2 Timothy 3:5
A form of godliness looks religious on the outside. THEY may know church language, sing Christian songs, quote favorite Bible verses, and participate in religious traditions.
However, the power of godliness produces transformation. (ARE YOU THE SAME PERSON AS YOU WERE WHEN YOU SURROUNDER YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST?) IF YOU ARE WE NEED TO TALK)
The power of the gospel brings conviction of sin.
The power of the gospel leads to repentance.
The power of the gospel breaks chains.
The power of the gospel changes our priorities.
The power of the gospel teaches us to forgive.
The power of the gospel gives us strength to resist temptation.
The power of the gospel makes us more like Jesus.
Moralistic Therapeutic Deism wants the appearance of faith without the demands of discipleship. It offers inspiration without repentance, blessings without obedience, heaven without the cross, and Christianity without Christ.
Paul says people can be:
“Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
—2 Timothy 3:7
We can listen to sermons, attend conferences, read inspirational books, and collect Bible verses—and still avoid the truth that calls us to change.
Information alone does not produce transformation. We must receive the truth, obey the truth, and allow the Holy Spirit to use the truth to transform us.
5. True Christianity Includes Persecution and Sacrifice
Paul tells Timothy:
“12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, —2 Timothy 3:12
This verse directly challenges the idea that God’s primary purpose is to make us comfortable.
Following Christ can bring peace, joy, hope, and abundant life. But following Christ can also bring rejection, sacrifice, correction, spiritual warfare, and suffering.
Jesus did not promise His followers a trouble-free life. He promised to be with us through our troubles.
Sometimes obedience will cost us relationships.
Sometimes truth will make us unpopular.
Sometimes faithfulness will require us to stand alone.
Sometimes God will lead us through a valley instead of immediately removing us from it.
The Christian life is not built around avoiding discomfort. It is built around knowing Christ, becoming like Christ, and remaining faithful to Christ.(FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE)
God is more concerned about our holiness than our temporary comfort. He loves us too much to leave us unchanged.
HERE’S THE SOLUTION TPO ALL OF THIS
6. Scripture Corrects False Views of God
Paul gives Timothy the remedy:
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, —2 Timothy 3:14 (ESV)
Then he declares:
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
—2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)
We do not define God according to our feelings, preferences, culture, or personal opinions. We learn who God is through His Word.
Scripture teaches us.
Scripture reproves us when we are wrong.
Scripture corrects us and puts us back on the right path.
Scripture trains us to live righteously.
Moralistic Therapeutic Deism asks, “What makes me feel good?”
Biblical Christianity asks, “What has God said?”
MTD says, “Follow your heart.”
Scripture says the heart must be transformed.
MTD says, “Live your truth.”
Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
MTD says, “Good people go to heaven.”
The Bible says:
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
—Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, forgive us for the times we have wanted Your blessings without Your authority, Your comfort without Your correction, and Your salvation without surrender. Forgive us for reducing faith to being nice, feeling good, and calling upon You only when we are in trouble.
Deliver us from having a form of godliness while denying its power. Search our hearts and reveal anything that does not please You. Give us genuine repentance, saving faith, and a hunger for Your Word.
Help us love You more than we love ourselves, our comfort, or the pleasures of this world. Teach us to abide in Christ, obey Your Word, and follow You even when discipleship is difficult.
May the power of the Holy Spirit transform our minds, our desires, our relationships, and our conduct. Let our lives demonstrate that Jesus Christ is not merely part of our lives—He is Lord over our lives.
In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray.
Amen.
ALL OF THIS START WITH BECOMING A CHRISTIAN
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I realize that everyone is comfortable with a public profession of faith in Jesus. If you want the opportunity for salvation is a small intimate environment
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If you’re ready to surrender your life to Christ and to be a part of a loving community of people (THAT AREN’T PERFECT) But will Love you
Say this prayer with me
Jesus,
I know that I need You.
I believe You died for my sins
and rose again to give me new life.
Today, I turn from my old ways
and give my life fully to You.
Please forgive me of my sins,
change me,………and lead me ……from this day forward.
I trust You as my Savior,
Thank You for loving me and saving me.
Amen.
If you said this prayer and truly believe it in your heart, we believe that you are a Christian.
Luke 15:10
10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
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