Saving secret sinners...

 “Jesus wins. How did He do it?”

(2 Timothy 3:8-9)

1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.

2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,

4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ...

5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,

7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.

We don't know exactly who Jannes and Jambres actually were. Some tradition connects them to the magicians directed by Pharaoh to replicate the signs performed by the Lord through Moses. Other tradition has them on the side of Balaam in his various intrigues against Israel.

What we do know is that these men opposed Moses, the mediator of the Old Covenant and a man through whom the Lord was giving revelation to Israel. Paul has been talking about people who have an appearance of godliness, but who deny the power of it. Leaders like this in the church are very dangerous. They need to be avoided.

Such men oppose the truth, though they may seem to be the most vigorous defenders of God and godliness. There are many ways to oppose the truth. One way is to have hidden areas of your life and past that even God is not allowed to expose and to change. Then gather around you a group of disciples and expect them to follow your every word and instruction, but never allow them to see the real you.

You may even forget the truth of who you are and what you will not allow God to change in you. Your mind and heart become deadened to the true power of godliness. This is a soul corruption that will not be contained. Paul says that such people are disqualified regarding the faith.

9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

Such men may be impressed with their own appearance of godliness, but they will not be able to contain their own growing evil. They will not get very far, though they seem to do so much damage to themselves and to others. Very soon their foolishness will be plain to all.

Who will defeat them? The same great Leader of integrity who won the battle for you against eternal death is protecting His bride from religious sorcerers who are stuck in growing depravity. He wins by exposing secret darkness to the light for your sake.

He can even save a minister who is in this kind of deadly pit, and grant true repentance...