Godly living in Christ will always provoke opposition in a fallen world

Godly living in Christ will always provoke opposition in a fallen world

Paul’s statement in 2 Timothy 3:12 is striking: “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” The word shall is deliberate—it does not suggest possibility but certainty. The principle is that godly living in Christ will always provoke opposition in a fallen world. This is consistent with the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: “If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). The world that rejected Christ will inevitably resist those who reflect His life and truth.

It is important to understand what persecution means in this context. Persecution is not limited to physical harm or martyrdom. It includes ridicule, rejection, slander, exclusion, and opposition in any form. Sometimes it is subtle—mockery, loss of opportunities, strained relationships. Other times it is severe—imprisonment, violence, or even death. The essence of persecution is that the world resists godliness because godliness exposes sin. As Jesus said, “Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19-20). Wherever light shines, darkness reacts.

The condition Paul sets is clear: persecution comes to those who will live godly in Christ Jesus. This is not about mere profession of faith, but about a life actively reflecting Christ’s truth and holiness. A believer who blends into the world may avoid persecution, but one who stands for truth will inevitably face resistance. The issue is not whether persecution is constant, but whether it is inevitable when godliness is consistently lived out. The world is at enmity with God, and those who walk in His ways will feel that enmity in some form.

This does not mean that if you are not currently suffering persecution, you are not living godly. Persecution varies by time, place, and circumstance. There are seasons of peace, and there are seasons of opposition. The principle is that wherever godliness is faithfully lived, opposition will eventually arise. The absence of persecution may reflect a particular environment or moment, but the promise remains: godliness will provoke resistance sooner or later. It is not a test of salvation, but a reality of discipleship.

The purpose of persecution must also be seen. It is not a sign of failure but of faithfulness. Persecution tests faith, refines character, and bears witness to Christ. Paul himself endured many forms of persecution, yet he also knew seasons of relative peace. The promise is not that believers will suffer constantly, but that they will face opposition at some point if they live godly in Christ. This opposition is used by God to strengthen His people and to magnify the testimony of His grace.

Thus, the word shall in 2 Timothy 3:12 is not meant to confound but to prepare. It assures us that persecution is the world’s response to godliness, in whatever form it takes. Whether mild or severe, persecution is inevitable because the world resists the light of Christ. The believer is not to fear it, but to accept it as part of the path of faithfulness, knowing that God uses it for His glory and for our growth.

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Credit to my good friend, Dennis, for another great question.

Beware of those who mind earthly things

Beware of those who mind earthly things

Israel walked under the physical letter of the law. Their faith was connected to signs and miracles which showcased the power of God in this earthly environment. Their inheritance is the earth, the physical realm, the tangible things.

Today, however, in this dispensation of grace, we are called to walk according to a different realm. We walk according to the newness of the spirit (grace), not the oldness of the letter, (law). (Rom.7.6). Our dispensation is not connected to the natural world. Our faith is not connected to signs and miracles, or to anything tangible. Paul writes that our walk is from faith to faith (Rom.1:17), from our initial faith in the gospel to our continued faith in the knowledge of the Word, applied to our daily walk. Our inheritance is the heavens, the spiritual realm, the things that are not of this world.

Now, why do I mention all this?

Why is the World in such Chaos?

The world today, compared to pre-2020, has changed. This is a fact that is evident on so many levels as are listed below. For those who have some insights into Bible prophecy, and are aware of the signs, these things are pointing to an imminent change in dispensation, (Maranatha), but for the majority of humanity who sadly remain blindly uninformed, their responses are either one of ignorant support for a united world order who offer a false peace and safety, or one of fear due to ominous repercussions ahead.

The Bible has a lot to say about these 'last days'. If you know what the Bible predicts, you will see a clear and undeniable pattern of events occurring right before your eyes. These events are converging increasingly and their effects on the world and humanity are becoming more frequent and more intense.

What are Christians to be doing while the world is falling apart? Some practical advice until Christ comes.

There is a dramatic and rapid change occurring in the world. The changes I'm referring to are things like weather catastrophes, geo-physical events, famines, pestilences, political, financial and social degradation, the sudden decline of humans into utter stupidity and irrational choices and behaviours, and the increase in the sciences of A.I., robotics, nanotechnology and genetics being forced upon us . Compare the beginning of 2019 with the events happening at current. It is shocking! And as drastic as it is, it is not going to slow down or subside, but rather it will continue to increase and get more intense and chaotic.

The world is not the same as we knew it before

The world is not the same as we knew it before

The world is a very different place today, and it all started in January 2020. Looking back at the last year and a half, its almost as if a switch has been flipped ON. Like a dark room being flooded with light, this invisible switch has flooded the world with a sinister agenda. One can clearly see a foreboding shadow being cast upon the earth today as almost every news event has biblically prophetic undertones with a frequency and intensity that is converging, at an increasing rate, towards the dispensation of the Tribulation.

From the steady flow of news I get at the sources I frequent, I'd like to highlight three categories and bring these to your attention,

OBS: God's Word is a Progressive Plan (Part.2)

OBS: God's Word is a Progressive Plan (Part.2)

This is Part 2 of the Series 

Click here to start with Part 1

Examples of 'primary' progression and context

In part 1 of this article, we proved that the Bible is a singular PLAN, albeit very intricate. As with any plan (or project), it has a start and an end point, and between these one typically has parts or specific actions that provide progression and momentum to achieve the planned objective. In this part, we will have a look at the divisions of the plan that provide its progress.