Love goes both ways Pt 9: A form of godliness

2 Timothy 3:1, 5-8                 1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  2People will 5[have] a form of godliness but [deny] its power.  Have nothing to do with such people.  6They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible [people], who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.  8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth.

Romans 1:16                          16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

A form of godliness

One of the lies of our common enemy is that a person doesn’t need God to be morally sound and that people are basically good.  I had family members who thought this way.  They lived their lives in a highly moral and honorable way, but denied that God even existed.  In that household, the only time God or Jesus were mentioned was as part of a swear word.

This sort of thinking was prevalent in Paul’s day also as in both Timothy and Romans Paul felt it necessary to defend the gospel against outside forces which sought to deny its power.  Today, we face much the same moral decay as it seems each recent generation has been slightly less devoted to God than the previous, and slightly more prone to moral relativism.

Such thinking, while dangerous for the person’s salvation, isn’t particularly dangerous to society.  But this thinking has a particularly evil cousin which will begin to rise as we approach the Last Days.  Paul provides a stark description of people who, while having an outward appearance of religiosity, are corrupt at their core.  The phrase “having a form of godliness” speaks to an external shell of piety or religion.  It refers to the outward shape or semblance of something, suggesting these individuals maintain religious rituals, church attendance, and even theological language.  However, this form is deceptive—it lacks substance.  Their godliness is a façade.

We have recently seen the exposure of several prominent pastors and church leaders who have led hidden lives while at the helm of mega-ministries.  One person, who taught for decades, and had profound insights into Scripture, was found to be a sexual predator the entire time.  This is not Satan attempting to destroy the Church, but God cleaning house, removing every semblance of corruption and decay, so as to prepare his people for the comings Day.

Denying it’s power

What do these people deny?  The power of godliness is the transformative force of the Gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit.  Paul may be referencing the same divine power he mentions in Romans 1:16, “the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.”  To deny this power is not merely to reject miraculous gifts, but to refuse the moral and spiritual change that true faith demands.  These people may say the right things, but their lives show no evidence of regeneration.

And here is where we get to the nitty-gritty for the modern church.  This verse challenges modern churches that may excel in form—liturgy, preaching, worship music—yet fail to demonstrate transformed lives.  They put on a fine show, but each member must decide, “Is there real faith here?  Are people’s lives being changed?”  Paul’s command, “Have nothing to do with such people,” underscores the danger of tolerating religious hypocrisy.  It is not merely a personal failing but a communal threat.  This does not mean shunning sinners; rather, Paul is urging Timothy to distance himself from false teachers and unrepentant pretenders who persistently reject correction (see Titus 3:10–11).  The church is called to both truth and power—doctrine and transformation.

There is a real danger for the modern church here, but also a strong opportunity for God’s Kingdom to move into the darkened world.  Paul is pointing out that Satan counters every movement of God, attempting to subvert the spread of the Kingdom.  In this case, there seems to have been corrupt leaders in early churches, which met in individual homes generally without direct supervision.  There is a rise this kind of worship today because great transformation can occur through the intimacy and accountability of small church.  So we shouldn’t “throw the baby out with the bath water” simply because of the possibility of corruption, but rather we should require accountability and Godly submission of our leaders.

In today’s world of online ministries, podcasts, and “influencers,” the avenues for false teaching have multiplied.  Unsuspecting believers—men and women alike—are often led astray by charismatic personalities who blend partial truths with manipulative theology.  This verse reminds churches to foster theological literacy, emotional healing, and discernment within their communities, especially among those who have been spiritually wounded or are carrying unconfessed guilt.

Oppose the truth

Jannes and Jambres are not named in the Old Testament, but Jewish tradition identifies them as the magicians in Pharaoh’s court who mimicked Moses’ miracles (Exodus 7–8).  Paul draws on this well-known tradition to liken the false teachers of his day to these ancient deceivers.  They opposed Moses by performing counterfeit signs.  Similarly, Paul sees these false teachers as counterfeiting truth with plausible but ultimately deceptive doctrine.  Their opposition is not passive disagreement—it is active resistance to God’s truth.

To “oppose the truth” is to resist the Gospel message itself.  It implies not mere ignorance, but willful defiance.  These teachers are not misinformed; they are rebellious.

Paul often contrasts “truth” and “error” in his letters.  For Paul, truth is not abstract—it is embodied in the person of Christ, revealed in sound doctrine, and results in godly living (see 1 Tim. 6:3–5).  These men reject all three.

What about me?

Believer, all of this may be interesting, but you may ask, “What does this have to do with me?”  The answer to that question is that the depth of your salvation and the degree of your sanctification is entirely up to you.  When you accepted Jesus as your Savior, you and you alone had to make the choice.  Christ did the heavy lifting, but you had to be willing.  Similarly, as you grow in Christ and struggle to remove sin from your life, you allow Jesus to do the heavy lifting, but it is you who must decide to remove those toxic people from your life, or turn away from temptation, or more completely devote your life to Jesus.

But you also must be deliberate, focused, and discerning.  Continually ask yourself, “Is this the church for me?  Do the leaders here seem sound?  Is there something ‘off’?  Does what they teach align with both written and living Word?”  Believer, watch out for falseness.  Be careful.  The leaders in your church, whether men or women, are just as vulnerable as you are.  They may be one or two steps ahead of you in their walk with Christ, but that’s all.

But these concerns are not all outwardly focused either.  You are vulnerable too.  This verse is a powerful warning against religious pretense, manipulative deceit, and deliberate opposition to divine truth.  Is there any of that in your life?  It is easy to compartmentalize and condemn others for hypocrisy and then allow yourself to go to the bar every Friday night.  In the end, Paul is not merely diagnosing a problem—he is urging us to guard the truth, live with integrity, and live with courage and compassion.  As the we wait for the return of Christ, we must remain vigilant against both external deception and internal decay.

Remember, truth will ultimately prevail, and the foolishness of false teachers will be exposed.  Seek God in everything you do and he will guide and protect you.