But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress. For men will be lovers of self,...holding the form of religon but denying the power of it....As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith; but they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
....he must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it. For there are many insubordinate men, empty talkers and deceivers,...Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.
Exactly, lockeliberty. The power of Christ is not the religious "form," it is to live in Love. Men are called, not preeminently to believe in a doctrine; we are called preeminently to live in Love -- to love God with all our heart and mind and soul and strength, and our neighbor as ourself. It seems to me the very definition of a "lover of self" is one who refuses to live in these two divine Laws.
I do thank you for the 2 Timothy 3 excerpts. The chapter is prophetic. The beginning reads like todays newspaper:
But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of [them] all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned [them]; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.