I want to spend a few minutes “fleshing out” the truth contained in this verse. I find within myself an unwillingness to listen to views contrary to my own, whether it be any subject, including religion. Thus, the term, “itching,” merely pertains to a desire to hear things that is compatible with held beliefs. The question is: What formed my beliefs?
In my last blog I used an excerpt from gotquestions.org to make my point, but in hindsight, that may not have been the best illustration. It seems that when it comes to 2Timothy 4:3, most scholars get hung up on the word, itching, and miss the meaning of the verse. If we take out this term, what we have is: “The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what they want to hear.” This last rendering describes denominations perfectly.
Therefore, the operative phrases which convey the warning Paul was trying to convey are the phrases, “men will not put up with sound doctrine,” and, “will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what they want to hear.” What I have found in my discussions with many Christians is that what they believe has little basis in what the scriptures say. In fact, many times I have quoted a verse contrary to their beliefs and they have responded, “Well I don’t care, I just believe,” as if their beliefs will carry the day.
There is reason to believe that God’s timetable for this era is 7,000 years. The first two thousand encompassed the time up to Moses. The second two thousand was the time of the law up until Jesus’ death on the cross, and the last two thousand, spoken of as the last days, is the time between Jesus’ resurrection and His return to set up His kingdom, which will last one thousand years. This is partly based on the one week period of creation, each day being equal to 1,000 years.
The truth is; mankind has never been willing to put up with sound doctrine because sound doctrine has always been God’s Word. When Adam rebelled against the commandment not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he was rebelling against sound doctrine. When the Jews rebelled against the old covenant law, when they interpreted the law and added their thoughts to the law, changing the law in the process to mean something different to and contrary from the thing the law intended, they were rebelling against sound doctrine. That which Paul prophesied would happen in the last days has been happening all throughout history.
The difference is the meaning of the word, “doctrine.” Doctrine is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the essence of teachings in a given branch of knowledge or belief system. The Church is an organization founded by God. Doctrine then, is the codification of beliefs and the body of teachings and instructions, of the Church. While this doctrine should be reflected by scripture, the doctrine of the Church from shortly after Jesus’ resurrection till today is more a reflection of what men believe about the scripture. In other words, it is belief that has shaped the doctrines of the Church.
Now the Church has been fragmented into many denominations and these all have doctrines that differ in small amounts. As the members of these churches attend, they bring a percentage of their income to support the organization. When Paul states, “to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear,” he is describing how pastors and teachers are hired by congregations to pastor and teach. A group of believers will hire a person to lead them who holds the same beliefs held by the majority of the congregation.
Thus, today, we have Catholics, Episcopalians, Church of God, Church of Christ, Pentecostals, Assemblies of God, Foursquare, Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, and on and on. Each man feels a right to believe what He wants concerning God’s Word, thus, the response I hear is, “Well, I just believe,” and those who have similar beliefs band together and hire a leader to lead them in their beliefs.
All of this is contrary to God’s Word however. Mankind was never given authority to believe whatever it desired concerning God’s salvation and it was never belief whereby mankind attained salvation. The problem may be man’s interpretation of Ephesians 2:8. For 1500 years the Catholics taught that mankind could be saved by gifting money to the Church in contradiction of the scriptures but then Martin Luther noticed Ephesians 2:8, “By grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works lest any man should boast.” Any truth pushed just a little out of phase becomes error.
By careful consideration we understand it is not grace or faith that saves mankind; salvation is a gift of God. That salvation is by grace and through faith. Words have meanings. The word, by, means, a long side of, and the word, through, means, moving in one side and out of the other. In other words, we are saved along side of grace through a journey of faith but the emphasis of, “saved by faith,” has caused people to believe they are saved by believing. What they believe is not as relevant as the belief itself.
Hebrews 5:9 explicitly states that Jesus grants eternal salvation to all who obey Him but Hebrews 5:9 is ignored because it does not conform to the understanding of Ephesians 2:8. Yet, if we are saved through faith, Hebrews 5:9 makes perfect sense because if Jesus is Lord, obedience is certainly integral to that belief. Salvation is a gift from God but we know that God does not gift all of mankind with salvation, which indicates God has requirements for obtaining salvation.
Since God is the granter of salvation; it is God’s requirement that must be met in order to obtain salvation. If that requirement is that we believe and what we believe is immaterial as long as we believe, then all Christians, as well as a great number of non-Christians will arrive safely at heaven’s door. John 3:16 would seem to indicate this. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” This verse indicates a belief in Jesus will save but does not definitively define that belief.
On its surface, John 3:16 seems to say that any belief in Jesus saves. So if I believe Jesus was a man who died on a cross 2,000 years ago, am I saved? Again, words have meanings. The meaning of the word, believe, is: to accept (something) as true or feel sure of the truth of, so if the requirement of John 3:16 is to believe, any belief will suffice.
However, the requirement is not to believe, but to believe in. Now the belief has been quantified. The word, in, means, to be enclosed or surrounded by, so the belief of John 3:16 is a belief that causes me to be enclosed or surrounded by Jesus. In order to avoid perishing and obtain everlasting life, I must accept as true something about Jesus that causes me to be enclosed and surrounded by Jesus. While the man who believes Jesus was a historical figure, who lived a good life and died a violent death, is certainly exercising a belief concerning Jesus, he is just as certainly not exercising a belief that causes him to be surrounded and enclosed by Jesus.
However, in that a belief that encloses and envelopes is the belief that is required for everlasting life, such a belief is defined by God, otherwise, what is the point? If Jesus came to save but the means of salvation is obscured and hidden, where is the point of His coming? There is a belief concerning Jesus defined by the scripture that has as its definition that of being enclosed and surrounded by Jesus.
In Acts 1:4, just before His ascension back into heaven to take up His throne as ruler over all, Jesus issues a commandment, to be baptized with His Spirit, to His followers. The word, baptize, means, to be enclosed and surrounded by. While every denomination and non-denominational church in existence will tell you this commandment should be ignored, it cannot be coincidental that the definitions of believe in from John 3:16 and baptize from Acts 1:4 are the same. Moreover, the only way to be and stay enclosed and surrounded by Jesus is to keep a commandment to baptize yourself with the Spirit of Jesus each and every day. The gift of tongues is the vehicle whereby we enclose and surround ourselves with Jesus.
Nor can it be coincidental that Hebrews 5:9 informs us that eternal life is gained by obedience and it is faith on Jesus as Lord that causes obedience of the commandment Jesus left as Lord. Jesus said, “He that has my commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves me and he that loves me will be loved of my Father and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” He further said, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”
The only thing that explains the departure from the truth found in the Church today is 2Timothy 4:3, “The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” When Paul wrote these words, there were already forces at work in the Church trying to change the doctrine of the Church to suit their own desires.
Today, the world wide Church strives to keep every commandment of the scripture except the first commandment of the Lord Christ. The word, Christ, is a title Jesus earned by dying for men’s sins. The word means, Saviour. Jesus was not truly the Christ until He had died on the cross. The only commandments Jesus issued that were unique to Him, are the commandments of Acts 1:4, 5 and 8. If we are to obey Jesus’ commandments, it is these three we must obey.
It is interesting to note that Paul said men will gather around them a great number of teachers. Mankind is not satisfied with having one or two teachers to teach what they want to hear; they want a great number to affirm them in their error. The general thinking is the more people believing a thing makes the thing more true. Even now, the idea that all the Church affirms that the first commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ should be ignored gives comfort and aid to those who believe it to be so.
Yet if we do not keep Jesus’ commandments, we cannot be in Him and we will not be loved of the Father or the Son or receive the manifestation of Jesus, unless, because of the universal disobedience, God decides to grade on a curve. Can mankind force God’s hand? And is this the reason we find ourselves where we are? Does mankind believe it can force God’s hand because God’s love is so great?
In Matthew 7, Jesus tells a story in which He is separating those who will go into heaven from those who will not. A group of those condemned to hell come to Jesus, saying, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, and in your name cast out devils, and in your name done many wonderful works, but Jesus will respond, I never knew you, depart from me you who work iniquity.
Now, if good works could get you into heaven, these believers would have certainly been admitted. Not just anybody can prophesy or cast out devils. Moreover, if acknowledging Jesus as Lord could get you into heaven, these believers would have certainly been admitted. If there was any mercy or grace for those who tried to do what they felt was right, it would have certainly been extended to these believers; but it was not.
The meaning of iniquity is: a gross injustice or wickedness, a violation of right or duty. Jesus charged these believers, and make no mistake, they were believers, not just in the Christ but also in the Lord, with a gross injustice, a violation of right and of duty. Isaiah 53:6 defines iniquity as doing your own thing, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
The word, gross, means, obvious and unacceptable. Jesus charged these believers with an obvious and unacceptable injustice but if the injustice were obvious, how did these believers miss it? The answer takes us back to 2Timothy 4:3, “The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”
Let’s return to Hebrews 5:9. If Jesus has been raised from the dead with all power in heaven and earth; if Jesus was given the name above all other names; if Jesus is Lord of Lords and King of Kings; the blessed and only Potentate and only wise God, it would seem obvious Jesus’ commandments should be obeyed. To ignore Jesus’ commandments would seem to be gross negligence, an obvious and unacceptable oversight of justice. If we fail to acknowledge and honor the exaltation of the Christ to Lord of all, can we reasonably expect to retain the righteousness we have gained through faith in the Christ? The point is, the Lord deserves the highest honor because of the great sacrifice He made as Christ. To deny the Lord obedience is the ultimate injustice. Moreover, to obey the Lord’s commandments is an obvious right, and duty, given only to those who accept the Saviour’s payment for sin.
The only way to receive the baptism of the Spirit is to first receive the Christ as Saviour. It is only after you have received Jesus’ righteousness that you can enter the new covenant and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, which again, illustrates the injustice in not obeying Jesus’ commandments. It is those who wear the sufferings of the cross who are failing to honor the sacrifice of the Saviour. Now, perhaps you can see why this disobedience is called, “gross injustice.” It is an obvious and unacceptable iniquity.
To not obey the commandments of the Christ, who died to save you from your sin, is an injustice, because it is negligent behavior, but to deny the Lord the obedience He deserves is a gross injustice. It is an unspeakable wickedness perpetrated against the one who was exalted to Lord of All. No amount of good works or faith can erase the injustice. The Lord does not demand obedience but without it you cannot inherit eternal life.
This is explicitly because there is a new covenant. In order to enter the new covenant and receive its benefits you must keep its commandments. To fail to acknowledge there is a new authority in heaven that issued and ratified a new covenant with new commandments is to fail to enter into the covenant. Eternal life was never promised by the old covenant and although faith in Jesus’ death under the law can redeem one from the law, clothed with Jesus’ righteousness, that faith cannot convey eternal life.
It is Matthew 7:21 we were referring to, in which Jesus says, “Not everyone who says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? And in your name cast out demons? And in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you, depart from me you who work iniquity.”
Now, let me remind you of Isaiah 53:6: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” The iniquity that was laid on Jesus is the prophecy of 2Timothy 4:3, “The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”
For the first 1500 years of the Church, its leaders decided mankind was saved by giving money to the Church. For the last 500 years Church leaders decided mankind was saved by faith but neither is true. Hebrews 5:9 clearly states mankind is saved by obedience. Mankind has been devising its own path to salvation for 6,000 years and it is this iniquity that was laid on Jesus by the Lord.
Now, just consider Isaiah 53:6 again: “The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” The word, him, clearly refers to Jesus. If Jesus is Lord, Lord of Lords and King of Kings, of the new covenant, there has been a shift of power in heaven. The Lord of the old covenant, who laid the iniquity of us all onto Jesus, was the Father. When Jesus was made Lord at His resurrection, it was the title and power and authority of the Father that was given to Jesus. Whose commandments should new covenant saints strive to keep?
The iniquity that was laid on Jesus by the Father is the same iniquity Jesus accused the believers of committing in Matthew 7:23. It is the desire and propensity of mankind to devise its own path to salvation and ignore God’s path. Having devised our own path, and feeling confident in the veracity of our decision, we have no inclination of our sin and no reason to repent. What we believe has become more holy than God’s Word and is more highly respected and prized. Herein is the sin that condemns believers to hell.
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments,” 1John 2:1-6.
“If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” 1John 1:9, but if we do not confess our sins we cannot be forgiven. In Matthew 7:22, these believers first appealed to Jesus’ majesty, power, and authority. By calling Him, “Lord,” their first appeal was to propriety. Then by repeating the word, Lord, they appealed to faith. They were saying, “We believe in your majesty and glory.” They next appealed to their spirituality by pointing out they had prophesied in His name and they appealed to their spiritual acuity by pointing out they had cast out demons. Then, they appealed to their good works. They never appealed to their obedience.
Jesus’ commandments are not the old covenant commandments of the law; they are new covenant commandments issued to saints of God, who are clothed with Jesus’ righteousness. They are the commandments issued to the charter members of the Church. The only way to know that you know Jesus is if you keep Jesus’ commandments. Those who know the Lord know the need of keeping the Lord’s commandments. The fact that you keep His commandments indicates you know the Lord. The Saviour does not require obedience but the Lord does. The question is: "Do you know the Lord?
The phrase, “believe in,” from John 3:16 requires obedience because the word, “in,” means to be enclosed and encapsulated by. The only way to be enclosed and encapsulated by Jesus is to baptize yourself with the Spirit of Jesus every day, the word, “baptize,” meaning to be enclosed and encapsulated by. Thus, those who keep Jesus’ commandments are the ones who receive everlasting life.