1 Timothy 4

1 Timothy 4:1–5 “1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.”

Belief and Behavior

Doctrines of Demons

ancient-

Docetism- A doctrine in the period of the early church that claimed that Jesus only appeared to be human. Docetic teaching emphasized the deity of Jesus and downplayed the importance of His earthly life. This led to asceticism (downplaying marriage, family, forbidden foods etc.) Violation of the Dominion mandate

Gnosticism- salvation comes through special secret knowledge

modern-

postmodernism- abolishment of truth

John 14:6 “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

conspiracy think- an all-encompassing saturation of conspiracy

Isaiah 8:12–13“12 “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13 But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

hyper-humanism- the chief end of man is the happiness of ME.

2 Corinthians 5:15 “15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”

Contemporary Godless ethic

I live my truth and do what’s right for me (abortion)

I define what is right and wrong for me, based on my feelings at any given time

this means I can live the self-centered life I want to live, and feel self-justified in doing so

I can redefine and blur distinctions in common concepts and the words that describe them like sex, gender, identity, fetus, fidelity, gossip, and even “Christian” until no one can tell what in the world anyone is actually talking about.

I need not fear future judgement because I have created a god that certainly wouldn’t send me to hell for my sins, just those “other people” for their sins, or I just don’t believe that such a judgement could exist in the first place.

Since we’re all just stardust bumping around in the universe, I just have to be as good a person as I can, or not at all because it doesn’t matter anyway.

any teaching that casts doubt on God’s word, seeks to replace truth with an alternate, traffics primarily in fear/paranoia or plain rebellion against God

Days to Come

2 Timothy 3:1–7 “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.”

2 Timothy 3:1–7 ESV

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.

weak minded/willed people- passive Ahabs

domineering people- insatiable Jezebels

Matthew 7:15–20 ““Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”

How Then Shall We Live

1 Timothy 4:6–10 “6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.

7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.

10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.”

a time is coming when it won’t matter what you know, rather Who you know.

face the social moral issues in front of us. Engage the culture, or it will engage you.

be trained in God’s word

reject false philosophies and social trends

press into Jesus. Set your hope in Christ

1 Timothy 4:11–16 “11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”