Apostasy Alert! – 1 Timothy 4:1-5

Seventeenth lesson in a verse by verse series through 1 Timothy. This lesson explores the warning of the Holy Spirit concerning apostasy.

This Section (Chapter 4-6): Paul councils Timothy on a wide range of issues relating to his personal conduct and ministry (Gromacki).

This lesson: Warning of coming apostasy and Timothy’s responsibility to be faithful in declaring that warning to God’s people (Vs. 6)

The Prediction of the Spirit (Vs. 1a)

1. Its clarity
   1. “speaketh expressly”
   2. Means clearly and explicitly
2. Its fulfilment
   1. “later times”
   2. Note it is in the plural
   3. Culminates at the end of the age just prior to the Lord’s return. 2 Timothy 3:13 “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”
3. Its message
   1. “some shall depart”
   2. Greek word ‘apostasy’. Refers to a deliberate withdrawal from the faith (Gromacki)
   3. “the faith” = body of Divine Truth
   4. Example: Cults of present day

The Attention of the Apostates (Vs. 1b)

They give heed (attention/focus/assent) to two things. Both have Satan & his demons as its source.

Demonic Seduction

1. ‘seducing’ = enticing, clever & deceptive
2. Deception is at the heart of Satan’s character and strategies. Satan is a “liar and the Father of it” (John 8:44)
3. False teachers present a deceptive front. 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
4. Doctrine: Satan and his demons are the masterminds and architects behind false forms of Christianity and false religion. 1 Corinthians 10:20 “But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.” There is demonic power behind false doctrine, that’s why millions are deceived by it!

Demonic Instruction

1. ‘doctrines’ = false teachings
   1. Example: Mormon’s blasphemous concept of the incarnation
   2. Example: JW heresy concerning Deity of Christ
   3. Example: Christadelphian belief that there is no literal Satan or demons!
   4. Example: SDA teaching that there is no literal hell!
   5. Example: Catholic idea that a sinner can only access God through Mary and the priests.
   6. Example: Islamic teaching that Christ didn’t really die on the cross.
   7. Example: Liberalism and the denial of the inspiration of Scripture and the miraculous.
   8. Example: Widespread belief across many denominations that some form of baptism cleanses from sin (infant or adult baptism).
   9. Example: Charismatic error that you must speak in tongues to be saved (some groups)
   10. Example: Book I received from author in Sweden recently promoting the idea that the earth is actually flat after all!
   11. Example: America alone has more than 350 sects and cults (Paul Lee Tan 1984)
   12. Quote: “Heresy is the offspring of hell, the begotten of the pit” Ian Paisley
   13. Challenge: Why is there such resistance to a ministry of warning amongst professing Bible believers?
2. ‘devils’ = demons

The Deception of Apostates (Vs. 2)

How they deceive (2a)

1. ‘hypocrisy’ = playacting
2. “speaking lies” = speaking falsely
3. 2 Peter 2:1-3 “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” ‘feigned’ = comes from the Greek word ‘plastos’ from which our English word ‘plastic’ is derived.

Why they deceive (2b)

1. ‘conscience’ = the God-given awareness of right and wrong. A witness of the spirit in man to the law of God imprinted on the heart (Rom 2:14-15)
2. ‘seared’ = cauterized, i.e. made insensible to the distinction between right and wrong (Key)

The Prohibitions of Apostates (Vs. 3-5)

The prohibitions (3a)

1. Concerning Marriage
   1. Note: Satan loves to distort the institution of marriage
   2. Illustration: The Roman Catholic concept of celibacy
   3. The 10^th article of the decree of the Council of Trent said, “Whosoever shall say that the married state is to be preferred to a state of virginity, or celibacy, and that it is not better and more blessed to remain in virginity, or celibacy, than to be joined in marriage; let him be accursed!” (Cloud Pg. 99-100)
2. Concerning Diet
   1. ‘meats’ = that which is eaten (food)
   2. Illustration: The SDA’s with their laws against eating certain meats (e.g. pork).
   3. Illustration: The Mormons, with their laws against drinking beverages such as coca cola and coffee.

The refutation (3b-5)

1. God’s creative purpose (3b)
2. It is good (4)
3. It is set apart (5)
   1. The Word – what the Bible teaches about food
   2. Prayer – giving thanks for the food.
   3. Heibert: “Thanksgiving is not a magical formula which changes the nature of these things but it gives a sacred value to them as gifts whose source might otherwise be overlooked. The additional clause, “by the word of God and prayer” defines the twofold sanctifying medium. By “the word of God” Paul may mean that the Scriptures themselves justify our use of these things by direct sanction…‘Prayer,’ translated ‘intercessions’ in 2:1, denotes prayer as free and open speech with God. The reference is not to any specific prayer formula but rather to that constant habit of referring everything to God as the Giver of every good and perfect gift. Heibert Pg. 79

Sermon 17 of 27 in 1 Timothy Series

Sermon Audio Id: 91116557460