Imminent Apostasy.1 Timothy 4:1-2.
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, Through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared.
Dear Ambassadors of the Risen King,
The threat of false teachers in the Christian community has been with us since the beginning. The evil one knows that a blatant challenge to the truth will not work with most Christians. But if the truth is twisted a little, some will not notice the change and will follow the lie.
Departure (v. 1). The fact of apostasy should not surprise us. Paul says that the Spirit has already made this Declaration. (v. 1a). Paul could have meant that the Holy Spirit had communicated this matter to him in a revelation. He also could simply be referring to the teachings of the Lord Jesus in the gospels (Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:6; Luke 21:8). Whatever the means, the fact of false teachers and their misleading teachings is not in doubt. Devotion (v. 1b). The apostates will devote themselves to the teachings of demons. False teaching is not just the creation of a fertile imagination. It is the work of lying spirits! Beware.
Deception (v. 2). The apostates will be misled by liars who are Insincere (v. 2a). Often, the liars will sound so genuine that many will believe them. But it is a show. They have chosen to deceive others deliberately.
Insensitive (v. 2b). The liars’ consciences are seared. The picture here is of slaves and animals that were branded with a hot iron as a mark of ownership. The scar left by the hot iron was hard and insensitive. This is what happens to people who do not heed the warnings of the Spirit of God and their own consciences. They become insensitive and do not even feel guilty when they sin. Again, beware.
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