Doctrines
False Doctrines
1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
What are these seducing spirits?
2 Cor 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2 Cor 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2 Cor 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
They are of the devil, fallen angels, demons influencing men and women by thoughts, dreams, being possessed or by teachings.
Where do we receive truth?
From the Bible
2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Tim 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
By God's Holy Spirit.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
John 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
The Spirit is speaking of what will be in evidence at the last days.
Some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Some, not all but some who were with us, shall depart from the faith. What is the faith we have in common?
Our faith is in Jesus
Acts 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
Acts 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Acts 3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Some departing from the faith in Jesus have given heed to seducing spirits. These are not God's Holy Spirit of truth, but demonic spirits speaking enticing words. What are their doctrines? We have heard some of these, all roads lead to God. All religions worship the same god. We are god. All are saved from hell, there is no hell.
To know these false doctrines are false, we must know the true doctrines of our faith. Jesus is the only way to heaven. His blood cleanses us from sin when we repent and are received by him. He has risen bodily from the grave. Salvation is by faith in Jesus and we receive grace. Perhaps you can name more doctrines of the faith? Salvation, redemption justification, a new creation; study Romans to learn the Christian doctrines.
Evidence of seducing spirits - Lying and hypocrisy
1 Tim 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; this word means pretense, play acting, a mixture of false things with the true. For example Jacob pretending to be Esau to get his father's blessing. Can you name other in the Bible who practiced hypocrisy?
Isa 32:6 For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practice hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
Mat 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Mat 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Having their conscience seared with a hot iron; the conscience is every persons God given guide to right and wrong. They seared their own conscience by sinning. The Holy Spirit in a believer gives us a greater understanding of God's right and wrongs.
Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Religious Bondage
1 Tim 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
Religious ideas, abstaining from food and forbidding to marry...but impossible to follow. Forcing the body to conform to a religious standard will not work. Paul speaks of this weakness of the flesh;
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
We need God's help, overcoming our weaknesses as people. We are to die to our fleshly lusts. He is not a cruel God, but he is God almighty, giving his Spirit to those who trust in Jesus, His Son, giving us all good things.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Sound Docrine
Spiritual nourishment
1 Tim 4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
1 Tim 4:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Regarding eating, no longer are we restricted, but if we pray and receive as from God, it will not be harmful. This especially refers to missionaries eating strange foods in a foreign land. Bless it and go ahead and eat.
1 Tim 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
Timothy, do not follow the ways of false teaching, but remember these things that are sound doctrine and teach them to the brethren, those who are made free in Christ Jesus.
Exercising for spiritual health
1 Tim 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
Do not allow profane words or humor, or untrue stories in place of sound doctrine. Of course Jesus used metaphors and parables, so we can do this to illustrate God's word. We should not teach lore or fables, but the pure word of truth.
1 Tim 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
Bodily exercise, makes you feel better, but godliness is profitable to all, which with it comes promises from the Bible for now and eternity.
Evidence of godly living - truth and persecution
1 Tim 4:9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
1 Tim 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
1 Tim 4:11 These things command and teach.
Our trust is in God, who saves us when we come to Jesus. We may not be received by the ungodly; expect persecution.
John 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
John 16:3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
John 16:4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
1 Tim 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
1 Tim 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Timothy was not a novice. He knew the word of God and the teachings of the faith. Do not be moved by attacks on you, but continue reading the word, warning and encouraging by sound doctrine.
Discipleship
1 Tim 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
Do not neglect the gift of teaching, which was revealed to you by prophecy and blessed by the church elders. I like this, for this has happened to me, it is proper church order.
1 Tim 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
1 Tim 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
The teacher must take his calling seriously, preparing by reading the word, meditation and prayer. Giving yourself completely to this. his is why deacons were called, so that more time could be spent in studying and prayer.
2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Tim 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
What then? To avoid the false we must have come to Jesus and received his Spirit. We must study the word and use spiritual discernment. Not all is as it appears. Is Jesus Christ honored? Is Jesus Lord? Is he the only way to God? Is he the Son of God? This is the truth that makes us free. The devil seeks to destroy, he will send persecution, but God gives us life and hope eternal.
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