1 Timothy 4:1-5

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, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

Introduction

Doctrine - Why does it matter?

Bad Doctrine
Bad Teachers
Bad Fruit

The Testimony of the Spirit

Now the Spirit expressly says…

Jesus’ Teaching

Matthew 24:4-14
Matthew 24:21-31
Mark 13:22

The Apostles’ Teaching

2 Peter 2:1-3
Jude 18
1 John 2:18-19

Paul’s Teaching

2 Timothy 3:1-9
Acts 20:28-30
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3

The Last Days

In later times…

Are we living in the “Last Days”?

1 Peter 1:20

He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you…

Hebrews 1:1-2

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

1 John 2:18

Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.

The Doctrines of Demons:

Deceitful spirits and teachings of demons

Leviticus 17:7
Deuteronomy 32:17
Psalm 96:4-5
Psalm 106:36-39
1 Corinthians 10:20-21

A Twofold Rebellion:

In the Invisible Realm
In the Visible Realm

The Deceiver and the Deceived:

Liars whose consciences have been seared…

John 8:44

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

The False Teaching

They forbid marriage and require abstinence from food…

Asceticism — Religion — Self-Righteousness

Colossians 2:16-23

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

The Error of Rejecting the Word of God

For everything created by God is good…

ARM YOURSELF WITH THE ARMOR OF LIGHT

Romans 13:11-12

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.