I Timothy Chapter 4

Vs. 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;

‘the Spirit speaketh expressly’…So many Christians talk about “the Spirit led me to do thus and thus”; or the Spirit told me…; Now let’s be careful here and understand that the Spirit speaks through the written Word of God. The Holy Spirit is telling us---Do Not Miss What I Am About To Tell You”!!!

“that in the latter times”…In Galatians 1:6 Paul marvels that the Galatians had accepted doctrines of devils so SOON!!! He was not surprised that they had faced doctrines of devils; it was how quickly they had departed from “the faith”. Do not think this is a prophecy about the future of the church, the body of Christ. The “latter times” occurred in Paul’s day and has continued throughout the history of this dispensation of the church. Sound doctrine and doctrines of devils have coexisted in the body of Christ throughout this dispensation. The “latter times” is not a period of time we are waiting to come.

“some shall depart”… This “DEPARTURE” arrived in Paul’s lifetime. II Timothy 1:15… This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. Now for Paul to say that all them in Asia had turned away from him (not Jesus) is either Paul’s arrogance coming through or it is the Word of God and it is dangerous for us to take lightly what Paul has taught us. If you follow the sound doctrine that Paul has given us, you are following Jesus. Don’t be a part of the “DEPARTURE” in your day; keep your spiritual radar up…I Cor. 16: 13-14… Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. [14] Let all your things be done with charity.

“from the faith”… Apostasy is not when a Christian begins to doubt creationism, or the great flood of Noah’s day, the rapture of the church, or even God’s existence; the tendency is for Christians to “swerve from Grace to Law”. I Tim. 1: 5-7… Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: [6] From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; [7] Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. Paul is warning Christians who are leaving sound doctrine and turning to law. What this does is it turns Christians from Word based faith to experience based faith. Nothing is more important in your life than UNDERSTANDING THE WORD OF GOD, RIGHTLY DIVIDED.

“The faith” is every truth that was committed to Paul’s trust---I Tim. 1:11… According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. “The faith” could also be described as the information Paul has written to Timothy in chapters 1, 2 and 3. The church, the body of Christ would depart from what Paul laid out to Timothy.

It is also important to remember that in order to depart from the faith, you have to be in “the faith” to some degree. This is what caused to weep; the saints had heard and received sound doctrine, only to abandon it.

Now how could one determine if a Christian has “departed from the faith”? Verse 13 of chapter 4 gives the answer… Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Attending to something other than grace is the equivalent of apostatizing.

There is another very important question that needs to be answered. WHY would a grace believer leave grace teaching and return to law teaching? The answer is pretty straightforward; you start giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils (vs. 1). According to II Cor. 11:3-4, Satan desires to corrupt your mind as a Christian. He cannot do anything about your standing “in Christ” as a grace believer but he can corrupt your mind and thereby cause you to apostatize. He does this by teaching another Jesus, another gospel and another spirit.

The devil of “Christianity” has little in common with the one defined in Scripture. He is mentioned only three times in the Old Testament. He is presented as “the deceiver.” Eve was thoroughly “deceived” (I Timothy 2:14). She was “beguiled” into accepting Satan’s interpretation of what God had said. (II Corinthians 11:3). The devil did not attack the morals of Eve; he undermined and corrupted her faith.

Jesus warned the religious leaders of His day that they were not children of God by virtue of being a Hebrew/Israelite and one who practiced “Judaism”. He corrected them by the following verse: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44).

“A murderer from the beginning” – the beginning of what? Not of his own existence, for he was created in perfection and beauty (Ezk. 28: 15) nor of the existence of man; His being a murderer in the context connects itself with the truth which he refused and the lie of which he is the father.

Colossians 1:15-19 tells us THE TRUTH that Satan rebelled against and has continued to contest here on earth…Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: [16] For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: [17] And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. [18] And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. [19] For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

In the temptation of Christ Satan and his lie are fully revealed. He claimed to meet the Lord on equal terms. “All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If Thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine” (Luke 4:6-7). Satan claims to be the firstborn, the rightful heir of creation, the true Messiah, and as such he claims the worship of mankind. Satan of the Bible is “transformed … into an angel of light,” as are “his ministers also … transformed as the ministers of righteousness” (II Corinthians 11:14-15). Do angels of light or ministers of righteousness corrupt men’s morals, or tempt them to commit acts of sin or crime?

The Satan of Scripture is a very different being from the mythical devil of Christianity; his title is “the god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4) – not the instigator of its sins and its crimes, but the controller of its religion.

Through ignorance of Satan, people are deceived into assuming that any man who displays “spiritual power” and is a “minister of righteousness” must be a minister of Christ. Satan is preparing the way for the “mother of all delusions”--- “the man of sin” (II Thessalonians 2:3) will be energized by him “with all power and signs and lying wonders” (2:9) to impersonate Jesus Christ and thereby to command the worship of mankind. What wonder is it then if the antichrist appears to honor Jesus Christ and even bears testimony to His second coming!?

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John testify to the activity of devils/unclean spirits during the ministry of Christ on earth. Paul also warns us of a renewal of devil activity throughout the dispensation of the grace of God. I Timothy 4:1-2 warns of a “falling away”in the church, the body of Christ promoted by “seducing spirits” of a highly feeling based, experienced centered spirituality rooted in religious legalism of forbidding and commanding a morality that God does not require in the dispensation of grace. In other words, these seducing spirits do not devise a new program of moral evil; it is a program of religion using all the appropriate religious terms common to Christianity.

Some devils were spirits that did physical harm to their victims. Thus the Lord plainly indicated that these were a special class of devils (“this kind,” Mark 9:29). Some devils are eager to acknowledge the Lord and to worship Him. “And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, ‘Thou art Christ the Son of God.’ And He rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that He was Christ” (Luke 4:41). We read again that the “unclean spirits, when they saw Him, fell down before Him, and cried, saying, ‘Thou art the Son of God’” (Mark 3:11). The Lord refused their worship…“He stratily charged them that they should not make Him known” (Mark 3:12).

If the present-day religions of spiritualism, Christian Science, Mormonism, Buddhism, Islam, Jehovah Witnesses, etc. are winning more converts than Christianity, it is because the devils who inspire them are pure, pious and fond of mankind. (I John 4:1-2)

To overcome the sins of our carnal nature is commonly supposed to be the goal of the Christian life; but Ephesians 6 tells us…For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Whereas Colossians 3:8 tells us to… “Put off all these”---be done with them once for all, and thus the ground is cleared for the true conflict of the life of faith---sound doctrine!!! If men did not have the power to “put off all these”, the coming judgment would be an travesty of justice; but the path of a Christian lies on the battlefield on which the supreme conflict of the ages is in progress (Phil. 2: 5-11). God’s great purpose is to exalt Christ, and, as Martin Luther wrote, “The devil hath no other business in hand but this only, to persecute and vex Christ.” His aim is not to degrade men but to draw them away from Christ, not to corrupt their morals but to blind their minds to the light of the gospel of Christ (II Corinthians 4:4). He does this through religion.

How do we avoid the religious institutions of man? “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16).

What are devils doing today?

Christians will not accept a doctrine that is incompatible with their experience. They have a problem comprehending that the word of God is the authority, not experience. This is particularly true with the subject of devils. Someone has rightly said, “A man with an experience will never be persuaded by a man with a Bible teaching. We have made experience supreme and we don’t care what the Bible says if it does not agree with our experience.

The word “demon” is not used in the Bible. The correct term is "devil." It appears in 106 verses in the Bible. (4 in OT; 76 times in the Gospels; 2 in Acts; 8 in Paul's Epistles; 16 in Hebrew epistles)

Devilish activity revolves around the activity of life on earth, not in the heavenlies. When Christ arrived on earth 2,000 years ago, the forces of darkness sent down opposition. The forces of darkness are centered upon Jesus Christ. The truth is, you and I are not much of a threat to them.

Mark 5:9-10 The devils are legion in one man. Why so many devils in this man? Because there are more devils in the land of Israel than human beings. Notice that the devils do not wish to be sent out of the “country.” Israel is where the battle is occurring during the dispensation of the Kingdom of heaven (Matthew 10). There is very little about devils possessing people in the Pauline epistles because devilish involvement with man took a different strategy during the dispensation of the grace of God.

1. Devils proclaim false doctrine during the dispensation of grace.

· Gal 1:8…We typically think that angels are good guys and devils are bad guys. Not so!! Devilish angels are into the business of preaching false doctrine and false gospels. .

· Rev 14:6… Angels proclaim the correct gospel during the dispensation of the tribulation.

· Acts 26:18… Satan's power is described as darkness; however, Satan masquerades as light. If you are going to commit a crime, it is a common practice to disguise yourself so as to obscure your identity. Satan has done the same thing. He doesn’t wear a uniform saying “I am a bad guy” or announce where he is at work on the earth. He works as a “minister of righteousness” (2Cor. 11:13-15). He is in the doctrinal business---radio, TV, publishing, etc. Satan has ministers of righteousness “whose end shall be according to their works”. That phrase refers to those under God's judgment; not the way that human beings are treated by God or salvation by our works.

· Devils engage in doctrinal warfare (Eph. 6). The mystery of iniquity doth already work. (2Thess. 2:7-8) Satan has been working in false doctrine since the days of Paul, getting the world ready for when the Man of Sin shall be revealed during the Tribulation. Satan is concealed today, but he will be revealed then.

2. The doctrine that devils and the world proclaim is Satan's twisting of God’s truth.

• 1 Cor. 10:19-21…Since idols are nothing; a sacrifice to an idol is a sacrifice to a devil.
• False religion is orchestrated by devils. Jer 44:17 burn incense unto the Queen of Heaven
• Gen 3:14…God cursed Satan above all cattle of the earth; why not above all reptiles, all amphibians, etc.??? Eze 1:10, 10:14, Ex. 32:4 answers this question for us. Satan is a cherub; he has four faces: there is one difference in this list---cherub/ox; lion, man, eagle. Satan can transform himself and he has done so over the centuries.
• Architecture in China and other Asian countries exalt dragons. Rev 20:2
• Santa Claus: omnipresent (visits every house in the world in the same night); omniscient (he sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake, he knows if you have been bad or good); is a giver of gifts (as Christ is - Matt 7:11); little children go to him at Christmas to tell him what they want. (little children went to Christ - Matt 19:14); is a "jolly old elf" (Rev 20:2 Satan is an old serpent dressed in red and white) "Kris Kringle" - Kris is a short from of Christopher, meaning "bearing Christ inside"; lives at the north pole (Isa 14:12-14 Satan wants to sit in the sides of the north); says "Ho ho ho" (the Lord says Ho ho – Zech. 2:5-6); Santa ~ Satan; Santa is a counterfeit of the Lord Jesus Christ.

What is my point? These things are not accidental. These things don't just happen. They are consistent with Satan's devices. Satan has influenced the world system to worship him. Satan wants the honor and worship that belongs to Jesus Christ alone.

• Eph 2:2… People walk according to the course of this world that Satan sets. The world also has a spirit that works in the children of disobedience.
• 2Cor 4:4… Satan is the god of this world in the sense that people have freely chosen to worship him; however, Jesus is still the owner according to 1Cor 10:26… For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
• 1Cor 5:5, 1Tim 1:20…You deliver a saint to Satan by throwing him out into the world system apart from care, protection and instruction of the local assembly (that was all there was in the first generation of the church, the body of Christ. Today, we have the completed Word of God---the means by which we grow as Christians.

3. Devilish doctrine is a trap.

• 2Tim 2:25-26… When you believe false doctrine you are doing something very destructive to yourself. People are taken captive by the snare of the devil. The devil has set traps. A trap appears beneficial or innocent but it captures the victim. Satan takes people captive through false doctrine. It's not physical. If you put someone in a physical prison, they may not be able to get out, but they know that they are in prison and want to get out. Satan's traps trick people into believing that they are not in prison… Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (Rom 6:16). The lost think they are free to sin but the truth is they are in bondage to sin. You can be a servant of sin and think you are in liberty. They think Christianity is too confining to suit them when in reality they are slaves. Satan can not separate you from the love of God or steal your heavenly blessings (Rom. 8:28-29); however, he can trick you into believing things that are not true and therefore make you ineffective as an ambassador to this world. Satan particularly hates the message of grace because it proclaims his defeat and exposes his strategy. Satan is not righteous, but he appears as a minister of righteousness. How did he respond to Jesus in the wilderness temptations??? He quoted scripture out of context---he appeared to Jesus as a minister of righteousness. (II Cor. 11: 13-15)
• Col. 2: 14-15… Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; [15] And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. What Satan did not know (the mystery) was that the church the body of Christ is going to replace Satan and his angels in heavenly places. Satan understands God’s purpose to use Israel to take back the earth; but he did not know how God was going to take back the heavenly places. Therefore he hates the mystery more than the prophecy program because the church will replace him and his princes.
• God allows false doctrine to be disseminated by “ministers of Satan” during the dispensation of grace. It can actually help us identify the “approved ones”…“For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” (I Cor. 11: 19).

4. Satan hinders the truth through human instruments.

• 1Thess. 2:17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. Paul references his being taken from the Thessalonians' presence, which occurs in Acts 17:10. 1Thessalonians is written between Acts 18:5 and Acts 18:18 (based upon the fact that Silvanus is with Paul when 1Thessalonians is written). The "hindering" must occur between Acts 17:10 and Acts 18:18. Neither Satan nor the devil nor his angels are mentioned in Acts 17:10-18:18. The only hindrance to Paul recorded in Acts 17:10-Acts 18:18 is the opposition of the Jews who oppose Paul's ministry. 17:13-14 The Jews of Thessalonica went to Berea and stirred up the people of Berea and thus forced Paul to depart Berea and go to Athens. Paul was hindered in going to Thessalonica because he had to flee even farther away from Thessalonica. (18:9-10). Paul fears for his life because of the Jews in Corinth. (18:12). The Jews made insurrection against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat. Satan was hard at work to defeat Romans 10:14-15. Thus, Satan's hindrance is either (1) something supernatural that is not recorded in the book of Acts or (2) the Jews who oppose Paul's ministry.
• In 1Cor 5:5 and 1Tim 1:20 Paul delivered certain people unto Satan by expelling them from the local assemblies where grace doctrine was being faithfully taught. Therefore, Satan is able to exercise power over people by the mere fact that they are ignorant of grace truth.
• In 1Tim 5:14, some believers are turned aside after Satan because of their departure from correct doctrine and practice. It was not open Satan worship but following the doctrines of devils that permeate the world system.
• Matt 16:23 Christ says "Get thee behind me, Satan" to Peter. Peter is not devil-possessed. It is that Peter is articulating the Devil's viewpoint unknowingly. This is exactly how Satan hinders Paul's ministry - through human instruments that unwittingly do Satan's bidding.
• Rom 15:22… For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. Rom 15:20-21 "For which cause" is a reference to the fact that Paul preached a gospel that was not built upon another man's foundation.

Vs. 3-5… 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. [4] For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:[5] For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. In these verses Paul is going to contrast “Law thinking” versus “Grace thinking”. Our flesh responds to the “law of sin” and our mind responds to the “law of the Spirit of life”. Paul explains this in Romans 7:18-25 through 8:2. Under law we think about “perform, obey, fear, doubt, religion, blessings if we obey, rejection, righteousness by works, etc. Under grace we think about gratefulness, thankfulness, acceptance, prayer, spiritual blessings, free gift, Grace!!! The Christian living and thinking under law is described in II Timothy 2:25-26… In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
[26] And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. Satan’s will for our lives is to get us thinking under law, not under grace. This causes you to oppose your own self.

“Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats”…This is legalism. Paul uses these examples and not “baptism” or “tithing” because they are vital parts of our lives (eating and romance). However, he reminds Timothy that marriage and meals are all a part of Israel’s program of law. God did institute governors and tutors for Israel; not the grace believer. In Time Past God required a strict adherence to law. Adam was a vegetarian but Noah could eat anything. Paul is calling Timothy’s attention to Dispensations and the fact that they change and it is CRUCIAL that we get the doctrines of our dispensation.

Vs. 6…If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things… I can not make a Christian believe something but I am commanded to “put” the brethren in remembrance. This is an action; I am to put it out there for you. Now some people don’t like to hear the same thing again. Well we do not mind that when it comes to eating. We have our favorite meals and we have the same meal over and over again.

Phil. 3:1… Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. There is spiritual safety in being reminded of the things of grace.

I Cor. 15:1-2… Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; [2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. In order to remember something implies that we already know it. If you don’t know something, you can’t remember it. We should also study and rightly divide the word of truth (II Tim. 2:15). In Phil. 4: 8 Paul tells Christians to think on certain things… Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Why is Paul so concerned with what we are thinking about and who we are hanging around with? Because there is competition. There is another message vying for our time and attention. What is that competing message and why is it so important that Timothy remind the saints of grace truths? The next verses tell us…

Vs. 7… But refuse profane (unacceptable) and old wives' fables… In context, Paul is warning Timothy not to copy what the other ministers were doing and using their methods of ministry. Timothy was tempted to do this. The “ministers” in Timothy’s day were using fables---emotion based stories that convey a moral message but it is not the Word of God. Fables are not the Word of God. In America children grow up (Christian and non Christians) on fables; it is the preferred method of training children. Fables stir up our emotions through experienced based moral teachings and lead us away from the Word of God. The problem with fables is they can be used to teach anything. These experienced based sermons are very attractive to the flesh and seduce us to commit ourselves to “institutions of men”. Refuse to be “institutionalized”. Churches specialize in providing “experienced based” activities that excites and pleases our flesh. This is what Paul is telling Timothy to recognize---He is urging Timothy to reject this style of “ministry” and stand alone by “putting the brethren in remembrance” of the things of grace.

“exercise thyself rather”…Refuse to use fables as a servant of God to educate and edify the saints; instead remind them of sound doctrine. Reject giving people a moral way to live and this will have the following result… 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. (vs. 16) Sound doctrine will save you and them that hear you from THE APOSTASY. Timothy was not struggling with hanging out at bars, seeking prostitutes, or playing the lottery; he was tempted to join the growing apostasy of the church in his day. He was tempted to join the religious competition---experiences and emotional activities are very seductive.

Vs. 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. Just think about the amount of energy that goes into providing religious activity in the typical church today. Paul is warning Timothy to not spend his time as a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ encouraging the saints to perform “bodily exercise” (religious activity); the church can wear you out with activities; it has something going on for everyone all the time. When given the choice, Christians will take activities of the church over sound doctrine. Paul does not say that religious activity has no value; however, it profiteth little. When we remind the saints of who they are in Christ and the gospel of the grace of God---that is profitable; that is scriptural godliness. It also means that we will probably experience what it means to be alone. Cheer up, God’s greats have faced the same thing. Isaiah 51:2… Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

Vs. 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.

Paul reminds Timothy to trust in the “living God”, not in supernatural experiences. People are fascinated with miracles, signs and wonders. Paul is reminding Timothy that God gave Israel “signs” in Time Past, (Psa. 74:9…We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.); however, if you want to see the power of God displayed in the But Now, you must look to the Cross. Preaching a crucified Christ makes the church question the power and wisdom of God. The church wants something more exciting than preaching a crucified Savior. We want God to intervene in our daily lives to assure us that He is alive. He is not going to do that!!! His death, burial and resurrection are the only display of His power necessary to sustain the grace believer. (I Cor. 1:22-31) Don’t depart the program of grace looking for supernatural experiences.

“who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe”…Paul is the “due time testifier” of the risen Lord Jesus Christ. (I Timothy 2:5-6… For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; [6] Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Not all men will be saved but all men can be saved. Paul informs us of this truth in Rom. 3:21-22… But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
[22] Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: The righteousness of God is available to all men but only those who believe get the righteousness.

II Cor. 5:19 tells us that God reconciled the world to Himself… To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Does that mean that all the world is now saved? No!!! God’s offer is unlimited in terms of it is offered to the world. However, it is limited in the sense that isalvation is only applied to them that reconcile to God by believing the Gospel…(vs. 20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Vs. 11… These things command and teach. The doctrines that Paul just explained in verses 1-10. Ignoring these doctrines is what it means to “depart from the faith”.

Vs. 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.

Timothy was not a teenager but neither was he an old man. Paul is urging Timothy to “buck up”. Timothy is reminded of the authority he has even as a young man (20-30’s) to get the message of grace out to a lost and dying world. Do not let your age discourage you from getting out the powerful message of grace. The best way to reveal the authority we have from God is to conduct our lives and ministry in such a way that others would not conclude that we are just young and impetuous. It is typical for young people to get caught up in “noble causes”.

Paul lists six areas that the world evaluates us by:

“word”…trustworthiness, integrity.

“conversation”…your manner of life over a period of time.

“charity”… Charity is a word reserved in the Bible for those who know the truth and are able to build others up in the truth. Even lost people can love others, but they can not show charity because charity is attached to truth. You can not have charity if you do not have the truth (1 Cor 13:6; 14:34; Rom. 14:15).

“in spirit”…maintain proper attitudes.

“in faith”…an unshakeable trust in God’s Word.

“in purity”…it is so easy to get dirty in this world of sin.

How does “departure” occur in the church?

Vs. 13-16… Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. [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. [15] Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. [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.

Four things we give up on gradually over time:

1. Give attendance to reading, exhortation, doctrine.
2. Neglect not the gift that is in thee---the revelation of the mystery.
3. Meditate on these things.
4. Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine. What will this save you from? It will save you from the Apostasy of the church---the great departure. This is very important to think about especially since you and I are living during the Apostasy. In fact, the dispensation of grace will be characterized by the church departing from the faith that it should embrace. The visible church will even stoop to level of perpetrating the Lie Program of Satan. This is what makes living as a grace believer so difficult.