I Tim 4:1-5

1. the foretelling of the apostasy- 4:1
1. the prophecy was given by the Holy Spirit
1. this warning did not originate with man
2. the present tense of "speaketh" reveals that this was a continuous ministry of the Holy Spirit
3. this warning is clearly stated and is not hid in symbolic language - "expressly"
2. this prophecy refers to the latter times (we are living in the latter days)
3. this prophecy concerns apostasy
1. the latter days will be filled with false teachers & false doctrines
2. the victory over the powers of evil has already taken place at the resurrection
3. the universal acknowledgment of this victory will take place at the return of Christ
4. this apostasy involves people not just ideas or beliefs - "some"
5. the apostasy involves a willful departure - "shall depart"
1. "shall depart" - to stand away from, to move from one place to another
2. an apostate is not one who gives up his profession of being a Christian, but one who forsakes the truth of the Christian faith
6. the apostasy is a departure "from the faith"
1. it is a departure from the fundamental doctrines taught in the Bible
2. the result is not a loss of salvation, but a multitude of false professions
2. description of the apostasy - 4:1-3
1. seducing spirits - 1
1. the apostates willingly accept error ("giving heed to"), thus they are morally responsible
2. a contrast between the "Spirit" and "spirits"
1. God’s truth is singular (there is only one faith)(the proof: unity of the Bible)
2. apostasy takes many forms because it originates from many demons (unconcerned about truth)
3. it is important to try every spirit
3. these spirits are "seducing" (they deceive and lead astray)
2. doctrines of devils
1. demonic wisdom is revealed by false teaching
2. the false teachings of devils includes self glorification, lying, humanism & sensuality
3. such error has been developed into many doctrinal systems
4. such error is attractive to man’s natural instincts, but it is a "damnable" heresy
5. both the advocates & the converts are thoroughly blinded by Satan
3. lies in hypocrisy - 2
1. apostasy often masquerades as holy & righteous living within a caring community
2. it is hypocritical because it shows an external form of religion, but the teachers deliberately misrepresent truth
3. just as Satan changes himself into an angel of light, so are his human ministers changed into ministers of righteousness
4. seared conscience - 2
1. all men have a conscience
2. some, in their sinful lives, have rationalized their behavior
3. their present condition can be traced to a time when they openly rejected truth & embraced error
4. they were made insensitive to right & wrong because they perverted the truth
5. forbidding to marry - 3
1. their prohibition of marriage is a rejection of the divinely ordained institution of marriage that was established in the Garden of Eden
2. they saw celibacy as the ultimate expression of total devotion to God
3. to them celibacy was more holy than marriage
4. the starvation of the divinely given sex drive is not the biblical way of walking with God
5. love between a husband & wife is truly honoring to God
6. abstain from meats - 3
1. there are many groups that promote this error (Catholics, Seventh Day Adventist)
2. Paul faced this issue squarely and put it in its proper place: doctrine of devils
3. this restriction of diet is a manifestation of legalism, and is therefore contrary to grace
4. becoming a vegetarian is not a means of sanctification
5. false teachers use this as a way to totally control the lives of their followers
6. they find sin where God does not, but they do not find sin where God does
3. the ignorance of the apostates - 4:3-5
1. concerning the purpose of creation - 3
1. God created meat for eating - "to be received"
1. it is the duty of the believer to receive this food from God with thanksgiving
2. giving of thanks was a regular custom observed by Jesus
3. one characteristic of the last days is an unthankful spirit
4. food reveals God’s power, goodness, and loving concern for human life
1. the creation of food that renews itself was designed to bring glory to God
2. when men do not see food as a divine provision, the seed of apostasy has already begun to sprout
2. a sign of knowing the truth is a thankful spirit
2. concerning the nature of God’s creation - 4-5
1. all animals are good for food
1. when God looked at His creation, He said it was good
2. they are good because they meet man’s need of food
3. God designed "meats for the belly, and the belly for meats" - I Cor. 6:13
2. no meat is to be refused
1. meat was created for consumption, not for rejection
2. anyone who says that eating meat is a moral or spiritual flaw is calling something evil that God has pronounced good
3. meat cannot defile us
3. food is to be received with thanksgiving
1. a word of thanks offered to God for His gifts of food, sanctifies a meal
2. "sanctified" means to be set apart for holy use
3. believers must view all activity as sacred - "whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God"
4. spirituality is not determined by a legalistic diet
5. spirituality is manifested by a biblical use of divinely created food
6. God’s Word is also important in the sanctification of our food
1. "word of God" - the teaching of Scripture about food: its source, essence, and purpose
2. the Bible alone must remain the basis of faith and practice
3. the opinions of man can never supersede the inspired Word of God