Text: 1 Timothy 4:6
A preacher’s job is not to find some “new” thing to present to his audience every time he preaches. He is to “preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2), which means he will inform, challenge, and remind the brethren. In our text, Paul explained the importance of preachers reminding the brethren. This can be applied broadly to anything taught from the word of God, but what did Paul mean in this specific context? What they were to remember is still important today.
The Spirit’s Explicit Warning
- Revelation comes from the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10, 16) – Jesus is the spokesman of the new covenant (Hebrews 1:1-2); He sent the Spirit to reveal His message to His apostles (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13)
- Paul was not stating his opinion or making a prediction – he was relaying the Spirit’s message to Timothy; Timothy and others were to pay attention to the warning
Some Will Fall Away
- Many believe the doctrine of “once saved, always saved” – the Spirit explicitly refutes that theory; many religious errors are directly opposed to clear statements in Scripture (example: 1 Peter 3:21)
- They will fall away from the faith – this happens when they become hardened by sin (Hebrews 3:12-13); it does not say they will necessarily fall away from the church; they may still attend, but their faith is dead (Revelation 3:1)
Description of False Teachers
- Deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons – he was not talking about supernatural beings; these were false teachers, men (Acts 20:30)
- Deceitful spirits – they deceive the unsuspecting (Romans 16:17-18); brethren need to be alert
- Doctrines of demons – they oppose God and His truth/wisdom (James 3:14-15); we need discernment
Consciences Can Be Seared
- Our conscience is what causes us to feel guilt for sin (2 Corinthians 7:8-11) – a good conscience indicates sincerity (Acts 23:1), even if it is not always right; therefore, our conscience must be trained by the word of God (Hebrews 5:14)
- One can have a seared conscience – no longer feels guilt for sin; we must never allow ourselves to reach this point; never forget the terribleness of sin
Some Will Bind Where God Has Not Bound
- As long as the gospel has been around, man has tried to add more rules to it (Acts 15:1-2, 10) – some were forbidding marriage (cf. Hebrews 13:4); some were advocating abstaining from meats (cf. Romans 14:1-3)
- We need to be content with the rules God has given (2 John 9) – adding to them brings destruction (Revelation 22:18)
Everything Created by God Is Good
- Every good thing is from God (James 1:17) – it is a witness of His goodness (Acts 14:17); however, it is possible to abuse these things (Genesis 1:31; 9:20-21)
- We must receive God’s blessings with gratitude (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Conclusion
- The Spirit gave some explicit warnings – falling away, false teachers, seared consciences, man’s laws
- We must remember that everything from God is good – including and especially the reward of heaven
- We need to remain faithful, not fall away, so that we can obtain this reward
