August 5
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth,” 1 Timothy 4:1-3.
In latter times – that is, as the time of this world is drawing to its close – we are warned that there will be a falling away from the saving, Christian faith. People who once believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as God’s Son and their Savior will depart from Christianity. They will turn a deaf ear to the truths which they once believed, and they will instead turn their ear to listen to lying and deceiving teachers who are proclaiming the doctrines of devils.
Remember what Jesus said to some people who rejected Him: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it,” John 8:44. The father of lies seeks to persuade people to forsake what they once believed for their salvation. The devil will always seek to get people to put their trust for salvation in their own works and good behavior.
Oh no, the devil never presents himself looking like the devil. He does not come with horns, all dressed in red and carrying a pitchfork! He is a liar and a deceiver who presents himself as a good angel. To the Corinthians, the apostle Paul wrote, “Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light,” 2 Corinthians 11:14. The devil has many followers who present themselves as messengers from God, but God has not sent them. They are hypocrites, pretending to be what they are not. Foolishly and sadly, they believe their own lies! Their consciences are seared with a hot iron; their consciences are cauterized. They feel no guilt or shame for teaching lies and causing people to lose their Christian faith in Jesus, God’s Son and the only Savior from sin, death, and the power of the devil.
They teach man’s doctrines of salvation by works instead of teaching the way of salvation by God’s grace for Christ’s sake through faith. The apostle gives several examples which we also see in various churches in our day: He speaks of “forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.” There are religious leaders and teachers who teach that remaining unmarried is a holier state than marriage. That is a blatant lie of the devil’s origin.
False religious leaders and teachers also teach that you must refrain from eating certain foods – for example, refrain from eating meat on certain days of the week and during certain periods designated by church leaders. Man-made rules and regulations are not a part of Christian teachings as recorded in the Bible. Beware of Satan’s servants and deceivers! Remember the words of the Lord Jesus: “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men,” Matthew 15:8-9.
“Father of mercies, in Thy Word
What endless glory shines!
Forever be Thy name adored,
For these celestial lines.
Divine Instructor, gracious Lord,
Be Thou forever near;
Teach me to love Thy sacred Word,
And view my Savior here.” Amen.