1 Timothy 4:1

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 as 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. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Father, as we stand here this morning, that is one of my prayers: that you would sanctify us by your word. Jesus, that was your prayer in John 17:17: "Sanctify them by your truth; your word is truth." Lord, you are able, by your inspired word and by the work of your Spirit, to transform us by the renewing of our minds. We would be able to show, put on display today and Monday and Tuesday, every day this week, what is your good and perfect will, what is right, what is true, what is noble, what is honorable, and what is of good report. You desire to use our lives as a blank slate on which you would be able to show your goodness, your grace, and your glory. Our lives are that canvas. We are your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which you ordained beforehand that we should walk in.

I pray that the time we have here this morning, the next 40 or so minutes, would be a time that you would use to continue to perfect that work in us, that we would be thoroughly equipped for every good work. So God, take your word by your Spirit and transform us. We pray this in Jesus' name, and all those that agreed said, "Amen." You can be seated.

If we rewind the tape a bit, about 10 weeks, you may remember we were in the book of First Timothy before we took a detour for our series. We just finished on life in connection, the same series we begin each year with, talking about our vision before the New Year's holiday, before Christmas, and even before Thanksgiving.

We were going through the book of First Timothy, which is kind of interesting because my original plan—how many of you know that we make plans and God laughs?—was to go through this book in six weeks, one chapter a week. That did not happen at all. I think we're somewhere between 12 and 16 weeks into First Timothy already, and we still have three more chapters left. It could take us a little while to get through this passage.

If you were with us 10 weeks ago, you know that the series in First Timothy is called "On Course." So, we're going to get back on course today, beginning here at chapter four. First, a little refresher: we should understand why we are in this book. What is the reason that we, sitting here in January 2018, are studying a book that was written 2,000 years ago?

It goes back to the fact that we are a church that focuses on the Word of God. We believe that God desires, through His Word, to transform us more and more into the likeness of His kids. He wants us to be more like Him, and He uses His Word to do that. We have been on a journey here at Cross Connection for the better part of the last 10 years to go through the New Testament. We've been doing it in a chronological fashion, starting with the book of Acts in November 2008. By God's grace, we have finished the book of Acts. It took us a little while because the book of Acts covers the early history of the church.

During that first 30 to 35 years of early Christian history, most of the New Testament was written as letters. The book of Acts gives us a great history of who we are as the people of God, where we came from, and what we should be about. We are in this book because this is what we do when we gather together.

But why was this book originally written? Why does it exist? Again, the book of Acts largely focuses on the apostolic church-planting ministry of a man named Paul. Most of the book of Acts is dedicated to his journeys—three primary missionary journeys that Paul went on, establishing churches in the world of his day. His first journey is recorded beginning at Acts chapter 13 through chapter 15. There, we are told about Paul and Barnabas, who left their home church in southern Syria and ventured into a part of the world that, in their day, was called Galatia. In our day, it's kind of central Turkey.

On that first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas established churches among Gentile peoples, who are not Jewish. Both Paul and Barnabas were Jewish. The gospel began to be spread from Jerusalem, so all of the early hearers of the gospel were Jewish. However, God's intent was not only for one group of people in one place at one time. His heart is for all people in every place at all times. He commissioned His disciples to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. Paul and Barnabas were setting out to do that, and I am grateful they did, because I am not Jewish. Most of you here today are not Jewish either, but we still have the opportunity to be saved by the grace of Jesus, because God's heart is for all people in all places at all times.

Paul and Barnabas went and planted churches in cities called Lystra, Iconium, and Derby. Afterward, they returned to their home church. Acts chapter 16 picks up with Paul's second missionary journey, during which he traveled with a man named Silas. Ultimately, they added two more companions to their group: Luke and Timothy. They set out to plant more churches, first visiting the churches that Paul had planted in Galatia. Then they crossed into Europe, into Macedonia, where they planted churches in the cities of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. Paul attempted to plant a church in the great city of Athens, and they ultimately landed in a city called Corinth. God did amazing things over the next two years through the ministry of the Apostle Paul and those who were with him during this second missionary journey.

At the end of that journey, recorded in Acts chapter 18, Paul returned to his home base. His goal was to go back into modern-day Turkey, specifically western coastal Turkey, to the chief city of that area, a city called Ephesus. On Paul's third missionary journey, recorded in Acts chapters 18 and 19, he returned to Ephesus and spent two to three years there establishing a church that would become one of the most impactful churches in the world at that time. This church would plant churches throughout Turkey. If you read the first chapters of the Book of Revelation, you will find seven churches mentioned; six of those churches were planted as a result of Ephesus, which is also mentioned there. The church in Rome, to which Paul wrote one of his greatest letters, the book called Romans, was established as a byproduct of Paul's ministry in Ephesus.

As you follow through the remainder of the Book of Acts, Paul finishes up his third missionary journey, and the book concludes with Paul in the city of Rome.

And he's there, not necessarily in the way in which he wanted to be. It was his goal to get there for a long time, but he ends up there incarcerated by the Roman Empire, awaiting trial before the Roman Supreme Court of the day, which was a judge, one judge, a guy by the name of Caesar Nero. He was there under the charges, the accusation, and false accusation of sedition against the Roman Empire, the very same thing for which Jesus was ultimately condemned to die by the Romans in his day. Paul is there awaiting trial for the accusation of sedition against the Roman Empire for preaching the gospel of Jesus. The gospel of Christ is an offense, the Bible says, to those who are perishing. We know that in our day, and we see it throughout church history.

Now, Acts finishes with Paul in Rome under house arrest. However, we know from church tradition that shortly after the book of Acts finishes, Paul was released from that first imprisonment. It is believed that Paul, with Timothy, one of his chief disciples, went back to visit some of the churches that they had established. They went east from Rome and ultimately came back to the city of Ephesus. The last time Paul had been there was around the year A.D. 58, and now it was about A.D. 64 or 65; about seven years had passed. When he returned to the church that he had established, planted, and pastored, he found that in that short period of time, six or seven years, the church had gotten off course. They had drifted, as we are so apt to do.

You have probably all been to the beach before. You go out, and you're in front of lifeguard tower number 13. After a few hours in the water, you find that next thing you know, you're in front of lifeguard tower number 15. You've drifted. You don't have to do anything to drift. So, the church at Ephesus had drifted. When Paul got there, he knew that he was not going to be able to stay for very long. He turned to his associate, Timothy, and said, "Timothy, I've got to leave. I've got to go to Macedonia, probably to the church at Philippi. I want you to stay here, and I want you to set in order those things that are off course. I want you to get them back on course."

Now, from everything we can deduce from the two letters that Paul wrote to him, First and Second Timothy, it seems that Timothy did not like that idea. Have any of you ever sensed the leading of the Lord into a direction where you're kind of apprehensive? If you walk with Jesus long enough, you will find yourself in that position. Timothy seemed to have some anxiety about this; he was not exactly excited about what Paul was saying.

Stay here in Ephesus. If you look at 1 Timothy chapter 1, you will see Paul make reference to this in verse 3. Paul says, "As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, we were in Ephesus. I'm going west to Macedonia to Philippi. I urged you when I went into Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification, which is in faith."

Paul left Timothy in Ephesus to pastor the church that was in need of help. They were off course, and Paul says, "Timothy, I want you to stay here. You're going to be the helmsman, the pastor, and you're going to help this church that is off course get back on course." He wanted them to return to a place where they were walking in sound doctrine.

You can know that a church or an individual believer that is off course will be evident. It will be clear in the life of the person or the life of the church that they are off course and that they're on course. There will be very clear evidence when a Christian or a church is not where they should be as it relates to sound doctrine. This is evident in the byproduct of that church. Paul mentions some of those things here in this passage.

An off-course church will get tied up in false doctrines and false teachings. They will find themselves drifting towards fables, myths, and endless genealogies. They will separate according to spiritual pedigrees. For example, they might say, "I was baptized by this person," and another might respond, "Oh, well, I was baptized by this person." There is a way in which, because of our carnal nature, we will find ourselves segregating into groups. I've seen it in every church. It was the same 2,000 years ago at the church in Ephesus, and it happens in this church and any other church you go to.

People start to divide themselves into spiritual factions and spiritual pedigrees. "I'm of John Calvin." "I'm of Jacob Arminius." You may have heard some of those things before. It is our sin nature to do this, and these things lead to speculative controversies and meaningless disputes. I've seen it sadly in this church and in many other churches as well, where the church divides itself and starts to have controversy over speculations and meaningless disputes. This is the evidence of a church that's off course.

That's what Paul and Timothy found when they came to Ephesus. Even though it had been planted well and pastored well, they had drifted according to their sin nature into these things. So, that's the evidence of a church that's off course.

What's the evidence of a church that is on course? Paul says in First Timothy, chapter one, verse three, "I urged you when I went into Macedonia, remain in Ephesus that you may charge them that they teach no other doctrine." He wanted Timothy to give them sound doctrine. For what purpose? Look at verse five of First Timothy one. Now, the purpose of this charge, this commandment, is love. Would you reach over and circle that in your neighbor's Bible? Even if it's a loaner Bible, it's probably not a bad idea to circle that word: love. The purpose of the charge, the reason I'm telling you to do this, is that you would bring this church into the experience of and the expression of love—love from a pure heart, love from a good conscience, love from a sincere faith.

Point number one on your outline: love is the clearest evidence of soundness of faith and doctrine. This is what we should be keying in on to see if the church is in line. There will be a byproduct. Jesus said in John, chapter 13, verse 35, "By this shall all men know that you are my followers, by the love that you have one for another." This is the word of Christ. People will be able to identify you as followers of Jesus because you love people.

Not just Jesus, but the Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Galatian church, said that the evidence of the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit, is chiefly love. The evidence that God is dwelling in you by His Holy Spirit is expressed in our lives through love, which produces joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, and self-control—all of these things are byproducts of love. This is what God desires to grow in us.

Now, our carnal nature leads us into division over speculative matters and controversies, leading to disputes. But Christ, by His Spirit, wants to work something new. So, why does this book exist? This book exists because Timothy was ordained by Pastor Paul to be the pastor of the Ephesian church, to help get them back on course in the area of sound doctrine.

So, working out that sound doctrine, they would express it in love that is pure, good, and sincere. Now, at the transition point here in First Timothy, we come to First Timothy chapter four, verse one. Paul says, "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times, some will depart from the faith." Well, that's a bit of a letdown. Paul previously said in chapter one, "Timothy, I'm leaving you there to get this church back on course in the area of sound doctrine." He wanted them to believe and hold to sound doctrine and to live those things out. He urged Timothy to dedicate himself to getting them on course, but he had to tell him that the Spirit had said very clearly that in the latter days, some of those people would depart from faith in Jesus and faithfulness to Jesus. They are going to leave.

How is that going to happen? Look at what he says in First Timothy four, one, the second part of it: "The Spirit expressly says that in latter times, some will depart from the faith." How? By giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.

Point number two on your outline: Don't be surprised by the Spirit's sobering prediction. Paul had said to Timothy, "I have left you there in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine and that they not give heed to these false teachings." But here he says the Spirit predicts that there will be a point in the future where people will give heed to these false teachings, to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.

This is striking for a church that is planted by Paul and pastored by Timothy. It can stray, stumble, and fall just like Judas. That's everything to consider. If you've been around the Bible for any length of time, you probably agree that Pastor Paul was a pretty good pastor. You would assume that his disciple, his apprentice Timothy, would not be a bad pastor either. Yet, a church that could be planted by an apostle like Paul and pastored by a young man like Timothy can stray, stumble, and fall just like Judas. Of course, if you've been around the Gospels, you know who Judas was; he is the one who betrayed Christ.

He had Jesus as his pastor. Just because you have a great pastor does not necessarily mean that you have a great walk. There obviously falls some responsibility on us to work out our salvation. This is what Paul is leading to here in this passage. There will be those, the Spirit says, who will fall. They will depart from the faith and give heed to doctrines of demons.

Four things that we should consider in verse one here in First Timothy chapter four. First, who announces this danger? It wasn't just Paul. Paul says, "Hey, listen, I'm concerned that this could happen." He did say that in his last words to the elders, the leaders of the church at Ephesus, about six or seven years before this. He said, "I am concerned." This is recorded in Acts chapter 20. He expressed his deep-hearted concern that after his departure, savage wolves would come in, not sparing the flock. There would be false teachers coming.

Now, he says, "It's not just me that's saying this, Timothy. I want you to understand the Holy Spirit of God says there will be some who depart from the faith." The first point we narrow in on here is who is saying this. The Holy Spirit is saying this. He didn't say it in the past; it doesn't say the Holy Spirit said this. It says the Holy Spirit says this. I think it's important to recognize the present nature of the word that Paul chooses here, inspired by the Holy Spirit. I believe this was not only a word for Timothy 2,000 years ago, pastoring the Ephesian church. This is a message for all churches and all pastors at all times. The Holy Spirit is saying this presently, and hopefully, we have ears to hear what the Spirit says to His church.

Secondly, not only who is giving this caution, but when this will happen. The Holy Spirit expressly says that in latter times, this word "latter times" can be kind of a stumbling block for many Christians, especially in our day. When we read the word "latter times," we can easily fall into the trap of thinking that this word has an end-times only focus, that it has an eschatological focus. If you have never heard the word "eschatology" before, it's the study of the last things.

In many churches in America, especially over the last 130 to 150 years, there has been a significant focus on the study of end-time events. You may have had some interest in prophetic topics, such as the Book of Revelation and other passages of Scripture, including Isaiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, and Matthew 24 and 25, as well as Luke chapter 17.

When we read a passage like this, we might begin to think that it pertains to something in the future, specifically the latter times just before Jesus returns. Alternatively, we might look around the church and see the things Paul is talking about, wrongly assuming that this means we are in the end times. I can say that there has rarely been a month in the last 19 years as a pastor when someone in the church hasn’t approached me or emailed me, asking if we are in the last days, often expressing concern after watching Fox News or similar sources. YouTube eschatology is prevalent in our day, leading to misconceptions about what Paul is strictly saying regarding eschatos, or the things of the end.

In reality, Paul is providing a broad view of future events. While there may be an eschatological note in his message, the essence of what Paul is conveying to Timothy and to all pastors in all churches is that where you are now does not determine where you will be in the future. He makes this very clear in what he says next.

Point number three is that walking with Jesus today does not guarantee continuance with Jesus tomorrow. This point can be a stumbling block for some, particularly due to certain theological views. One such view is commonly referred to as eternal security. If you come from a more Reformed or Calvinistic background, you might be familiar with the last point in the five points of Calvinism, known as the perseverance of the saints.

This concept sounds appealing because who wouldn’t want to believe that every person who names the name of Christ and prays to receive Him will be with Christ 20 years from now, 30 years from now, or on the day they die, or when they stand before Jesus?

We all would like to say, "Yes, once saved, always saved." I don't know anybody who doesn't like the sound of that, but here's the problem: there are a lot of cautions in the Scripture having to do with what we would refer to as apostasy, or falling away. We spent most of last year studying through the Book of Hebrews, and Hebrews chapter three, chapter six, and many other places emphasize this whole thing. Hebrews chapter nine and chapter ten also contain important cautions that we need to take note of.

I would love to wholeheartedly lay hold of the perseverance of the saints and the idea of once saved, always saved. However, there are these little speed bumps in my Bible, and your Bible too, that say some will depart from the faith. It's challenging. Walking with Jesus today does not guarantee continuance with Jesus tomorrow. If you've walked with Jesus for three years, five years, or ten years, you likely know someone who used to seem to walk with Jesus but doesn't anymore. Some may object and say, "Well, they were never really saved." All right, fine. Get down to whatever you want to say, but the fact remains: they are not here anymore, and they once were.

There are cautions in the Bible, and I don't think that God gives warnings for no reason. They are there for a purpose. I remember someone sent me a picture of a caution sign a few years ago. It was an electrical sign that said, "Danger, don't touch. This will kill you, and it will hurt really bad while it does." I would assume that people take note of that and think, "Well, I don't want to touch that. I'll stay away from that thing."

So, we know who is saying this: the Holy Spirit. We know when it's a future proclamation that these things may happen. What are the circumstances foretold? Thirdly, the circumstances foretold indicate that some will depart from the faith. It is not clear who or how many; it is just stated, rather ambiguously, that some will depart from the faith. The Holy Spirit does not identify a specific person or a specific group that is in danger of falling away. He simply says, "Listen, some will depart."

There have been those whom I would have said, "No, that person will never fall away," and yet they have been accounted among the "some." What have they done? They have departed. This word "depart" can be defined in many different ways: they will fall away, they will withdraw, they will desert.

They will flee. They will cease. They were here once, and now they're no longer here. They were walking with Christ at one point, and now they're apparently no longer walking with Him. In any context, this is not a pretty picture, which should cause us to question the fourth thing that we see here: How? How will this departure occur? We know the who. We know the when. We know the what. The circumstances are foretold. How? How will this possibly be?

Well, these people, he says, will give heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. Again, Paul, in the first chapter that we looked at just a few moments ago, in First Timothy chapter one, verse three, says, "I urged you when I left you there in Ephesus, when I went on to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to these false doctrines which lead them to depart." He says, "Pastor Timothy, be aware. I'm calling you to fight the good fight of faith," as he says in First and Second Timothy. He says, "I'm calling you to do the work of an evangelist." First and Second Timothy emphasize this. He says, "I'm calling you to be a good minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ." We'll see that in the next section in chapter four.

But you need to understand that, though you do all of these things, there will be some who fall away or depart or stop running the race. The pastor, whether it is Pastor Timothy or the pastor of any church at any time or place, should know to do the hard work of the ministry, to instruct the body of Christ in sound doctrine, no matter the outcome. Regardless of what happens, the pastor should be committed to the preaching of the gospel and the preaching of the Scriptures, whether or not those who hear heed what that person is saying.

In this passage, there is an encouragement to the pastor. I believe the pastor should be encouraged that the persistence of his work is not ultimately judged by the perseverance of the hearers. I am grateful for that. I am grateful that I will not stand before Jesus one day and hear Him say, "Well done, Miles. That was great. Those years you pastored that church, Cross Connection Church. However, there's this group of about 20 people who stopped walking, and we have a problem." I am very grateful that my perseverance is not what I will ultimately be judged by.

The Scriptures say, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Now we trust that it is God who works in us to will and to do His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13 are two of my favorite verses in the whole of the Bible: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to do His good pleasure." It doesn't say, "Hey, Pastor, make sure that those people are working out their salvation."

You should be really happy about that, too, because then we probably have secret agent elders walking around watching all day long. Don't do that. No, the Spirit of God is with you. We preach the Word of God and entrust you to the Spirit of God as you go from this place, that you would work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that there are cautions in the Scripture.

We understand who announces this danger: God Himself, by the Holy Spirit. He says this is a danger. We're given insight into when, in the latter times, some point in the future, the circumstances surrounding this, that people will depart from the faith. We're told how this will occur. They will give heed to false teaching.

But what are some of the signs? What are some of the indications that a person is being led in this direction? Look at what he says in verse two: they will speak lies in hypocrisy. They will live a hypocritical lie, both to themselves and to others. They are so seduced by doctrines of demons that they have lied to themselves, thinking that this thing they are doing is going to bring them to a higher plane of spirituality. Through their hypocrisy, they have also lied to others, claiming, "I'm more spiritual than you."

They speak lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared. They have waged war against their own conscience, deadening the voice of God in their lives to the point where they no longer hear God directing them by His Spirit and through their conscience. That's a scary thing: to have deadened your conscience to the extent that you don't realize you are no longer walking in the way that God would have you walk.

In verse three, the departure is indicated furthermore by forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving. This is interesting. When I think of someone departing from the faith, my mind goes to a person, a brother or sister, who has left faith in Jesus and faithfulness to Jesus to return to a life of sinful practice.

They've gone back to immorality. They've gone back to drug use and drunkenness, which they were saved out of. They've returned to it. That's where my mind goes when I hear these people have departed from the faith. However, that's not at all what Paul is talking about.

Now, don't misunderstand. Falling away from Christ and back to immorality is clearly an issue and a problem. But it is a problem that, number one, is easy to identify, and number two, is rather easy to deal with through church discipline and calling people to repentance. If someone in the church abandons the faith and returns to a sinful life of sexual immorality, drug use, and drunkenness, everybody in the church recognizes that as a problem. We need to call that person to repentance. Church discipline is exercised; this person is separated from the fellowship, as 1 Corinthians 5 and other passages say. We call out to that person and say, "You're walking in sin."

However, that's not what Paul is talking about here in this departure from the faith. The departure that is more seductive and very difficult to deal with in the church is not a return to immorality, but a departure to religious legalism. The truly deceptive spirits, the demonic doctrines that cunningly infiltrate churches, are not the ones that entice Christians back to sinful behavior. The truly deceptive demonic doctrines are those that say, "If you eat of this fruit, you will be like God." We've heard that before. As Paul would write to the Corinthians, "I am concerned that as Satan beguiled Eve, so also you would be beguiled away from the simplicity that is in Christ."

The truly seductive false teachings are those that say to Christians, "If you abstain from this, you'll be more spiritual. If you practice this, you'll be above those people." Listen, our flesh loves that. Our flesh loves religious legalism. Paul says this is a deceptive, seductive heresy.

Lesson number four on your outline: beware of the seductive sin of self-righteousness.

I would say that maybe the most striking thing about the church at Ephesus, this church that Paul planted and recorded for us in Acts chapters 18 and 19, is its history. Paul pastored this church for two to three years, and Timothy also served as its pastor. Paul wrote the letter called the Book of Ephesians to this beautiful church, effectively addressing it through Timothy.

What is really striking is that there was another letter written to this church about 25 years after Paul wrote to Timothy. This letter was not written by Paul; it was written by Jesus. It is recorded in the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible. Turn there if you would. Revelation chapter two contains seven letters written to seven churches, and the first of those seven churches was Ephesus, the mother of all those churches.

Jesus had a word for the church at Ephesus 25 years after Paul expressed his concerns to Timothy. The Spirit expressly says that in the future, some in that church will depart from the faith. Jesus addresses this same church in Revelation 2:1. This is striking: to the angel of the church at Ephesus, or literally to the angel, the messenger—perhaps the pastor of the church—Jesus says, "Write: These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands."

"I know your works," Jesus continues. "I know your labor, your patience, that you cannot bear with those who are evil. You have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and you have found them liars." Who wouldn't want to be a part of this church? Jesus writes to the church at Ephesus 25 years later and acknowledges their inability to tolerate evil workers. He recognizes their ability to discern true apostles from false ones. They understand spiritual pedigrees, and they have persevered with patience. It’s like, man, I want to be a part of that church.

"You have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary." However, in verse four, Jesus says, "Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love." The Spirit expressly says in latter times that some will depart from the faith. The word "depart" in 1 Timothy chapter four is the same Greek root word as the little word "left" in Revelation chapter two, verse four.

Nevertheless, I have this against you: you have left your first love. You've left Jesus. Remember from where you have fallen. I'm concerned that some will fall away. Paul said, twenty-five years before Jesus spoke to the church, "Remember from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come quickly and remove your lampstand from its place." Essentially, Jesus says, "I'm going to remove you from being a church." Unless you repent now, you have this: you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans. You hate the deeds of immoral workers of sin, which I also hate. That's good. You have some really good things, but he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says.

Paul said the Spirit expressly says that in the last days, some will depart from the faith. Jesus says, "Listen up, church. You've done exactly what Paul was concerned you would do by the Spirit of God." Twenty-five years before, he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

We need to be aware of the seductive sin of self-righteousness. The greatest evidence of salvation, the presence of God's Spirit in our lives, is not spiritual self-discipline, spiritual gifts, spiritual power, self-denial, or sniffing out sin. The greatest evidence of salvation is love for God and love for one another. Jesus said, "You've got everything going on in Ephesus, but you've missed something. You departed from me." That's something to chew on a little.

Paul goes on in First Timothy. Turn there to chapter four. This is one of those really light messages for a Sunday. In First Timothy 4:4, he says these false teachers will come into the church. The Spirit says they are going to seduce people into a pattern of self-righteousness, where they think that self-denial makes them righteous before God. He says, "No, listen. Every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."

Now, you do not have to become a celibate vegan to be pleasing to Jesus. Amen. Thank you, God. I had one of the best steaks last night at Ventana.

It was phenomenal. It's great to have good fans in the first row, and I always count on my mom. There was a group of people in the Ephesian church, and I guarantee there's a group of people in Cross Connection Church, Emanuel Faith Church, Mission Hills Church, Bethel Baptist Church, Calvary Chapel Fallbrook, and Valley Baptist Church.

These groups were living according to a pattern of life and teaching others that, to be right with God, one shouldn't eat certain things or do certain things. They would say to fast from relational engagement with your spouse or to be celibate, believing that these actions would make you more righteous. However, Paul says that nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God in prayer.

Now, think about this for a moment. If these foods that the Old Testament identified as being set aside and not allowed were declared clean by Jesus and Paul, how is it possible that we would think we could be sanctified by not partaking of those things? The implication is that we are sanctified by the word of God. He sanctifies us, not our actions or our refusal to engage with something. Observing the Sabbath does not make one righteous. Keeping kosher does not make one righteous. Remaining celibate does not make one righteous.

You might wonder if people really think these things reach back into history. From the years 200 to 400 AD, there was a group of Christian mystics known as the Desert Fathers. It’s quite popular right now among American Christians and many European Christians to read the works of the Desert Fathers, as people are getting into this Christian mysticism through them.

Who were the Desert Fathers? One of them was a man who lived in the deserts of Syria in the second century AD. He lived on top of a pillar for 33 years to separate himself from the things of this world.

And people literally looked up to him. Don't get too close to the pillar because he's living up on top of it for 33 years. It's a mess below there; you don't want to get near it. People would look at these guys and think, "Oh, so spiritual." This was a form of what was called Gnosticism, a second-century heresy that said everything of this world is carnal and everything of God is spiritual. So, if we really want to be spiritual, we have to separate ourselves from the things of this world. This continues today.

Reason number five: Christ's finished work alone secures and sustains our righteous standing. Praise God! Do you realize it's possible to believe in Jesus and trust in something else? That's what the Ephesian church fell into. Jesus had to write a letter to them challenging them. It is possible to believe in Jesus, to go to church, to give to the church, and still trust in something else—your self-righteousness or your abstention from some earthly thing. I'm trusting in that for my right standing with God, but it is Christ and Christ alone, His finished work on the cross, that secures and sustains our righteousness.

I'm concerned. Paul said to the Corinthian church, and I have already quoted it, but it is so important: I am concerned. I'm concerned that in the same way as Satan beguiled Eve, saying, "If you eat of this fruit, you shall be like God," you will be seduced from the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus. Christ alone secures and sustains our salvation by His finished work on the cross. He saved you by His work on the cross. He is saving and sanctifying us by His work on the cross. He will glorify us into eternity by His work on the cross.

Paul said to the Galatian church, who was also being seduced, "Oh, foolish Galatians, having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?" You may ask, "Does this mean that we don't work out our own salvation with fear and trembling?" No, for it is God who is working in us to will and to do His good pleasure for His glory and for His namesake. But we've got to be careful not to fall into the trap of false teaching.

Spirits and doctrines of demons say that if you don't do this thing, or if you do this thing, it will make you better before God than all those other people down there. This is a stumbling block and a trap. We need to make sure that we are committing ourselves to the exercise of godliness. That's where we're going next week.

The first of the chapter states that bodily exercise profits little. As you all know, it's January 28th, and we are well beyond New Year's resolutions now. Bodily exercise profits little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having the promise of things that are now and those that shall be hereafter. So, God, work in us, please, to trust in You and You alone.

Would you stand with me as we close in prayer? Jesus, I pray that we would be a people, a church, who are trusting wholeheartedly in You and You alone. God, work in us today and this week to be willing to do Your good pleasure and make it evident to us. I pray that each of us here today would see in our lives this week the evidence of Your Spirit working in us—see the evidence of love producing joy, producing peace, kindness towards others, gentleness, and self-control. God, work these things in us so that we would see it and that others around us would see it, for Your name and for Your glory.

We thank You that we are Your workmanship, created in You for good works, which You prepared beforehand that we would walk in them. I pray that this week we would walk in those things.

As we stand here this morning, maybe you need to reaffirm your trust in Jesus. You believe in Jesus, but you've been trusting in your good works. You've been relying on your own righteousness to make yourself right before God. Perhaps this is a good opportunity to confess that and reaffirm your trust in Jesus and Him alone. If that's you, maybe you would pray a prayer along with me right now: Jesus, help me to trust in You. Make it evident in my life today that I'm trusting in no other thing but You.

Cause the fruit of the Spirit to be evident in me today. As I interact with my kids, my spouse, my neighbors, and those I will be driving with on the 15 tomorrow, God, help me to exhibit self-control, patience, long-suffering, and kindness, in Jesus' name.