#29) Proceed With Caution

Proceed With Caution

Over the last couple services, I have spoken on the differences between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. We covered much of the teachings of the Catholic Church by using their own writings and then compared them to Scripture. The undeniable conclusions is that there are too many irreconcilable differences and that the Catholic Church is to be viewed as the mission field in desperate need of the Gospel and teaching of the doctrines of grace. Tonight, we are going to move away from this area in particular and cover a much broader subject. That subject is the danger of false teaching and the importance of sound Biblical doctrine.

1 Timothy 3:16
By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness:
He who was revealed in the flesh,
Was vindicated in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Proclaimed among the nations,
Believed on in the world,
Taken up in glory.

1 Timothy 4:1
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,

Our faith is based on Christ and the Word of God alone. Despite this, there are many out there who teach contrary. Not only are there other religions but there are also those who claim the title of Christianity yet teach something that Scripture refers to as “doctrines of demons.” To get a better idea as to what these doctrines of demons are, we are going to see what Paul had to say to Timothy on the matter.

1 Timothy 4:2
by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,

Those who teach doctrines of demons do so without conviction. They believe their lies completely. They have given in to the demonic influence and lies of Satan to the point where they no longer see the line between truth and heresy. This is sort of where the last couple sermons come into play. We covered the irreconcilable differences between Catholics and Protestants such as works versus grace, the priesthood, the Mass, the re-sacrificing of Christ over and over again, penance & indulgences, as well as others. These are all false doctrines that fly in the face of Scripture but use the Traditions of the Roman Catholic Church to support themselves. I was kind in calling them false doctrines. Scripture is not so kind.

1 Timothy 4:3
men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.

Both of these are doctrines that the Catholic Church holds near and dear. The priesthood is not allowed to marry. Of course, this was not always the case. The Roman Catholic priesthood was once allowed to marry without issue. Later, rules were imposed barring unmarried priests from marrying but allowing already married priests to remain married. Of course, it didn’t take long for that to change. Another rule was imposed forcing married priests to divorce their wives which caused many of them to be cast out and become street walking prostitutes just so they could survive. This is all the grim history surrounding the Roman Catholic Church. Why would they forbid marriage? Even Peter was married and he is the one they claim to be their first Pope.

Along the same lines, the Roman Catholic Church also teaches that you cannot eat meat on Fridays. Granted, this is most commonly enforced only during Lent, there are still many Catholic Churches that have extended this practice to include every Friday of the year. According to Catholic teaching, eating meat on a Friday during Lent is considered to be a mortal sin.

So, I state it again:

1 Timothy 4:1&3
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,……….men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods[ which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.

As I said, Scripture is not so kind. It specifically calls these teachings of the Catholic Church to be doctrines of demons. They are lies straight from the pits of Hell as are the other doctrines we covered in our last 2 lessons. Again, this is not an attack on Catholics but it is indeed a brutal attack on the religion that has perverted the Gospel and doctrines of grace in favor of a doctrine of legalism and tradition of men. Some say I am too harsh. I say I am not harsh enough. There is a very real danger to false teaching. It was the very first verse I quoted:

1 Timothy 4:1
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,

We are called to draw people to[ Christ, not to draw them away from him. False teachers present a very real danger to the Church body.

Matthew 24:4-5
And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many.”

Acts 20:29
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

False teachers are compared to a pack of savage wolves that tear apart the Church body and do not spare anybody.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

That one sounds a lot like the Pope doesn’t it? Sitting high on the throne, making people kiss his ring, taking on the title “Vicar of Christ” which literally means one who acts as a substitute. The Pope has taken on the title of a substitute Christ. One can’t display themselves as God any more than this even if they tried.

2 Thessalonians 2:10
and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

1 John 2:18
Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.

The fact that false teaching is such a danger makes the need for Godly teachers all the greater. Teachers have a very high calling and an even higher responsibility to teach the Truth with accuracy.

James 3:1
Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.

1 Timothy 4:6
In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.

True teachers are always feeding on the Word of God. We are always diving head first into Scripture in order to gain a better understanding of the Truth. We act as the Bereans:

Acts 17:11
Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Scripture is the only true litmus test. If it is not found in Scripture, it is to be rejected. If something contrary or in addition to Scripture is taught, the teacher is to be rejected and shunned. Scripture is what equips us for every good work. It is what makes us adequate. Its purpose is for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. Sola Scriptura! By Scripture Alone!

Scripture is plain that not everyone is to desire to be a teacher. This does not let everybody else off the hook. We are all called to search the Scriptures daily. In fact, this is what John tells us all to do in order to know the Truth.

1 John 4:1-3
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

The first place we should start in testing the spirits is to see what their basic teaching is regarding Jesus. Do they teach of him being 100% man while also being 100% God or do they teach something contrary. Peter says if they confess Christ is God in the flesh, that teacher is from God. However, we must realize that there are many other perversions. One can easily claim Jesus was man and God yet then detract from who he really was by diminishing his role. Again, the Catholic Church does this repeatedly by diminishing the doctrines of grace and refusing to accept that Christ died once for all through their re-sacrifice over and over again during the Mass. This only reinforces the importance of knowing Scripture and being able to recall them during those crucial moments. This can only be done by daily examination and study.

1 John 4:5-6
They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

The spirit of Truth will teach from the Word of God. The spirit of error will reject the Word of God by either adding to it or detracting from it. Scripture tells us what will become of this man:

Revelation 22:18-19
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

As a teacher, I am held to a very high standard and I do my best to ensure the accuracy of what I teach.

1 Timothy 4:16
Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

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This is the video I played afterward. You can either download it or stream it.

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