1 Timothy 4:1-5
I. The influence of heresy - effects billions over a thousand years.
II. Warnings about false teachers. Vs. 1
A. They will come in the latter times.
2 Tim. 3:1-6 1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,…5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts
- Taking captive silly women
- The Author of these Bunny Trails are Deceitful demons.
B. Hard Core liars. Vs. 2
C. Hypocrisy - Paul Gives two Examples. Vs. 3
1. Forbidding to Marry and
2. Commanding to Abstain from Meats.
D. The Wily Ways of Autonomy (Man turning himself into the source of law.)
1. Autonomy is the original temptation -- “You shall be as gods.”
2. Autonomy continues to be the sin of false religions that masquerade as true ones.
3. Autonomy comes in sneakier forms. Having a form of godliness (2 Tim. 3)
A. A show of godliness on the outside.
Hypocrisy - A Mask. Not presenting who you really are.
Eg. Ananias and Sapphira
Matthew 23:25-26
- Living by Recipes and Checklists
- Over emphasis on certain principles. Emphasize the things we do well
- Our Lives do not correspond to our words.
- Hearts of pride
- Cease to respect the diversity in application
- Inability to cross boundaries, work with the prostitutes and the sinners.
- Fundamental disrespect for the principles
- Hypocrites take a wooden approach to God’s principles. Mt. 23:3,4
- Hypocrisy that doesn’t have any love of God on the inside… and you think that a few rituals or practices are good enough for God.
4. Three Sneaky ways that people engage in Autonomy --
a. Making the normative the exception.
Example #1 - When celibacy is made the norm in the church - vs. 4
1) 1 Cor. 7 passage is clear… Present Distress. Compare Luke 21:23, 23:17 (Ananke)
2) Paul insists on marriage and family in Timothy and Titus qualifications.
Example #2 - When delegation becomes the normative
Deut. 6, Eph. 6, 1 Thess. 2, Prov.1,2 ,3,4,5,6,7,8,9. vs. 1 Samuel 1:26-28
b. Riding some hobby horse till we have made a major out of a minor, and ignoring the more fundamental issues.
Many people are drawn to the crust… they want the externals… a buzz word or two… a family integrated church, courtship for their daughters, modest dress, and 6 day creation, but they don’t want the foundation in their hearts.
They want a few applications, but no principles that would undergird these things.
c. Building Boundaries. Being stricter than God.
1) Regulative law came into politics in the modern tyrannical state… with the puritans.
2) Forbidding certain foods. Vs. 3b-5
- When we institutionalized the laws of men, we will find more rebellion and more autonomy 50 years later.
- Man-made laws are cheap facades of the real thing.
- Fences tend to build hypocrites.
- Boundaries can be provided by families. Jer. 35:6-19
- Yet, our children must know that we aren’t imposing our rules on others in the body.
- The Church’s Obligations:
- Preach the Word of God and insist on application
- Allow for liberty in application Rom. 14:3
- Don’t despise your brother if he drinks, or if he doesn’t
- Don’t force your brother to sin against his conscience.
- God’s law maximizes freedom. Man’s law and man’s license destroys freedom.
II. With all the fences, and man-made rules… the Principle oft forgot.
A. Bathed in Thanksgiving
B. Sanctified by the Word of God and Prayer.
III. Conclusion - Authentic Faith
- Mere asceticism isn’t going to cut it…
- Fundamentalistic fences aren’t going to cut it.
- Libertine pleasure seeking isn’t going to cut it.
Vs. 5 -- Nourished by the words of faith and of good teaching. |
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