“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” ( 1 Timothy 4:1-3 KJV)
Some are teaching that the Doctrine of Demons is that a person says they are saved by belief on Christ but that they need to make sure they are doing good works or they can lose salvation. My brothers and sisters in Christ, that is a LIE FROM satan himself! That belief is actually a Doctrine of Demons by the very context of 1 Timothy 1 and 1 Timothy 4. They take the first 3 verses and that is all they show to people and then they make the rest up! Let’s look at the full context of these first 3 verses to see the truth. And the truth is actually the very opposite of their false belief.
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; FORBIDDING TO MARRY, and commanding to ABSTAIN FROM MEATS, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” (1 Tim. 4:1-5 KJV)
WHAT ARE THESE DOCTRINES OF DEMONS?
We live in the End Times. The Last Days. And so, it is important to understand what these false doctrines Paul is telling Timothy to work against in teaching believers actually are.
Paul goes on telling Timothy,
“7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
8 For BODILY EXCERCISE profiteth little: but GODLINESS is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which IS TO COME.
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because WE TRUST IN THE LIVING GOD, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of THOSE THAT BELIEVE.
11 These things command and teach.” (1 Tim. 4:7-11 KJV)
Who is the ‘saviour of all men’? That is referring to Jesus Christ, our Lord! Paul is telling Timothy to teach BELIEF ON CHRIST and TRUST IN CHRIST and HIS finished work on the cross and not these legalistic things which are the very Doctrines of Demons.
There were two huge heresies back then affecting believers in Christ; Gnosticism and Judiazers. Previously in 1 Timothy 1, Paul instructs Timothy to fight against the false teachers, Judiazers, that taught works are required for Salvation which is the same FALSE gospel that Paul rebuked in Galatians saying that such teachers are to be accursed. That those believing in works for salvation are foolish (Gal 3) and that Christ is of no effect unto them that believe they need to return to WORKS of the Law (Gal 5:4-5).
Here again, we see specific works are addressed, (i) forbidding to marry and (ii) refraining from eating meats; both of which are false SELF DENIAL beliefs to please God. These are RELIGIOUS legalistic works that today we do see being taught in many denominations and religious cults claiming to be Christian. They make themselves look good to others outwardly in religious rituals and works but inwardly are full of evil because they are not even born again IN THE SPIRIT by BELIEF on Christ alone. (John 3:5-6, 14-18, 36, John 6:37-40, 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Colossians 2).
These were the way the Pharisee leaders were during Christ’s Earthly ministry as well. Jesus addressed these legalistic Pharisee religious leaders of the Jews like this with very harsh words indeed,
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, HYPOCRITES! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful OUTWARD, but are WITHIN full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.” (Matthew 23:27 KJV)
“Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” (Matthew 23:33 KJV)
Strong words! Those believing on their own works to save them are headed for condemnation in hell! Jesus and Apostle Paul taught harshly against the false gospel of WORKS FOR SALVATION and WORKS REQUIRED AFTER SALVATION. They are the very Doctrines of Demons Paul is writing in warning to Timothy about. Satan does not care if you go to church service teaching the false gospel of works for salvation. That is his goal actually!! Deception. He is the FATHER Of LIES. Believing our works are required for salvation is like saying to Jesus… ‘ okay you paid my past sins, now i must work to keep my salvation’. IMPOSSIBLE! Who are we? Christ crucified?! They dare take the glory of Christ’s work upon themselves? This is pure boasting in self righteous pride. Do not do it!
This heresy in the early church is here today and in a big way in these end times. Gnosticism and Judiazers. The False Gospel Of Works For Salvation is something Paul taught hard against in Ephesians 2:8-10 and Galatians 3 and 5 . And Jesus warned sternly against such false prophets teaching it in Matthew 7: 22-23. Salvation is only by faith and trust in Christ and HIS finished work on the cross. Our works to please God are not part of Salvation. Good works are, well… good! Yes! But they are from being saved not for being saved. Legalistic Works save no one.
Apostle Paul,
“For BY GRACE are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES: it is the GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should BOAST. For we are HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS – UNTO- GOOD WORKS, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. ” (Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV)
Once we are born again by belief on Christ God recreated our SPIRIT (2 cor. 5:17-21) and we were immediately indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). We became ‘created in Christ Jesus’ in our Spirit and now with our new Spirit, UNTO good works. It is not works for salvation. It is works from salvation. And even the works from salvation are not required for our justification in salvation. And the devil and demons twist that into a works required false Gospel. Today we know it as Lordship Salvation and it is not the Gospel!
Apostle Paul,
“Christ is become of NO EFFECT UNTO YOU, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are FALLEN FROM GRACE” (Galatians 5:4 KJV)
Self denial is a doctrine of demons. It is all about religious rituals and works to remain saved. It is today one of the biggest heresies called Lordship Salvation. We live in the Last Days, and many many many so called ‘christian’ organizations and denominations teach the false gospel of works for salvation. No one is saved by this Doctrine of Demons! If your church is teaching that, run from that church. Good works from salvation are to be done because it is right – but never to keep you saved. Only Christ keeps us saved.
Otherwise, they are teaching the Doctrines of Demons in the Last Days.
