1 Timothy

1 Timothy 4:1-3: What are the Doctrines of Demons in the Last Days?

Don Gerrity 1 Timothy, Q&A: Bible Prophecy & End Times
1 Timothy 4:1-3: What are the Doctrines of Demons in the Last Days?

“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.

1 Timothy 1:17-20. Does this mean OSAS is wrong teaching?

Don Gerrity 1 Timothy
1 Timothy 1:17-20. Does this mean OSAS is wrong teaching?

“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.  This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them  mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:  Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.” (1 Timothy 17-20 KJV)

Apparently there was some sort of prophecy that got fulfilled with Timothy though I a not sure what that was. Paul certainly knew of it so it must have been a life changer! Paul calls Timothy ‘son’ but he was not  his real physical son. To Paul, Timothy was his closest teacher. A fellow who was trustworthy and kept the true Gospel of Grace Paul taught. So close that Paul calls him a son as a term of endearment here.

The letter of 1 Timothy was written by Apostle Paul to one of his top guys, specifically to Timothy, and is about how he should be running the church under his care. It is letter about being a good pastor. Paul strongly urges him to put out teachers in the church teaching, “Myths and endless genealogies”. Just as in Galatians, false gospels were running rampant and Paul wanted to squash them. There was even some who were writing counterfeit letters as if from Paul, but were not from Paul, who was at prison in his home for two years. Paul wanted to swiftly end any confusions with false gospels with Timothy in the church he ran.

What are these false teachings being committed? Some seem to be attributing this to the teaching of The Eternal Security Of The Believer (OSAS), which Paul did actually teach in his writings (Eph. 1:13-14, Colossians 2, Romans 5 etc etc).

What teaching did Paul fight hard against in Galatians? Eternal security of a believer? No. It was Judiazers teaching Grace plus Law following required. Grace plus works for righteousness. The false ‘works for salvation’ gospel that is, right now,  rampant in the end times we live in. The false gospel which Paul called ‘another gospel’ and those teaching this are ‘to be accursed’. Those believing this false gospel are called fools by Paul in Galatians 3. Paul gives stern warning against it in Galatians 5:4-[5.

These myths that Paul writes to Timothy about are part of Judaism and Law following as a requirement of salvation which is a very serious false gospel Paul fought hard against, as did the writer of Hebrews. Remember Paul was an expert in the Law! He was a Pharisee before his conversion. He hunted down and persecuted and killed believers before his conversion on that road to Damascus. He was at the stoning of Stephen.

“Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.” (1 Timothy 1:7)

Paul writes that The Law is only good if used in the proper context. (1 Timothy 1:8) It was made for THE UNRIGHTEOUS but NOT for THE RIGHTEOUS (1 Timothy 1:9-10).

Who is The Righteous group of people? People with good works and good deeds? No. Paul taught to be righteous is by faith in Christ alone.

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And BY HIM ALL THAT BELIEVE ARE JUSTIFIED FROM ALL THINGS, from which ye COULD NOT be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts13:38-39 KJV)

 

“And be found in him, NOT having mine own righteousness, which is of THE LAW, but that which is through the FAITH OF CHRIST, the righteousness which is of God BY FAITH:” (Philippians 3:9 KJV)

We see this also in Titus 1:14,

“Not giving heed to JEWISH FABLES , and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.”

In Titus, another pastoral letter,  it is mentioned they are Jewish false gospel teachings of the Judiazers and Paul wrote about this with great concern for believers in Galatians and Ephesians too.

These Jewish false teachings are the teachings Paul wants Timothy to take quick action against. False teachings of myths and wrong beliefs of Old Testament genealogical lists as if Jews are righteous by genealogy. In reality, they are the “doctrines of demons” Paul wrote about in 1 timothy 4:1; adding works to grace as a requirement of Salvation.

Interesting that Paul prophesied about the End Times we live in, writing,

“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” (1 Timothy 4:1-3)

Remember, Paul is writing to Timothy in regards to pastoral duties. These are ‘works for salvation’ false gospels. Rampant right now today and taught from the majority of denominations and pulpits! Oh how this is fulfilled before our eyes today in these latter times of the dispensation of grace.

The Jews understood their genealogies from the Talmud. The Talmud was in heavy use at that time, it made it’s rounds in some church circles and most of it being fables and falsehoods against the true Gospel of Grace Paul taught. These customs were not from God but were man-made laws. Paul in Colossians wrote,

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:8 KJV)

The Jews were also relying on their genealogy to Abraham and Moses for righteousness in addition to Law following.

These are the false teachings Paul wrote to Timothy about; not the eternal security of the believer. We know this because Paul did teach eternal security in Ephesians 1:13-24, Colossians 2, Romans 5 as only a few of many examples in his writings.

The spiritual connection to the faith of Abraham is what saves us (Gal. 3:9) but not the physical genealogy. Abraham believed and righteousness was imputed to him. (Taught by Paul in Romans 4:3 and Galatians 3:6. Taught by James in James 2:23)

For those thinking their works are required, either for or after salvation, to have true salvation and righteousness, they are in great risk. Are they sure they are saved the way the Bible tells us? Be sure!

Jesus taught against this sternly in Matthew 7:22-23,

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many WONDERFUL WORKS? And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:22-23 KJV)

Notice these people who think they are saved by their works do not even mention the blood sacrifice atonement payment made for us to be saved! Believing this way is what Jesus called iniquity. It is the sin of unbelief in Christ alone for salvation. They will be boasting in their works, even when being condemned because they were never born again in the Spirit by belief on Christ and His free GIFT of salvation. They rejected Jesus’ once for all final blood sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10) for the payment of the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2, 2 Cor. 5:21) and instead relied on their works and deeds.

Apostle Paul also warned sternly against adding our works to the Salvation equation,

“Christ is become of NO EFFECT UNTO YOU, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” (Gal. 5:4 KJV)

1 Timothy in no manner refutes the Eternal Security Of The Believer. Trying to attribute this to OSAS being false, is going against the truth of the Gospel and using this passage out of the context it was written.