April 5
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WATCH OUT THAT YOU DON’T FALL AWAY FROM THE FAITH
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3 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. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; 5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer. – 1 Timothy 4:1-5
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In this letter to Timothy, Paul cautions the believers to be prepared as some of them may be caught in the trap of the evil one causing them to fall away from their faith. He explains that this happens when believers begin to pay attention to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons. In verse 2 Paul identifies how these demonic teachings are cunningly introduced in subtle lies that gets into a person’s heart or conscience.
Before being saved and born again, I used to love religion and philosophy. I pursued with passion this love for knowledge. In hind sight, this obsession with was actually the reason why my salvation was delayed for many decades. I was made to believe that intelligence and wise sayings of the philosophers were truth. These lies got ingrained in my heart and believed these false teachings for many years. What a twisted way at looking at truth! Human words and beliefs are not absolute truths. God’s word is the absolute truth. The seemingly attractive play of words captured me in the trap of philosophical beliefs that are futile. It only led me to deeper darkness, confusion and sin. The rules of religion enslaved me to think that I can do something to contribute to what has already been done by the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. When someone departs from the faith, they have actually believed lies that are contrary to the truth of the truth. They begin to live compromised lives that are mixed with the world beliefs. Guzik comments about speaking lies in hypocrisy: “This certainly points to the ones who willingly embrace falsehood to justify their sin or pride; but it also refers to those who claim to teach the Bible, while just using it to support their own ideas or agendas.” In verse 4, Paul reminds the Gentile believers that everything good is created by God and there’s no need to follow rules and regulations how to consume certain foods or not. In verse 5, he admonishes them to say a prayer of thanksgiving for the provision God has given them.
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REFLECTION
• What should every believer be warned about regarding these passages?