1 Timothy 4:1-3 – Tomorrow’s Headlines – Bible study

1Timothy 4:1-3 Tomorrows Headlines What would you do if you could see tomorrows headlines today? The entertainment industry has created movies and television series that deal with that theme. They present different scenarios where people learn that something bad is going to happen and then their hero works to change that future. Thats not what I am talking about. I am talking about knowing the unalterable, unchangeable futurea future that is written in stone and cannot be changed, altered, delayed, or hurried. What would you do with such knowledge? Nothing? I hope not. I hope you would first want to help yourself and then help others. The Bible gives us such knowledgenot in fine details, not with specific dates and times and places, but it does tell the future, and much of what it says is happening today. I. Faith Will Recede 1Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith. A. When the Bible speaks of faith, it is speaking of believing in Jesus Christ, who He was and what He did for us. Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him. Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith. Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. B. So the Bible is telling us that some will cease to believe we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ alone. C. If you reject faith in Jesus, what is left? 1. an alternate-savior salvation 2. a work-oriented salvation D. The alternate-savior salvation has been around for a long time. Mt 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. E. So has the work-oriented salvation. 1. That is what Paul wrestled with most often in presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost. 2. Everybody believed you had to keep commandments to be saved. 3. In this text, Paul was preaching that there would come a resurgence of the work-oriented salvation. a. \#3\ "Forbidding to marry" – Someone will create rules to tell you who you CAN NOT marry. As far as I know, that has not happened yet, but it will. b. "commanding to abstain from meats" – This is an old one. (1) People will put themselves under the Old Testament dietary laws again. (2) Those who do not eat accordingly, will be told they are lost. (3) So we can look forward to some giving new laws that must be kept for salvation while others revive old laws. (a) Of course both of them are an attack on faith in Jesus Christ. (b) This is happening all ready. (c) People who say the only day to worship is the Sabbath, that we must use Old Testament names for God and Jesus, that non-Biblical holidays are demonic all of which is based purely on peoples "reasoning" and all of which is in fulfillment of what Paul said was going to happen. F. Listen: 1. No one today is going to come up with something NEW and ESSENTIAL about God, salvation, or worshipnot after 2,000. 2. The new translations, new churches, new forms of worship, new doctrinesall of them are part of Satans end-time deception. 3. Ask yourself, why would God have allowed the truth to be lost for thousands of years and now be revealing it to this generation. (a) If the gospel that has been preached for 2,000 years is corrupt, then there is no salvation. (b) If the manuscripts that have been preached for 2,000 years are corrupt, then there is no Word of God. (c) If the worship that has been practiced for 2,000 years has not pleased God, then there is no pleasing God. 4. The command given to the church today is not to seek a new ANY THING but to keep and guard the old. Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Re 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: De 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. II. Satanic Influence Will Increase 1Tim 4:1 giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; A. Admittedly, that is a difficult headline to recognize. 1. One has to ask, "How is a person who is separated from God and depraved supposed to behave?" 2. The answer is badly. 3. So how could anyone know they were being influenced by demons? 4. Mostly, they would not. 5. I think that is where we are today. B. The lost world is being influenced by demons but few recognize it. 1. Demons of hatred, rage, and violence a. I speak specifically of the United States now although I believe it is true of other nations as well. b. America has become a nation of uncontrollable, aggressive, rude, argumentative, loud, arrogant, proud, cocky, and mean people. c. It is amazing that FBI statistics show violent crimes have decreased since 2009. (1) First, I suspect that they have reclassified some crimes and that statistic is merely a paper trick. (2) Second, if violent crime has decreased it could only mean violent crime against individuals because mass shootings, knife attacks, and group vehicular homicides are UP. d. It is the devil and his demons. 2. Demons of foolishness and illogic a. There are so many examples of foolishness being accepted and promoted that it is astonishing. b. If I were to elaborate on them, someone would say that I am being too political. c. So lets just stick with strictly Biblical issues. (1) abortion Psalm 139:13 thou hast covered me in my mothers womb. 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. (2) creation Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (3) socialism 2Thess 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. (4) child rearing – The Bible addresses everything from discipline to teaching and training a child. (5) sexual gender Ge 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (6) marriage Mr 10:7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; d. The Bible and LOGIC tells us the truth about each one of these, but the world has gone mad. e. All I will say is, "People are being possessed and influenced by the devil. 3. Demons of mental and physical disease a. The demons in Jesus day case their hosts into the fire. The demons in our day are casting everyone into the fire. b. Much of what the world causes sick is the devil. C. But it is not just the lost who are being controlled and influenced by the devil. Those who call themselves Christians are too. 1. I do not know who is saved and who is not, but there are an awful lot of people who call themselves a Christian who are advocating some every devilish viewpoints. a. Christians advocating homosexual preachers and churches? b. Christians saying there is more than one way to heaven? c. Christians doubting the reliability of the Word of God? d. Christians perverting worship into man-honoring, fleshly entertainment? 2. All of that is the devil and it is NOT how Christians are supposed to behave! III. Mans Conscience Will Become Seared A. While it may be difficult to determine where mans evil ends and demonic influence begins, it has not been difficult to see how seared mans conscience has become. B. Mankind will have no shame, no regret, and no guilt. 1. The problem is that our conscience is our personal, internal shock collar. 2. If it is not working correctly, we are liable to do anything! C. Examples: 1. July 3, 2018 – Capital Gazette shooter said he would kill as many as possible. He killed five. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/03/maryland-capital- gazette-shooting-jarrod-ramos-threatening-letters 2. July 2, 2018 – Three-year old dies after being stabbed at her birthday party. Eight others were wounded, five of them were ages 4 through 12. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/02/idaho-three-year- old-birthday-party-stabbing D. People lay the blame on drugs and unemployment, but the Bible tells us what the problem really is. a. People have a dead conscience. b. It will continue. These are not all of the headlines, just the first three; but the unique things about these headlines is that they could be written in any US newspaper today and few would dispute them. Yet, Paul clearly lists these as events of the "last days." Friend, you and I are further along that some are willing to admit. Im not finished but I return to the question with which I started. What would you do? I hope you would: 1. Be certain that you are saved. 2. Do what you can to turn as many people as possible to the Lord Jesus Christ!