People the devil uses - 1 Timothy 4:2

The Church is founded on and exists to proclaim these truths about Jesus Christ:

“He was manifested in the flesh
vindicated by the Spirit
seen by angels
proclaimed among the nations
believed on in the world
taken up in glory” 1 Timothy 3:16b

Everything that happens in Church is based on the word and for the word. The section we’re about to look at is therefore, both based on that message about Jesus and for the sake of that message about Jesus.

Actually, these things are what pastors are charged with putting before their congregations. We see in 1 Timothy 4:1 that, even though Christ has come and has been raised from the dead, some will leave the Church, showing themselves damned. They will do so because of satanic lies. That brings us to our section today.

(2) through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared…

These demonic lies come through people. People will persuade people to leave Christ’s Church. And since they say demonic things, they speak lies.

And so what must we do but test all things with the truth of God’s word? What other foundation do we have but the Bible? If we would know truth, we must know God’s word. And we must test things by God’s word.

The foundation of these lies is what leads many astray – it is insincerity, or hypocrisy. These people aren’t merely deceived – they are hypocrites. They never reveal their whole hand. They seek to persuade bit by bit, never honest about all of what they believe. They are actors. They play along. They speak enough truth to convince people of lies.

These liars have ‘seared consciences.’ To be seared is to be burnt and disfigured. It is to be damaged beyond recognition. The conscience is the thing in a person that helps distinguish right from wrong. And so these people have perverted senses of right and wrong. Their intrinsic ability to tell the difference has been grotesquely disfigured. They no longer feel the ugliness of sin nor the beauty of holiness like they should.

And so they believe and speak satanic lies – seeking to persuade people away from the truths of the Gospel.

We must beware. Right doctrine and righteous living go hand in hand. If a doctrine or deed doesn’t accord with the Gospel, we must recognize it as such and deal with it appropriately.

Pastors are to put these things before their congregations – and we are to beware heretical teachers.

Summary:
1) Satanic teaching will come through human liars.
2) These false teachers will be hypocrites, and have a perverse sense of right and wrong.
3) We are to beware of such people; pastors are to warn the churches about such people.

Prayer:
Holy God! You are sovereign over all things, even over heresy. And you are the truth. Whatever doesn’t come from you is not truth – and not only is unrighteous, but results in hell for people. God, imprint the Gospel of Jesus Christ on our consciences. Let us be discerning about the teachings and teachers we receive. Cause us to cling unswervingly to your word. In Christ I pray, amen.