Last Days Danger

1 Timothy 4:1-5: "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."

It is my belief that "latter times" refers to any time since the ascension of Jesus Christ to His second return. Thus, we are in the "latter times." The verses inform us that some "shall depart from the faith." What faith does Paul refer? Is it the Jewish faith? No. Is it the Christian faith? The learned scholar Dr. Adam Clarke said the following: "They will apostatize from the faith, i.e. from Christianity; renouncing the whole system in effect, by bringing in doctrines which render its essential truths null and void, or denying and renouncing such doctrines as are essential to Christianity as a system of salvation." I have recently experienced this. There seems to be a move that seeks to deny the essential foundational elements of the Christian faith. There is a Trinity: a Father, a Son, and a Holy Ghost. They are three, yet One. I do not need to figure out how this is possible for it to be truth. I'm not sure exactly how my car starts when I push a button. I no longer insert a key into the ignition. I place my keys on the seat next to me and push a button and the car starts up. My lack of knowledge of how it is possible has no bearing on my ability to drive my car. My lack of understanding of the Trinity does not impact my seeing the Three in One operate in our world and in my life today. 

Another foundational truth of the Christian faith is the divinity of Jesus Christ. He proclaimed His Divinity. The apostles testified to His Divinity. Even the demons knew He was Divine. Yet, I have seen a movement that seeks to teach that Yeshua (Hebrew name for Jesus) is the Jewish Messiah, but not God incarnate. This is a dangerous error. I believe it is an example of departing from the faith. In the same way, the failure to recognize what took place at the cross is an example of falling away. At the cross, Jesus paid the price for my sins to save and sanctify me. In saving me, He forgave me of my past acts of sin. In sanctifying me, He took away the sin principle that I was born with. Another example of departing from the faith is living a life characterized by committing willful sin and believing that you still are on your way to heaven. He that commits sin is of the devil. No one born of God continues to commit sin as a way of life. Read 1 John 3 and you will see the test of being a Christian.

Over the next several posts, I will seek to explain some of the dangers of today that are causing people to depart from the faith. We are to remain true to the entire Christian faith.