SOME SHALL DEPART FROM THE FAITH, WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT CONCERNS YOU
1 Timothy 4: 1, 2
In the above passage, Paul tells us what the Holy Spirit says will take place in the later times of this Church age. He says that “some Believers shall depart from the faith…”. What does this mean? This is the reason for this Gospel article. Lets jump right in!
1 Tim. 4: 1, 2. 1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times SOME SHALL DEPART FROM THE FAITH, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (Emphasis made by me)
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Many have read this passage and have concluded that the Apostle is saying that some will loose their salvation in the last days. This is the grave misconception of this passage that many ignorantly cleave to.
They misunderstand Paul’s expression when he says, “some shall depart from the faith.” To religionists who hardly understand the New Birth, they think this means a loss of salvation.
But as I said, this is a total misconception of what the Apostle means by the clause “some shall depart from the faith,” and this misconception is born out of a religious inclination of years of false indoctrination.
But what does this expression mean in the light of the beautiful New Covenant of Grace and of the New Birth we have today?
It is good for us to understand that the expression “departing from the faith” in 1 Timothy 4:1 does not in any way mean losing salvation.
This is because in the context of this passage, Paul is not talking about a loss of salvation, but a departure from sound doctrinal teaching.
Here is how to know the difference.
The term “The faith” is a Biblical or New Testament expression, which refers to; “the body of Christian doctrine/teaching.” It is never to be used or understood as referring to the personal saving faith in Christ that all Believers possess. It is simply describing the body of sound Biblical truth consistent with the finished work of Christ.
So to “depart from the faith…” means; to abandon, or turn away from sound biblical teaching consistent with the New Covenant of Grace.
Based on this understanding, the context of 1 Timothy 4:1-3, is saying that in these last days, some among us in the Church will stray away from sound Biblical doctrines or teachings and will begin to pay attention to false teachings from deceiving spirits that cause them to stray away from faith based teachings to focus on works based teachings, they’ll begin following false doctrines fabricated by demons on how to save themselves, or maintain their salvation by other means other than simple faith in Christ. They’ll literally abandon the Grace message and follow false doctrines invented by demons and fallen Angels. They will embrace false teachings that forbid marriage, teachings that promote same sex marriage, LGBTQ, and the likes, commanding dietary restrictions, teaching people to abstain from food as a means to placate GOD, gain His approval or favor. These are the things we’re already seeing nowadays, here and there. Even among those who term themselves as holiness preachers, but in essence are nothing other than “self-glorified princes of the DIY system.”
This is doctrinal departure, not salvation loss.
They’re abandoning correct biblical teaching for false doctrine. Paul is not saying they are loosing their relationship with Christ if truly they are Born Again.
Let’s understand the key distinctions here between saving faith, and the faith referred to in 1 Timothy 4:1
Saving faith speaks of personal trust in Jesus Christ for salvation, which once obtained can not be lost or forfeited. It is secured eternally.
On the other hand expression “The faith” referred to in 1 Timothy 4: 1 speaks of the body of Christian truth and doctrine. This can be departed from when a Believer comes under the influence of false teachings and their teachings that adulterate the Gospel message of salvation by Grace alone through faith alone.
Under grace, the truth cannot be overstated that salvation is obtained by faith alone and secured by Christ’s finished work. It is not secured or maintained by doctrinal perfection. Believers can be doctrinally deceived while remaining saved.
Therefore, the passage of 1 Timothy 4: 1-3, is simply warns against false teaching, not loss of salvation.
Paul is advising Timothy to guard sound doctrine in the Church. He is not suggesting Christians can lose eternal life through doctrinal error.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PAUL’S ADMONITION IN 1 TIM. 4: 1, 2
Paul’s advise to Timothy and the Church, why Paul warns against doctrinal error is of vital importance for the following reasons:
• Allowing doctrinal error in the Church blurs the Grace message about salvation, thereby preventing people from hearing the truth or correct message about salvation and how (i.e., the proper way) to receive salvation. The effect of this is that it leaves such misinformed people grouping in mere religion (unsaved), while they delude themselves thinking that they are saved by their religious works or activities, whereas they’re not. They’re just busy romancing religion thinking they’re Born Again. This is a very dangerous situation, because those people don’t know they are on their way to perishing.
It is this condition that Paul described in Romans 10: 2, 3, about his fellow Israelites when he said, they have a zeal for GOD, but not according to the right knowledge. They were religious and sincere, but ignorant of GOD’S righteousness and trying to establish their own method. This is a perfect picture of religion without having the right saving truth. A person can’t be said to be Born Again if they’ve never acted on the right saving truth. Error does not produce truth, and truth can never birth error.
Jesus also warned in Matthew 15: 14, that religion without the right knowledge of the truth leads people and their teachers to destruction. (also read Rom. 10: 14; 2 Cor. 4: 3, 4; 2 Thess. 2: 10; Hos. 4: 6).
• Allowing false doctrines in the Church gives Satan and his demons an open cheque to operate in the lives of those Believers who embrace such religious or false teachings, to afflict them with fear, sin consciousness, dead works, the sense of condemnation, a lack of assurance of salvation, instability, and so forth, as those Believers are operating in ignorance and through this they give Satan and religionists a foothold in their lives (Eph. 4: 27).
• It also leaves Believers chasing clouth, chasing mere religion, while the real cause of the ministry is left unattended to.
We realize this in Acts 6: 1 – 4. The apostles were being pulled into administering food distribution (a social/organizational duty), which in itself is’nt bad. Nevertheless, the apostles recognized that getting absorbed in mere religious activities and administration, would cause them to neglect the primary or core cause of ministry, which involves feeding Believers on the truth of the word of GOD and prayer.
• Allowing false doctrinal teachings in the Church that are inconsistent with the Gospel of Grace, which is the true Gospel, keeps Believers from enjoying here and now the benefits of true salvation.
For instance, one key place the apostle Paul points this out is in Galatians 1: 6, 7, where he used the term “trouble” in describing the effect of false doctrine on Believers. The term “trouble” used here is from the Greek word tarasso, and it means to agitate and have someone unsettled, to cause one inward commotion, take away their calmness of mind. By using this word, the apostle is emphasizing that false doctrine actively disturbs the peace and stability that true salvation brings. It causes inward commotion in the Believers state of mind. Some religionists who are pretending or hypocritizing, as their manner always is, may apparently try to deny this. However, deep down in them, they continue to carry this restlessness or disquietness within them.
The list doesn’t end here, I can go on and on enumerating the terrible negative effects of giving heed to false doctrinal teachings, that is, teachings that outrightly contradict the message of the Grace Gospel or the finished work of Christ, however, I believe that the truths outlined in this teaching will suffice to build upon.
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