INTRODUCTION
Outline.
1. The Retraction Movement
Remarks.
1. This is lesson one, in our sermon-series of the theme: “The Departure from the Faith.” It should be noted that Paul begins our lesson by describing “the retraction movement” or “the departure from the faith!” It should also be noted, that, before there could be a “departure from the faith”; there must have been first, an “establishment of the faith.” One must belong before they could departure. It should also be understood – that Paul called this movement, “the faith.”
2. First, we will consider the “retraction movement” or the “departure from the faith.” The word “retraction” means to depart, retreat or leave behind.” The Spirit predicts a “departure from the faith.” Let’s be clear here, the prediction is a “departure from the faith.” The idea here is leaving the “One Faith,” Ephesians 4:4-6. This “retraction” will be the desertion from the “truth”; to embrace the “doctrines of devils; lies and hypocrisy” that are opposed to “the faith.” This departure would be led by men whose “consciences have been sheered with a hot iron.” Lead by teachers, preachers, and leaders whose minds “have been branded by the evil one.” With this introduction let’s discussed the “retraction or departure”; in this three-lesson series.
BODY OF LESSON
I THE RETRACTION MOVEMENT
A. The mystery of Godliness. The apostle Paul begins his discussion of this “retraction” or “departure” after defining the “mystery of godliness.” Notice: “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory,” 1 Timothy 3:16.
1. Here he speaks of the unifying teaching of the Spirit concerning the “mystery of godliness.” The Holy Spirit which revealed the truth, speaks now of a departure from the faith, John 16:13.
2. He then notes this same Spirit that “justified Christ” now speaks of this “departure from the faith.” The word departure, in Gr: “aphistemi” means “a falling away, to apostatize,” Luke 8:13; 1 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 3:12.
3. Paul had warned the Galatians of such a departure, Galatians 1:6-12. He thought it very strange that these “new babies” in Christ were on the immediate verge of “departing from the grace of God; unto another gospel, which is not another.”
4. He admonished the elders at Miletus to be on guard for this departure, Acts 20:17-32. Paul instructs them that some: “shall arise from among them to draw away disciples unto themselves.”
5. Paul repeats this “warning” in his Second Letter to Timothy, 2 Timothy 4:1-5. He charges the young evangelist to:
a. Preach the word “in and out of seasons;” when they want it and when they don’t want it.
b. That the “time will come they (the church) will not endure sound doctrine, or they will no longer desire ‘sound doctrine’ or the ‘truth’ to be preached unto them.”
c. But after their own lust “they shall heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” they will search for the doctrines that satisfy the lust of the flesh and not the spirit.
d. They shall “turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables;” they will choose error in place of truth.
e. But “watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” But you must be on guard, to stand and preach against these heresies. You must endure afflictions; do the work of an evangelist and make full proof of thy ministry.
f. Conclusion: In these verses, Paul reminds the preach that a “falling away” a “departure from the faith” or the church “will not endure sound doctrine.” They shall “turn away their ears from the truth,” as a result of preachers that have “itching ears.” The church shall “turn away their ears from the truth and be turned unto fables.” The church must remain on guard for such departures even in our day and times.
B. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly. The Spirit clearly spoke in revelations to Paul and other inspired men regarding this departure, 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:3. This will occur in the latter times; in the not so distant future. He doesn’t suggest how far away this departure lurks; he merely states it will come. Paul affirms: “some shall depart from the faith.” There shall be a “great apostasy.” Paul in this Letter notes some signs or teachings of this great apostasy. Notice:
1. First, they are giving heed to seducing spirits. The apostle seems to recognize a supernatural element which speaks by false prophets, in false utterances which claim to be from God. These seducing spirits might work through hierarchs, who claimed to speak for God, or through councils which claimed to make infallible utterances.
2. Further, they are teaching the doctrines of demons. These doctrines are the work and suggestions of demons. The Gr: “daimonion,” which means demons, not devil, always refers in the New Testament to an “evil spirit.”
3. Next, they will be speaking lies through hypocrisy. He states: "Some shall depart from the faith ...through the hypocrisy of men, speaking lies." These are men which will speak lies; some no doubt because of deception; and others to insight deception. They may know the “truth” but for “filthy lucre sake,” Titus 1:11.
4. Additionally, the great deceiver shall “come after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them, that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this, cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness,” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. Illustrate, Tares among the wheat, Matthew 13:24-30; Matthew 13:37-43; Matthew 13:49-50.
5. Finally, this is due largely because their conscience is sheered with a hot iron. The liars just mentioned, have had the sensitiveness of their consciences destroyed by the branding iron of the devil. They have become blinded by the evil one – they are preaching a message of deceit and deception. And for it, they have become the product of their own words of deception. Paul concludes: “But evil men and seducer shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived,” 2 Timothy 3:13.
C. The doctrine of this departure. Paul gives some signs of this departure in the next few verses. We will find these “doctrines” as the teaching of demons. They are opposed to “sound doctrine” which he speaks of throughout 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. These doctrines will include, but are not limited to:
1. Forbidding one to marry. Not long after Paul's time, the superior holiness of the unmarried life began to be preached in the church, and this resulted in last in monasticism and celibate clergy. This is one of the doctrines of the Holy Roman Catholic church. It, however, is not a teaching of the New Testament. Notice:
a. Paul to the Hebrews: “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge,” Hebrews 13:5.
b. No Apostle, evangelist, minister, pastor or leader in the New Testament ever forbad the union of marriage before one could serve in the work of the Lord. This is heresies ordained by the evil one – the devil himself.
c. Peter, the lead apostle to the Jews was married “and carried about his wife.” Notice Paul: “Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?” 1 Corinthians 9:5; Matthew 8:14; Mark 1:30.
d. The bishops or elders, “are to be the husbands of one wife,” 1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Timothy 3:12; Titus 1:6.
e. The widows are to be “the wife of one husband,” 1 Timothy 5:9.
2. Commanding to abstain from meats. The practice of abstaining from meats came out of a misinterpretation of the “Letter to the Gentiles” in Acts 15. In that Letter, they were commanded to:
a. Abstain from meat offered to idols, and from things strangled and from fornication, Acts 15:28-29. What the deceivers had done was to drop the clause: “offered to idols” in their teaching; and made it a commandment to abstain “from meats” or all meats. This, of course, was not the commandment of God, Acts 10:9-15; Acts 11:5-10. God had created all things good, and nothing to be refused. Notice Paul’s instruction in the text:
1) First, God hath created all things. The foods which God hath created are for use, to be eaten thankfully by those who know the truth, instead of having their minds darkened by delusions. Notice Paul’s instruction:
2) Further, every creature is good. Everything God had created is good and has its proper use, Genesis 1:31. Hence, it is not to be refused, as sinful or unclean. This applies to what God has created. God did not create one thing that was not good. Therefore, all should be received.
3) Finally, if it is received with thanksgiving.
a) It is sanctified by the word of God. God has sanctified all things through His Word.
b) And through prayer, after the giving of thanks before eating God’s blessings.
b. These practices are still found among certain orders of the Latin and Eastern churches; the “abstaining from meats.” It was once forbidden for Catholics to eat meats on Fridays. This teaching was later amended and they were permitted to indulge in meats. In which time was the Pope infallible, when they could not eat, or now that they can eat?
c. He concludes, “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained,” 1 Timothy 4:6.
3. Paul’s teaching regarding meats. In the Roman, Letter Paul provides instructions for the believers regarding “meats” in his discussion of “diets, days and drink,” Romans 14:1-23. Notice his instruction:
a. First, he entreats the stronger members to receive the “weak in the faith,” Romans 14:1-3; Romans 15:1. They must be kind and understanding of their weaker brothers.
b. Further, he condemns those that “judge his brother” because of their weakness, Romans 14:4; Romans 14:10-13. He states: “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” regarding the eating of meats and observing day, Romans 14:5. This is a matter of conscience and not a doctrine. Let each make up their own mind regarding meats or herbs.
c. Next, he declares nothing is unclean of itself, Romans 14:14-15.
d. Additionally, he speaks of meats and the kingdom of God. He writes: “For the kingdom of God is not of meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost,” Romans 14:17-19.
e. Finally, he reminds the Romans that meat “destroys not the work of God. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for that man who eateth with offense...And he that doubteth is damned if he eats, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin,” Romans 14:20-23.
f. Conclusion: The saint’s favor before God is not based upon the content of his diet; but in the purity of his conscience in what he eats: “Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth, not himself in that thing which he alloweth,” Romans 14:22.
D. Paul’s instruction to Corinth regarding the eating of meat. He says: “But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither if we eat not, are we the worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak ...Wherefore, if meat makes my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend,” 1 Corinthians 8:8-13.
E. Paul’s instruction about the market place. He gives further instructions for the purchasing and eating of meats from the shambles. Notice: “Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no questions for conscience sake: For the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof,” 1 Corinthians 10:25-26. This is Paul’s guiding instruction – “by it and fry it” – asking no question of the merchant. Notice:
1. First, if an unbeliever bid you to a feast. “If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no questions for conscience sake. But if any man says unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof,” 1 Corinthians 10:27-28.
2. Further, conscience, I say, not of thine. Refuse to eat for conscience sake, “not thine own, but the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience? For if I by grace be (am a) partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that which I give thanks?” 1 Corinthians 10:29-30.
3. Finally, do all to the glory of God. His conclusion: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved,” 1 Corinthians 10:31-33. As I conclude, let’s review what we have discussed.
CONCLUSION
A. Outline.
1. The Retraction Movement
B. Remarks.
1. First, we considered the “retraction movement” or the “departure from the faith.” The word “retraction” meant to depart, retreat or leave behind. The Spirit predicts a “departure from the faith.” Let’s be clear here, the prediction is a “departure from the faith.”
2. The idea here was leaving the “One Faith,” Ephesians 4:4-6. This “retraction” was the desertion from the “truth”; to embrace the “doctrines of devils; lies and hypocrisy,” that are opposed to “the faith.” This departure led by men whose “consciences had been sheered with a hot iron.” Lead teachers, preachers and leaders whose minds “had been branded by the evil one.”
3. In lesson two of this series, we will consider the “reformation movement.”
C. Invitation. Extend heaven's invitation, Matthew 11:28-30.
D. Motivate.
E. Persuade.
