“Clinging to the Truth”

SERMON Title: Clinging to the Truth
SCRIPTURE: 1 Timothy 4:1-5 ESV

Introduction: The Spirit Warns Us Clearly

Paul begins with urgency: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith…” This isn’t vague or speculative—Paul says the Holy Spirit speaks clearly. There will be those who once claimed to follow Jesus who will abandon the faith, and they won’t do it by accident.

They will devote themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons—strong words that signal spiritual warfare. These teachings aren’t just theological errors or misunderstandings; they are satanic in origin. The damage is real, and the danger is spiritual death.

But here’s the key: these people choose deception. To “devote” yourself means to cling, commit, pursue. No one forces them. They are not merely ignorant—they willingly embrace falsehood out of their desires. And Paul adds, these teachings are spread “through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared.” In other words, they have hardened their hearts against God and no longer feel conviction.

Apostasy vs. Backsliding

This isn’t about sincere Christians struggling in their faith. Paul uses different language for that—words like straying, drifting, or stumbling. But here, he’s describing apostasy—a willful turning away. As John says: “They went out from us, but they were not of us” (1 John 2:19).

You can profess Christ and never truly possess Him. The demons believe in God too, but they don’t love Him. A Christian isn’t defined by a prayer or belief that Jesus exists. True faith is revealed by a transformed heart, rooted in the gospel.

The Nature of Demonic Teachings

So, what does demonic teaching look like? Not all of it is dark and terrifying. As Scripture says, Satan can appear as an angel of light.

Here are a few examples:

• Legalism disguised as holiness: “Forbid marriage…require abstinence from foods…” (v.3). These sound spiritual, but they reject the goodness of God’s creation.

• Religious activity with no substance: Practicing rules or rituals apart from the gospel.

• Twisting God’s Word: Using Scripture out of context to promote self-made religion.

• Mysticism without submission: Sensual spirituality that denies God’s moral authority.

• False ideologies that sound compassionate: Appealing to emotion or humanitarianism while rejecting God’s truth.

These are spread by false teachers, false religions, worldly ideologies, and even misguided church leaders. As Paul warned, such agents are often within the church—wolves in sheep’s clothing. We must heed 1 John 4:1: “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.”

Real-World Example: The United Church Controversy

We’ve seen this play out. Around 20 years ago, United Church moderator Bill Phipps denied essential Christian truths. He publicly said he didn’t believe Jesus was God, wasn’t sure about the resurrection, didn’t know if there was a hell, and said Jesus was just concerned with earthly issues.

You would expect this to result in immediate discipline. Instead, the denomination praised “theological diversity,” and many welcomed him to continue teaching. This wasn’t ignorance—it was willful rejection of biblical truth, embraced by those who claimed to follow Christ.

And some today might still say, “What’s the big deal?” But it is the biggest deal. Denying Jesus' divinity and resurrection guts the gospel. If Jesus isn’t God, didn’t die, and didn’t rise—then Christianity is a sham, and we’re wasting our lives.

What remains is dead religion—traditions without truth, forms without power. When the appeal wears off, people will abandon it altogether.

Why People Embrace False Teaching

Why are people so drawn to deception? Scripture and experience give us several answers:

1. They want spirituality without submission.
   No cross, no repentance, no discipline. Just feel-good faith that centers around “me.”

2. They love comfort more than Christ.
   They expect God to guarantee ease, and they resist anything that feels costly.

3. They want God’s blessings, but not His ways.
   They love the gifts but reject the Giver’s commands.

4. They fear rejection more than they fear God.
   They prioritize cultural approval over biblical conviction.

5. Their identity is rooted in success, not in Christ.
   The gospel becomes a means to self-empowerment, not self-denial.

6. They’re spiritually bored.
   They want something “new” because they’ve never tasted how satisfying Christ really is. (2 Tim 4:3–4)

7. They’re desperate for hope—but seek it in the wrong places.
   Hurt and confusion can lead to compromise when truth isn’t clearly known.

Why Even Believers Can Be Deceived

Even sincere Christians can be vulnerable if they aren’t anchored:

1. They neglect the Word and prayer.
   Spiritual discipline isn’t optional. It’s the way we grow in discernment and intimacy with God. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet…” (Ps 119:105)

2. They elevate emotion and experience above Scripture.
   The Bible is not about us. It’s about Jesus. If you’re always looking for yourself, you’ll look in the wrong places.

3. They compromise with sin.
   Unchecked temptation clouds spiritual clarity and invites deception.

How to Guard the Truth

As people of the Word, we must:

1. Know God’s Word deeply. A lifetime of reading isn’t enough. Let Scripture shape your convictions and instincts.

2. Test everything. Use the Word and the Holy Spirit to discern what is true. Don’t harden your heart.

3. Walk humbly. Real strength is in admitting your weakness and depending on God.

4. Repent regularly. Transformation begins with humility and confession.

5. Flee temptation. Don’t entertain lies. “Give no opportunity to the devil” (Eph 4:27). Run, as Joseph did, from the opportunity to sin.

Conclusion: Remember Your First Love

Remember the joy when you first met Jesus. The freedom. The surrender. When you knew He was enough. Have you drifted? Have you forgotten your first love?

No teaching or ideology will ever satisfy your soul the way Christ does. Don’t trade the eternal truth for temporary pleasures or popular lies.

Guard the gospel—not just for yourself, but for the next generation. Let your life show that Jesus is worth following, and that His truth is worth fighting for.

Reflection Questions:

• Have I neglected the Word or prayer, leaving room for deception?

• Are my beliefs more shaped by culture or by Christ?

• Do I know the gospel deeply enough to recognize false teaching?

• Am I willing to flee temptation and fight for truth?

Let us return to Jesus, cling to His Word, and live lives that show He alone is Lord.