Faith, Part 2 of 3Sample

Stay true to the faith!

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons…” (1 Timothy 4:1)

Faith in Jesus Christ is life-saving. Indeed, it is the only way to receive eternal life. How upsetting, therefore, that some people turn their backs on the one true faith!

In his letter to Timothy, Paul writes a lot about this theme. It concerns him that people who know the truth then turn away from it. Paul lists several causes that lead people to “shipwreck” in faith. Some go against the warning of their conscience, and thus against the voice of the Holy Spirit (1 Timothy 1:19). Others crave money and possessions so much that they stray from the faith (1 Timothy 6:10). Still others engage in “the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called ‘knowledge,’” and thus become alienated from the truth (1 Timothy 6:20-21). Our key verse today mentions “deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” as a cause of falling away from the faith.

What can we do to protect ourselves from all these sources of deception? We may “train ourselves for godliness,” “being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:6-7). Are you doing that? How does that take shape in your life?