“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, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,” (1 Timothy 4:1–2 (ESV).
The Scriptures do not teach a departure from the Christian faith might happen sometime in the future, but rather it certainly will happen. The Apostle Paul affirmed this truth by invoking the person of the Holy Spirit. Paul said the Spirit expressly says (ῥητῶς λέγει; rhetos legei), which means the Spirit explicitly, presently, actively and singularly stated a departure from biblical faith would occur.
To depart from the faith means to fall away, to forsake and to turn away. The root word is aphistemi, from which we derive the English word apostasy and apostate. Faith refers to what believers in Christ are to trust in, commit to, depend upon and worship according to Scripture.
To fall away from biblical teaching results in individuals falling into apostasy and heresy. They become personally committed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. This does not mean apostates necessarily teach about deceitful spirits or doctrines of demons, but rather deceitful spirits and demons influence their heretical teaching.
What becomes of the character of these individuals of whom Paul speaks? Having expounded on the godly character of elders and deacons, what does the apostle say about the ungodly character of apostates?
To begin with, they are insincere liars. Insincerity (ὑποκρίσει; hypokrisei) refers to hypocrisy, pretense and play-acting. It is the word used to identify theater actors in the ancient world who pretended to be someone, or something, they were not in reality. Our English word hypocrisy and hypocrite comes from this Greek word.
These individuals pretend to be committed Christians. However, in reality they are nothing of the kind. They are merely playing a part rather than truly living the Christian life. The adjective Paul used for these people was liars (ψευδολόγων; pseudologon) meaning lying and speaking falsely. They literally are hypocritical lie-speakers.
“As Satan made use of a serpent to deceive Eve, and this by means of an insincere utterance (Gen. 3:1-5), so these seducing spirits or demons make use of men who speak lies and who talk piously and learnedly in order to cover up their own arrogance and immorality,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.
Additionally, these people possess seared consciences. They possess such a conscience because demons possess them. Conscience (συνείδησιν; syneidesin) refers to an individual’s moral and ethical thinking and understanding. In other words, one’s sense of right and wrong.
The apostate’s conscience is seared (κεκαυστηριασμένων; kekausteriasmenon). The word is a perfect, passive, plural participle. The word means a branding or scarring. This means the damaging of the apostate’s moral and ethical thinking occurred in their past, and continues to impact their present life.
“By constantly arguing with conscience, stifling its warnings, and muffling its bell, they at last have reached the point where conscience no longer bothers them. Grieving the Holy Spirit has led to resisting Him, and resisting Him to quenching Him. Then, through their own rebellion and obstinacy, their conscience will have been rendered seared. It will have been made callous. A good example is Balaam (Num. 22:12-32; 25:1-3; 2 Peter 2:15; Rev. 2:14),” states Dr. Hendriksen.
“To be seared is “a medical term referring to cauterization. False teachers can teach their hypocritical lies because their consciences have been desensitized (cf. Eph. 4:19), as if all the nerves that make them feel had been destroyed and turned into scar tissue by the burning of demonic deception,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.
Do you know of such individuals? These are they who once professed love for the Lord and His Word, and who walked away from their faith, friends, and family. I remember one such individual. I’m thinking about him as I write this blog. I wonder where he is and what he is doing. I wonder if he is even alive.
Dear heavenly Father, I pray for those in are lives who have walked away from faith in Christ resulting in their consciences becoming callous and scarred. May you rescue them for your glory and the honor of your name. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
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