“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,” (1 Timothy 4:4 (ESV)
“The Bible never sugarcoats the painful realities of living in a fallen world. Sin is portrayed in all of its dark hues, and the best of men are acknowledged to be at best, mere men. Similarly, the church is portrayed as in a constant state of conflict until the Lord Jesus returns,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“The church in the world is the church militant—always engaged in warfare, under attack and advancing doggedly onward through enemy territory. As is true with any army, the church is not immune to the loss of some of her members. In fact, the skill and tenacity of our enemies are intent on destroying as many as they can.”
Apostates depart from God’s truth and desire to control others with their lies. To control means to govern, regulate, and rule. They reject and seek to supplant the Lord’s sovereign rule and replace it with their own. Not only do they want to rule their own lives, but also the lives of individuals with whom they come into contact.
Manipulation is their ministry philosophy. This extends to the basic necessities of life and living. Apostates not only regulate the marriages but also what food and drink may be consumed by the members of their congregation (I Timothy 4:3). Nothing is off limits. While denying others God’s goodness, apostate leaders rarely deny themselves anything.
“Apostates are people who have been deceived. They have been duped into believing lies rather than the truth and, as a result, are not standing firm but are falling away,” explains Dr. Sproul.
However, what apostates reject are God’s many blessings for which humanity should be thankful. Rather than asceticism, believers in Christ should partake in thanksgiving for the Lord’s relational and physiological blessings. Thanksgiving to God and devotion to His Word is the antidote to apostasy.
The Apostle Paul stated “For everything created by God is good.” The word for (ὅτι; hoti) means because. Paul’s words in today’s featured text stems from what he previously stated to Timothy in 4:1-3. The reason why believers are to be thankful to God for everything is because God created everything. Everything (πᾶν; pan) means all, of every kind, and the whole. Created (κτίσμα; ktisma) refers to all God spoke into being from nothing and sustains (Gen. 1-2; Psalm 33:6-7; John 1:1-3; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:1-3). God alone created everything good. Good (καλόν; kalon) is what is beautiful, pleasant, orderly, and moral excellent.
Consequently, nothing God created is to be rejected. Rejected (ἀπόβλητον; apobleton) means to throw away. It means to view what God created as worthless. Rather, instead of rejecting what God created believers in Christ to receive God’s provision with thanksgiving. Received (λαμβανόμενον; lambanomenon) is a present, passive participle. Believers are to constantly be thankful for what God has graciously given.
“This sentence confirms the preceding passage. Foods that were created for consumption with accompanying thanksgiving are excellent,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.
“The false teachers’ asceticism contradicted Scripture, which teaches that since God created both marriage and food (Gen. 1:28–31; 2:18–24; 9:3), they are intrinsically good (Gen. 1:31) and to be enjoyed with gratitude by believers. Obviously, food and marriage are essential for life and procreation,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.
“The antidote to apostasy, then, is a rigorous devotion to the truth of God’s Word. It is in the Word that the gospel of God’s grace in Jesus Christ is revealed. Becoming increasingly grounded in the gospel is what gives stability to a believer. As Psalm 1 says, the blessed and stable man is the one who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates in it day and night (vv. 2-3),” concludes Dr. Sproul.
“Pastors must be radically committed to teaching the Word of God in all of its fullness and simplicity. This is why Paul repeatedly emphasizes the importance of sound doctrine in his letters to Timothy and Titus on pastoral ministry (1 Timothy 1:3, 10, 4:6, 16, 6:3; 2 Timothy 3:16, 4:3; Titus 1:9, 2:1). This is also why no Christian should settle for anything less.”
I encourage you to memorize Psalm 1. May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 