1 Timothy 4:1-6

1 Timothy 4:1-6  The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.  Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.  They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.  For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.  If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 

An interesting point about this scripture is all the people mentioned believed in God.  Paul is not talking about the agnostic or atheist in the above passage.  What Paul found so horrible is these people were contaminating the gospel of grace with works.  Some were teaching that real spirituality could come only through works: abstaining from eating certain foods or remaining single, but all believed that there was a God to know and serve.  But Paul said these people who believed in God but were adding to the gospel message had abandoned the faith.  What faith?  The promise of God that Jesus Christ is Lord and by grace we are saved.  When we add anything to the gospel to be saved, we make the gospel of none effect.  For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.  For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect. . .  (Romans 4:13-14)  When we bring the gospel of grace and mercy into the domain of works, we deceive ourselves, for then we think we can please a holy God with our personal holiness.  We tempt God by intimating we can be as good as God through our own efforts.  Otherwise, we can be as God: all we need is the road map to obtain this holy place.  No, there is ONLY ONE GOD, and there will be ONLY ONE GOD.  There is no road to being Godlike or perfectly holy.  

Godliness, holiness or right standing with God, is a gift.  We cannot, we do not EARN IT.  When we fully realize that,  we will be able to praise God with fervor.  When we fully realize how good God is to a sinful people, we will dance and sing before him in joy.  Until that day, we might smugly believe that we are somewhat good.  If not really good in our own eyes, definitely better than the drunkard down the street or the murderer in jail.  But the Bible says, all have sinned, all have fallen short of the glory of God, and none deserve heaven.  The Bible indicates outside of the mercy of Christ, judgement will fall on all the sinful; eternal judgement is the inheritance of sinners.  If we all have sinned, then everlasting judgement is the inheritance of all men.  But praise God, the angel came and said good news has come to the Earth, good news in the form of a baby: An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”  (Luke 2:9-14)  

To this day God is saying to all people who receive this "good news," I  am your inheritance, enter into MY REST.  Now, we are not alone as fatherless children, orphans in an unknowable existence called life.  No, God has come to us in the form of a baby, Christ Jesus.  He has said to us, believe on Jesus and  you will be saved, and I will adopt you into my family and be your eternal Father.  Receive my grace, mercy, and love, demonstrated to you by the sacrifice of my Son on the cross.  Receive him, believe on him and you will have everlasting life with me and YOU WILL NEVER BE ALONE AGAIN. 

What a marvelous message of redemption!  Nothing should be taken away or added to this message of grace and mercy.  Any other message has demons as its source, for it undermines the heart and will of God.  These demonic forces desire people to "miss the mark," for they themselves are under the penalty of eternal judgment.  Asceticism is not the way to God; neither is winning the world, epicurism.  No, the way to God is through Jesus Christ.  He is THE WAY, THE GATE, THE LIFE, THE GOOD NEWS.  He is our EVERYTHING.  May we be his ministers of faith today.