SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/19/2025 8:32 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
“False Teaching Leads To Ungodliness”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference:
2 Timothy 2:16
Message of the
verse: “16
But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further
ungodliness,
This morning we will look at the third danger of
false teaching which is leading to ungodliness.
Now we have to look at the word “But” as this indicates the contrast of “handling
accurately the word of truth” with the warning to avoid worldly chatter. This kind of talk should not be “handled” at
all.
Let us look at the similar advice
that Paul gave to his son in the Lord Titus:
Shun foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about
the Law; for they are unprofitable and worthless” (Titus 3:9). Paul had also given Timothy such advice
earlier, as he was adding the warning to also avoid “the opposing arguments of
what is falsely called ‘knowledge’” (1 Tim. 6:20). That kind of talk is time-wasting and
confusing at best and also spiritually harmful at the worst, which obviously is
what Paul has in mind here talking to Timothy.
Words of worldly human opinion are no more than evil chatter.
What exactly is Paul talking about here? Well his is not talking of idle chitchat or
gossip, which certainly can do great damage in a church. However Paul is speaking of destructive
heresy that perverts divine truth and will lead to further ungodliness. The chatter itself is evil enough, but when
it infects the hearers, the evil is compounded.
John MacArthur writes: “This danger is not restricted to unbelievers
or even immature believers. Paul is
speaking directly to Timothy, who, despite his timidity and temporary
discouragement, was nevertheless a gifted spiritual leader in whom the apostle
had much confidence. He had been
appointed leader as the official representative of Paul in the church at
Ephesus. No one is exempt from the
corruptive influence of falsehood. Just
as a doctor cannot help being exposed to a dangerous disease he is treating, a
godly preacher or teacher cannot help being exposed to dangerous ideas. But just as a doctor keeps exposure to the
minimum and concentrates on destroying the disease, so the godly preacher or
teacher must keep exposure to falsehood at a minimum, while opposing and
seeking to exterminate it with the truth.
“When false teachers are unopposed
or unexposed, ‘many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way
of the truth will be maligned’ (2 Peter 2:2). The spiritual plight of many
denominations and Christian institutions that once were solidly biblical is
abundant proof of the pernicious and pervasive destructiveness of false
doctrine. The legacy of false doctrine
is the further ungodliness of false living.
Error cannot restrain the flesh, cannot halt the devil, and cannot
protect from the world. False teaching
provides no defense against iniquity and no strength for doing what is right
and God-horning.”
Spiritual meaning for my life today:
Trust that the Lord will keep me from false teaching so I do not ever
fall into that evil practice.
My Steps of Faith for Today: 2 Timothy 2:15.
2/19/2025 9:17 AM
No comments:
Post a Comment