THOSE WHO LEAVE GOD’S HOUSE (4:1-6)
Neal Pollard
Paul points out a basic concern at the beginning of this chapter, that “some will depart from the faith” (1). Depart means to revolt or rebel against authority or to draw away. This is not the same as mistakenly taking the wrong street in an unfamiliar area and getting lost. This is like premeditatedly deciding to go to a forbidden or dangerous place. Paul tells us how to know if we are in danger of falling away from the faith.
Who are we listening to (1)? Paul mentions two sobering and scary sources–“deceitful spirits” and “doctrines of demons.” He’s not talking about Satanic worship or the occult. If only it were that easy. Instead, it is any of the ways he peddles his values and beliefs. In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul tells us Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (14). It might be coming and preaching another Christ than the biblical Christ (2 Cor. 11:4) or by disguising themselves as servants of righteousness having deeds that don’t match (2 Cor. 11:15).
In this chapter, Paul contrasts the Holy Spirit and deceitful spirits (1), sound doctrine and the doctrine of demons (1), and godliness and worldly fables (7). Our world tries to tell us one belief is as good as another, but the inspired Paul refutes this. Today, people say things about Christ and claim things to be right that don’t come from God and there’s only one other source. It includes some of the areas Paul covers in this letter, things that are contrary to sound teaching (1:10) and things he covers later in this chapter and the rest of the letter. There are specific issues about church leadership, morality, money, caring for widows, and more. Who are we listening to about these? The culture? The larger religious world? Those who tell us to go with what we feel?
How do our beliefs effect our hearts (2)? Paul says these false teachers were hypocrites, professing one thing and practicing another. They are liars, and they had killed their conscience (Eph. 4:19). If we listen to their false teaching, we will follow in their steps.
Do my beliefs harmonize with Scripture (3)? These teachers peddled two outrageous ideas: you cannot get married and you cannot eat certain foods. In these instances they were binding things God had not bound. They were making obedience harder than God did. Any change from God’s message, whether adding to it or taking from it, will skew our beliefs. Paul presents rational, biblical counterpoints to these teachers’ legalism.
The antidote to abandoning the faith is being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine we have followed (6). We cannot depend on someone else to tell us what is right and wrong. We must stay in the Word and be Bereans (Acts 17:11).
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