1 Timothy 4:1
Today we are looking at how Christians can be side tracked in the last days

1.LATTER TIMES
Now the Spirit expressly
says that in later times

Other translations: last, later or latter times or days,

When talking about the end times
the NIV uses End of the Age
while the King James translated as End of the World

The NIV saying age leads us with the question which age?

The Age of Moses ended with the destruction of the temple thus AD 70.

The King James saying end of the world is saying a totally different thing and is a poorer translation.

When did the last days then begin
Acts 2:17
Thus the last days begins
with the day of Pentecost not long after Jesus resurrection

So we have been living in the last days
for nearly 2,000 years.

Could Jesus come back in the next ten years yes,
but Jesus could also wait another 100 years.

Matthew 24:36


The Key issue that Paul is investigating is

2. DEPART FROM THE FAITH
some will depart from the faith
Why?

a. MAJOR FALSE THEOLOGY
Apostasy: "defection", "departure" or "rebellion"
Apostasy is the rejection of Christ
by one who had been in the church…"

Apostasy is a theological terms
for those who have voluntarily
and consciously abandoned their faith
They may deny the Trinity,
the resurrection, miracles,
that Jesus is divine


b. MINOR FALSE THEOLOGY
Can misguided or distorted.
a bit like a wheel with a warble.
More poor theology than wrong theology



c. FALSE ETHICS OR BEHAVIOUR
The NT describes
Temptation of sins: idolatry, sexual immorality, covetousness, greed

Sadly people can take the world’s side on contemporary topics.
Their wrong understanding of theology
can lead to a wrong understanding of behaviour.

i. cam be wrong or poor understanding of ethical issues

ii. BULLIES Sadly some Christians are bullies and abusers and sadly driven by a self righteous behaviour. There is nothing worse than a Bible believing Christian who intimated others, wants there own way at all costs, and are often not aware of how bad they are.

iii. Deceptions: Christians encountered various heresies
and false teachings
Luke 17:1-2
2 It would be better for him if a millstone
were hung around his neck
and he were cast into the sea
than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.


d. PERSECUTIONS:
Christians were persecuted by
the governing powers of the day
for their allegiance to Christ.

Matthew 13:20-21

Matthew 24:4, 9-10, 13

But the one who endures to the end will be saved.


Other Warnings
Hebrews 3:12–14


In the NT other terms that express falling way include
1 Timothy 4:1 suffer shipwreck,
1 Timothy 1:19 miss the mark,
2 Timothy 2:18 go away,
John 6:66 turn away, deny, change, alter, do not abide

Thus falling away can be due to wanting to sin,
rejecting core doctrine
or in fear of being persecuted,
some will soften their hold on faith
to please the world
and think that they are modernising the Christian faith
to be acceptable to a lost world

At Bible College a Korean student
in a sermon talked about
wanting to reach the other men in his army outfit,
One day they asked him
to share his faith at the pub.
When they arrived
they said before he starts
they will all have a drink,
Then another drink, and another drink.
He asked when can I tell you about Jesus
they responded “Why, you are as drunk as us”
He passion had been sidetracked
He sadly went home and repented alone




a. by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits

2 Peter 2:1-3

Satan is behind every false teacher, from Adam and Eve in the garden he aims to deceive

b. and teachings of demons,

c. 2 through the insincerity of liars

d. whose consciences are seared

James 1:13-15


e. 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods

Romans 14:13-20



IMMATURE
Hebrews 4:11 you have become dull of hearing.
12 you need someone to teach you again
the basic principles of the oracles of God.
You need milk, not solid food,
13 for everyone who lives on milk
is unskilled in the word of righteousness,
since he is a child.

14 But solid food is for the mature,
for those who have their powers of discernment
trained by constant practice
to distinguish good from evil.



GOD RESPONDED
4 For everything created by God is good,
and nothing is to be rejected
if it is received with thanksgiving,

5 for it is made holy
by the word of God and prayer.

The Book of Hebrews is full of warnings about false teachers
Hebrews 2:2

Hebrews 3:8



HOW SHOULD WE GROW TO MATURITY AND DISCERN FALSE TEACHING
Hebrews 4:12-13
Heb 6:19
Heb 12:2 looking to Jesus,
the founder and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross,
despising the shame,
and is seated at the right hand
of the throne of God.