Beware of Seducing Spirits and More!
1 But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron, 3 forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with thanksgiving. 5 For it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.
6 If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which you have followed. 7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now, and of that which is to come. 9 This saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have set our trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 Command and teach these things.
12 Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity. 13 Until I come, pay attention to reading, to exhortation, and to teaching. 14 Don’t neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the elders. 15 Be diligent in these things. Give yourself wholly to them, that your progress may be revealed to all. 16 Pay attention to yourself and to your teaching. Continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
1 Timothy 4
When thinking of “seducing spirits”, evil sexual lust might come to mind. That is certainly a thing to avoid. However, there are folks making up rules for Christians that are not scriptural, and pressuring folks to follow them. They might seem like they are more spiritual, but they are the opposite. Some forbid marriage in circumstances where marriage should be allowed. Some forbid certain foods in circumstances where those foods should be allowed. …And so forth. Beware of seducing spirits that would have us add or subtract rules or teachings to the Bible.
Also, we should stick to doctrine based on the whole of Scripture. We should search the whole Bible, not our favorite “proof text” verses only. We should not look to other sources nor to improper practice, however popular.
The Bible says that exercise has some value. It does not discredit that. What the Bible does is encourage us to exercise godliness even more.
What is especially important to know is that God can be the Savior of any man or woman through the gift of His Son Jesus. It requires repentance. It requires faith that Jesus dying on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins actually works to get one right with God. It requires accepting that gift. (A gift does you no good if you don’t accept it.)
Notice too, the gift of prophecy. Notice the method of laying on of hands. Notice one of the functions of elders.
Notice the need to be diligent. Notice the need to pay attention to ourselves and what we teach. We need to take care of our souls and save others too. Tell others the Good News about God’s gift of salvation through Jesus, even if you “suffer reproach”. Beware of seducing spirits, that would either have you add unscriptural rules or other things to the Good News, or that would have you “fall away from the faith”!