Does it Line up with the Word?

“As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Timothy 1:3-5

The apostle Paul tells us that in the “later times” there will be believers who abandon the Christian faith and adopt false doctrines. This is how apostasy entered the early church. Many turned away from the truth of God. Despite eyewitness accounts of Christ’s resurrection and the authenticity of the apostle’s message, apostasy (falling away from God’s truth) surfaced in the early church and spread rapidly.

Christ has equipped us to face every scheme of Satan. Taking our position before the throne of God as His children and putting on His armor are two of the most important elements in spiritual warfare (Eph. 6). Never trust human intuition when it comes to spiritual matters. If something doesn’t line up with the Word of God, avoid it (2 Tim. 3:1-5)!

Apostasy’s primary target is the church. Many find this difficult go accept, but it is true. Satan’s chief goal is to weaken and destroy the testimony of the body of Christ. Ask God to make you keenly aware of your moral environment. Avoid false philosophies and anything that leads you away from Christ and into deception by keeping God’s truth constantly before.

When your conscience is defiled, nothing is sacred and nothing is pure.