Lesson 554

(Lesson 554)(02-21-13) 1Timothy 4:1-6, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained."

In today's lesson, Paul again warns of the continuing influence Jewish tradition is having on the Church, during his time. He acknowledges that before the end comes, (Its happening now) there will be those who will so distort the doctrine of Christ so as to make it almost unrecognizable for those who have not studied in straight from His word. Paul even lays out examples, one of which has been historically prominent in the Catholic "church". When I was in the US army, they would not serve meat on Friday's, only fish, in adherence to Catholic dogma. This is in total defiance of gospel teaching. Paul makes it very clear, along with the early teachings of Peter, that NO food item is unacceptable to Christianity, any day of the week. All things sanctified by the divine word of God are acceptable unto man.~