The Miracle of Inspiration
Part Eleven
Sound Doctrine or Tickled Ears
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False teachers prey upon the weak in every congregation of believers. As we have seen, these false teachers will specifically attack the integrity of the Word of God. They will try to persuade believers that the Word of God cannot be relied upon as true and accurate, but prefer instead to reject the truth of Scripture. In their own arrogance, they sit in judgment upon the integrity of the Word of God and reject its truths. We should not be alarmed at the rise of such false teachers, because Jesus has revealed to us how evil people will mislead believers in the last days.
I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
2 Timothy 4:1
Judge of The Living and The Dead. Paul charged the young pastor Timothy to preach the Word of God. In 2 Timothy 4:1, Paul frames that charge in the context of the presence of God and of Christ Jesus. Of course we know that Jesus Christ was always God, and has always been equal with God (Philippians 2:6). We now read a familiar theme with Paul in his preaching. Everyone should keep in mind that God has appointed Jesus Christ to judge both the living and dead, and has furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31). As believers, we should be constantly aware of the future judgment of Christ. We should let that sense of coming judgment influence our lives. As believers, we expect to avoid the judgment upon sin after death (John 5:25-29), but we look forward to reward for our labors (1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the Word. Congregations will have a tendency to be swept away by the influence of evil, deceitful spirits and the doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1). The remedy for such bad spiritual behavior comes from faithful men who will preach the word, and reprove, rebuke, and exhort with great patience (2 Timothy 4:2-6). Notice the importance of preaching the Word of God in this verse. Ignoring false teaching and false teachers, especially those who teach the gist theory of inspiration, results in believers suffering and allows the false teachers (assuming they are believers) to continue to disrupt families and toss believers in the wind of false doctrine (Titus 1:11; Ephesians 4:14).
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
2 Timothy 4:3
Ears Tickled. In the last days, believers will not endure sound doctrine. Instead they want to have their ears tickled, and so will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires. The effect of this rejection of sound doctrine will be that people will turn away their ears from the truth and aside to myths (2 Timothy 4:3-4). As we have seen before, no doctrine remains more important than the integrity of the Word of God. Because faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God, then if the Word of God is not true, then the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not true. If Paul or John or any other author of the New Testament did not accurately record the message of Christ, then we have problems knowing the message of Christ. So, we see that in the last days, believers will not endure (“ἀνέξονται“) sound doctrine. This word “endure” means to hold up, to stand up tall, or erect. In this sense, we will see believers in the last days no longer hold up sound teaching, but instead drop that teaching and favor other teaching that denies the integrity of the Bible. Believers in the last days will gravitate towards preachers who tickle their ears with their words, sensational presentations and histrionics.
So we learn more about the power of God today.
● Jesus will sit as the Judge of both the living and the dead, so we should be careful to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ today, because it provides the basis for faith and forgiveness.
● In the last days, which we are in, believers will want their ears tickled. They will seek the sensational, rather than the spiritual doctrine of the Word of God.
● As believers, we look to the Word of God for truth and rely upon its truth.
Application for Today
As I live today, I want to live by the power of God, upon which my faith rests in Christ. When I read His word, and speak with people, and as I rise up and lay down, and walk through life, by faith alone I want to experience His power in my life today. Will you trust in the power of God working in you today?
Christ Assembly │ Sound Doctrine or Tickled Ears
