Doctrine of demons

1^st Timothy 4:1-4 “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, through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron, forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with thanksgiving.”

The messengers of Satan were the Pharisees who taught the doctrines of demons. 

It was about attaining salvation by abstaining from the free gifts given by God, including marriage and food.

We should not put legalistic burdens on believers like forbidding jewelry, avoiding food, and enforcing dress codes, etc. Peter did not forbid women from jewelry or braided hair. It was clearly not a sin to wear jewelry. He told them that it was acceptable to dress up in style as long as they focused on the inner beauty of the heart.

1st Peter 3:1-4 “In the same way, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; so that, even if any don’t obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word, seeing your pure behavior in fear. Let your beauty be not just the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on fine clothing; but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”

The doctrine of demons rejects the free gifts of God and tries to attain holiness by self-denial and false humility (Colossians 2:18). It is about self-righteousness where people do certain restrictive actions to become holy instead of trusting in what Jesus alone did on the cross. These actions do not restrict sin at all but they inspire hypocrisy.

Colossians 2:20-23 “If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances, “Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch” (all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men? These things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, humility, and severity to the body; but aren’t of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.”

True holiness is not about legalistic activities. True holiness is about trusting in Jesus and not your works. The Pharisees knew the Bible, did all the religious works and yet were called the children of Satan. But Jesus said that the sinners, tax collectors and prostitutes became righteous by faith in Him. True faith is to know the love of Christ and to accept His free gifts. This results in generosity and compassion to those who are weak, instead of trying to impose harsh religious rules on them. 

Now although marriage was a free gift from God, the Lord Jesus and Paul warned the 1^st Century Church not to be consumed by it (1^st Corinthians 7:26-33).

Paul told the Church in Corinth that the time was short because they were living in the time of great tribulation, and therefore he told them to avoid marriage if possible. 

But those who were already married were not in sin. 

In Luke 17:27-33, Jesus told the Jews not to be choked by the things of life like marriage, eating, drinking, buying, selling because Jerusalem was going to be destroyed. Israel during the period between AD66-136 was just like the time of Noah’s flood and when Sodom was destroyed by fire. The believers were told to be busy preaching the Gospel and saving as many Jews as possible before the judgment in their generation.

But ever since then, the believers have enjoyed marriage, eating, drinking and all the free gifts of life for the last 1900 years because the great tribulation ended in AD66-136. 

But the enemy’s tactic is to make us trust in our works instead of trusting in Jesus Christ. 

Paul wrote about the original deception in the Garden of Eden here:

2^nd Corinthians 11:3 “But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

We do not trust in our works. But we believe and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ depending on the gift of His righteousness and His power working in us!

2^nd Corinthians 6:7 “in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,”

How do we overcome these doctrines of demons of self-righteousness? 

We use the weapon of the Gift of Righteousness of Christ!

We do not trust in our works but we submit to the obedience of Jesus Christ. 

He made us righteous by His obedience on the cross and not by our works!

2^nd Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”