Apostasy and Asceticism | 1 Timothy 4:1-5 ESV

The longer a Christian follows Jesus, the more likely he is to know someone who once identified as a Christian but has turned away from God. Our spiritual enemy, Satan, wants to cause many people to abandon the gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith in Christ alone. One of Satan’s schemes occurs through deceitful, false teaching that emphasizes asceticism and self-denial. Our passage today teaches that Christians must be alert to any form of Christianity that denies the goodness of God’s creation. Salvation cannot be accomplished by asceticism or self-denial. Rather, genuine Christianity produces Christians who enjoy God’s good gifts and express thankfulness to Him for all that He gives.