Demons promote false doctrine
The expression “in later times” refers “to a period future to the speaker.… In the apostasy of the present the inspired Apostle sees the commencement of the fuller apostasy of the future.”56 Thus demonic doctrine has been increasing and will continue to increase in the church, reaching a climax at the end of the age.
LIARS OF NEW MORALITY
That this false system of teaching originates from demons is clear, but the text also says that it is promoted through men who speak lies. Comparing this passage with 1 John 2:19 and 4:3, it appears that demonic spirits directly empower anti-Christian teachers and supply them with source material for their teaching.
DO'S AND DON'T'S
This close association among Satan, demons, and human beings is seen also in 2 Corinthians 11:13–15. Notice, too, that deception is the hallmark of Satan’s procedure for disseminating false doctrine. One would expect, therefore, to find this aspect of demonic activity centering in churches and radiating from pulpits rather than from, say, mental institutions.
What is included in the doctrine of demons? There seem to be two principal emphases. First, they promote a works salvation (1 Tim. 4:3–4). This effort to promote salvation by works emphasizes asceticism. Abstaining from marriage and from eating meat apparently make devotees think they are commending themselves to God and therefore have no need of a Savior from sin. It is interesting to observe today that the promotion of homosexual marriage is worldwide.
DENYING CHRIST
What is included in the doctrine of demons? There seem to be two principal emphases. First, they promote a works salvation (1 Tim. 4:3–4). This effort to promote salvation by works emphasizes asceticism. Abstaining from marriage and from eating meat apparently make devotees think they are commending themselves to God and therefore have no need of a Savior from sin. It is interesting to observe today that the promotion of homosexual marriage is worldwide.
DENYING CHRIST
Second, demonic doctrine seeks to make the Savior Jesus Christ worthless by denying the fact that He is the God-man. This can be done by denying either the deity of Christ or His humanity. A denial of the deity of Christ occurred in the apostle John’s day (1 John 2:22–23) in the form of denying the Son’s equal position in the Trinity. Commenting on this, another has said:
A common “Gnostic” theory was that “the aeon Christ” descended upon the man Jesus at His baptism, and left Him before the Passion. Those who held such a doctrine denied that “Jesus was the Christ”; and in so denying, denied the union of the divine and human in one Person.… The denial of the personal union of true manhood and true Godhead in Christ involves the denial of the essential relations of Fatherhood and Sonship in the Divine Nature.58
Denial of Christ’s humanity was also prevalent in John’s day (1 John 4:2–3). People denied the mode of His coming (in the flesh) and the permanence of the incarnation (since the tense of “come” is perfect). If the Lord Jesus was not both God and man, He was not a sufficient Savior, which is why demons attack either or both aspects of the doctrine of the God-man. The Savior had to be a human being in order to be able to die, for God cannot die; and He had to be God in order for that death to be an effective payment for sins. To deny His humanity makes it impossible for Him to die; to deny His deity makes it impossible for Him to pay for sins. Demonic doctrine, then, seeks to make Jesus Christ a worthless Savior.
Ryrie, C. C. (1991). Biblical answers to tough questions (pp. 87–96). Chicago, IL: Moody Press.
A common “Gnostic” theory was that “the aeon Christ” descended upon the man Jesus at His baptism, and left Him before the Passion. Those who held such a doctrine denied that “Jesus was the Christ”; and in so denying, denied the union of the divine and human in one Person.… The denial of the personal union of true manhood and true Godhead in Christ involves the denial of the essential relations of Fatherhood and Sonship in the Divine Nature.58
Denial of Christ’s humanity was also prevalent in John’s day (1 John 4:2–3). People denied the mode of His coming (in the flesh) and the permanence of the incarnation (since the tense of “come” is perfect). If the Lord Jesus was not both God and man, He was not a sufficient Savior, which is why demons attack either or both aspects of the doctrine of the God-man. The Savior had to be a human being in order to be able to die, for God cannot die; and He had to be God in order for that death to be an effective payment for sins. To deny His humanity makes it impossible for Him to die; to deny His deity makes it impossible for Him to pay for sins. Demonic doctrine, then, seeks to make Jesus Christ a worthless Savior.
Ryrie, C. C. (1991). Biblical answers to tough questions (pp. 87–96). Chicago, IL: Moody Press.
