In the war for souls, we should realize where we are on the spiritual map. You and I live in the age of fulfillment with enormous benefits. Old Testament prophets were serving you (1 Peter 1:10-12). Christ came in these “last times for the sake of you” (1 Peter 1:20). Sadly, these are also the times when people claim Christ while turning away from Him.
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons. (1 Timothy 4:1)
Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (2 Timothy 4:2-4 cf. Acts 20:29-30)
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies [false teachings], even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. (2 Peter 2:1-2)
Why are there so many different ‘churches’ that teach conflicting doctrines— supposedly from the same Bible? Why is there so much confusion and division? Because these apostolic prophecies have come true and are coming true. The New Testament reveals “one faith” (Ephesians 4:5 cf. 1 Timothy 4:1). Yet many ‘faiths’ claim to represent Christ today. People curse “the way of truth” because counterfeits give it such a bad name (2 Peter 2:2). These and other Scriptures show our context today. After and amid many apostasies, we must take God’s word more seriously, “rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). More urgently, we must “preach the word” in all its purity, with all its passion (2 Timothy 4:2). To do that, we guard our hearts against mishandling God’s word.
We have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God (2 Corinthians 4:2 cf. 2:17).