False Comfort Why Does It Exist? Where Does It Come From? What Are The Results?

Introduction Comfort is something that God wants us to have as His children. In His word He has provided for us all things necessary to be comforted, even in the face of difficulties in this world. His word gives us comfort as does His people.

Introduction We ought to pursue the comfort and peace He offers us. But it is only found if we are true to Him and His word! We CANNOT achieve godly comfort while refusing to submit to His will.

False Comfort The world cannot offer this comfort In a world that is continually seeking to forget about God and His message of hope, we find so much desperation and hopelessness. There is a seeking for true and lasting comfort, but it cannot be found because they refuse to turn to God.

No Comfort Psalm 69:20, “Reproach has broken my heart, And I am full of heaviness; I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none.” Psalm 69:20 Ecclesiastes 4:1 says, “Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: And look! The tears of the oppressed, But they have no comforter— On the side of their oppressors there is power, But they have no comforter.” Ecclesiastes 4:1

False Comfort There are many worldly souls that seek for comfort, BUT they are unwilling to repent. They want the blessings of God, but they don’t want to give up the passing pleasures of sin Hebrews 11:24-26, Hebrews 11: Timothy 3:5, having a “form of godliness but denying its power”, etc.) 2 Timothy 3:5

Why Is Their Comfort False? They are unwilling to comply with His teachings. TRAGICALLY, there are false teachers who will tickle their ears and lull them into a sense of false comfort by being told that God will accept them in their unrepentant sinful conduct. Paul warned Timothy of such when he told him what to preach in 2 Timothy 4: Timothy 4:2-4

Why Is Their Comfort False? 2 Peter 2:1-3 “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.” 2 Peter 2:1-3

Why Comfort Doctrines? At times they may say you OUGHT to repent, but then they teach some doctrine which removes accountability if you refuse to change. These are the “comfort doctrines” that we want to take some time to examine. These “Comfort Doctrines” provide a false sense of security.

The Example Of Israel Jeremiah 6:13-15 says, “Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, Everyone is given to covetousness; And from the prophet even to the priest, Everyone deals falsely. They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, Saying, 'Peace, peace!' When there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the Lord.“ Jeremiah 6:13-15

The Example Of Israel Jeremiah 5:30-31 further said, “An astonishing and horrible thing Has been committed in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?” Jeremiah 5:30-31 Ezekiel 13:10 says they SEDUCED the people. Ezekiel 13:10

The Example Of Israel Jeremiah 23:16-17 says, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; They speak a vision of their own heart, Not from the mouth of the Lord. They continually say to those who despise Me, ‘The Lord has said, “You shall have peace” ’; And to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they say, ‘No evil shall come upon you.’” Jeremiah 23:16-17

The Example Of Israel Isaiah 30:9-11 says, “For this is a rebellious people, false sons, Sons who refuse to listen to the instruction of the LORD; Who say to the seers, ‘You must not see visions’, and to the prophets, “You must not prophesy to us what is right, Speak to us pleasant words. Prophesy illusions. Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the holy One of Israel”. Isaiah 30:9-1

The Danger Of “Comfort Doctrines” They can promote ignorance – Why put forth great effort to learn the truth when there are no real consequences to one’s conduct? Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6

The Danger Of “Comfort Doctrines” They can lead to indifference – Why be “zealous for good works” if there is no consequence for living in sin? Why seriously seek the erring soul if the consequences of sin are minimalized or dismissed? (Jude 22-23)

The Danger Of “Comfort Doctrines” They can lead to corruption – Where there is no serious need to follow God’s standard, man will do what is right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25, 17:6). Judges 21:2517:6 Why not, if God is going to tolerate sinful rebellion or disobedience in any form? This is anarchy to some degree.

The Danger Of “Comfort Doctrines” They can lead to disunity or even division – What incentive is there to seek true unity in doctrine if God will overlook sinful conduct? 1 Corinthians 1:10 says, “Let there be no divisions among you.” 1 Corinthians 1:10 False teaching (comfort doctrines) produces division.

The Danger Of “Comfort Doctrines” They will lead to souls being lost! Matthew 7:21-23 is just one of many passages that tells us that following Jesus involves obedience! Matthew 7:21-23 Note the consequence of those who fail to obey – they will be told to depart. 2 Thessalonians 1:8 says that God will “in flaming fire” take “vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 1:8

Final Thoughts In future lessons we are going to examine some “comfort doctrines.” We will see the dangers and consequences of espousing these doctrines and we will see WHY these teachings are in error. Our goal is to encourage us to take seriously our commitment to put God first Matthew 6:33. While I do not believe that God is sitting in heaven waiting for us to “mess up” so that He can zap us to hell, I have great concern when we seek to minimalize sin to any degree. James 2:10 says, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10

Conclusion Just as there is True Comfort which God wants us to have and enjoy, There are those who promote false comfort,. May these lessons encourage us to greater service in the kingdom of the Lord and taking seriously His warnings and instructions which He has so carefully outlined. Think about it.