Sermons on Doubt
In this passage, Paul is still addressing the issue of false teachers in the church at Ephesus. These false teachers had “the appearance of godliness”—meaning that they knew how to walk and talk like Christians, but their hearts were far from God. While this text is specifically referring to the false teachers in the church at Ephesus, we are able to take this list of scathing characteristics and examine ourselves in order to reveal the condition of our hearts as well.
We should not be surprised when there are people who scoff, or ridicule, those who believe in God. We should seek to answer their questions without being judgmental against them for their unbelief. There are many reasons for people’s doubts, but we must not forget that Scripture tells us to “have mercy on those who doubt” (Jude 22). Christianity is not a psychological crutch for those who doubt, but a supernatural cure for the condition of people everywhere.