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By: Joe R. Price
Christians can live in confidence of their
salvation (1 Jn. 5:13; 1 Pet. 1:3-5). However, this does not mean that the
Christian has a license to sin without punishment (Rom. 6:1-2, 23). Christians
are called to diligent watchfulness to avoid falling away from God (Heb.
3:12-13). Christians can fall away from grace (Gal. 5:4).
Apostasy literally means "a standing
away," hence the concept of "falling away." It is "an abandoning of what one
believed in, as a faith, etc." (Webster).
Since so many religious people have
been persuaded that it is impossible for the Christian to so sin as to lose
his salvation, we offer Bible facts which refute this doctrine of men.
THE POSSIBILITY OF APOSTASY
- Righteous can turn away from
righteousness & die - Ezekiel 18:24.
- One who has believed can fall
away - Luke 8:13.
- Christian severed from Christ -
fallen away from grace - Galatians 5:2-4.
- An enlightened one can fall away
& be unreachable - Hebrews 6:4-6.
- See: 1 Corinthians 10:12; 2
Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; James 5:19-20)
EXAMPLES OF APOSTASY OF GOD'S
PEOPLE
- Israel - Exodus 24:7; 32:7-8;
Jeremiah 3:6-14 ("backsliding Israel").
- Simon Peter - Luke 22:31-34,
54-62; Galatians 2:11-14.
- Simon - Acts 8:12-13, 18-24.
- Fornicator in Corinthian church -
1 Corinthians 5:1-5, 13; 2 Corinthians 2:5-8.
- Hymenaeus and Alexander - 1
Timothy 1:18-20.
- Laodiceans - Revelation 3:15-19.
CAUSES OF APOSTASY Times of
temptation - Luke 8:13.
- Worldliness - Luke 8:14; James
4:4; 2 Timothy 4:10.
- False doctrine - Acts 20:29-30; 1
Timothy 4:1-3; 6:3-5.
- Seeking justification by the O.
T. law of Moses - Galatians 5:4.
- Hardened hearts against God's
revealed will - Hebrews 3:12-13.
THE PREVENTION OF APOSTASY
- Spiritual growth to maturity - 1
Peter 2:1-2; 2 Peter 1:5-11.
- Don't love the world/Seek
heavenly things-1 Jn. 2:15-17; Col. 3:1-3.
- Live in the doctrine of Christ -
2 John 9; 1 Timothy 6:3; 1:3.
- Know that salvation is only in
Christ - Galatians 2:16; Acts 4:12.
- Do not harden your heart against
God's will - Hebrews 3:7-8.
THE CHRISTIAN'S REMEDY FOR
APOSTASY
- Repent of your sin - Acts 8:22;
17:30.
- Confess your sin to God - 1 John
1:9.
- Pray to God for His forgiveness -
Acts 8:22.
- Conversion - James 5:19-20;
Galatians 6:1; Revelation 2:5.
Return to
Fundamentals of the Faith
Designed by Chuck Sibbing
Last modified:
08/03/2017.
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The Possibility of Apostasy
