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SERVANTS' MINISTRY, Inc.
www.judgmentcoming.org
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Apostate
Christianity
Jesus' Words in green, bold italics.
What
is apostasy? What is an apostate? There
are many words that describe this circumstance,
that describes an apostate. Take your pick:
deserter of one’s faith; one of little
faith; continual backslider; defector; traitor
to one’s faith; heretic; skeptic;
dissident; dissembler; nonconformist; rebel;
insurgent; mutinous; defiant; opposing;
separatist; radical; agnostic; freethinker;
unbeliever; atheist; hypocrites; idolaters;
etc.
Hypocrites are those who put on a mask and imagines
himself to be what he is not; a deceiving
imposter in religion. Our Lord severely
rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for their
hypocrisy (Matthew 6:2, 5, 16, chapter 23).
The hypocrite's hope shall perish (Job 8:13).
The Hebrew word for hypocrite means godless
or profane, as found in Jer.23:11; polluted
with evil. All disciples are believers,
but not all believers are disciples.
Idolatry is image-worship or any divine honor paid
to any created object or person other than
the God of the Bible. Paul describes the
origin of idolatry in Rom.1:21-25: men forsook
God, and sank into ignorance and moral corruption
(Rom.1:28). In Scripture, idolatry is regarded
as of heathen origin. The first and second
commandments to Israel are directed against
idolatry of all forms.
In Revelation chapter 3, we see seven churches.
The last church is the Laodicean church. Rev. 3:14-22 And
unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans
write; These things saith the Amen, the
faithful and true witness, the beginning
of the creation of God; [15] I know thy
works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:
I would thou wert cold or hot. [16] So then
because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold
nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
[17] Because thou sayest, I am rich, and
increased with goods, and have need of nothing;
and knowest not that thou art wretched,
and miserable, and poor, and blind, and
naked: [18] I counsel thee to buy of me
gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest
be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest
be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness
do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with
eyesalve, that thou mayest see. [19] As
many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be
zealous therefore, and repent. [20] Behold,
I stand at the door, and knock: if any man
hear my voice, and open the door, I will
come in to him, and will sup with him, and
he with me. [21] To him that overcometh
will I grant to sit with me in my throne,
even as I also overcame, and am set down
with my Father in his throne. [22] He that
hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
saith unto the churches. (KJV) Jesus' Words. Laodicea
was the richest of the seven cities, known
for its banking industry, manufacture of
wool, and a medical school that produced
eye salve. But the city had always had a
problem with its water supply. At one time
an aqueduct was built to bring water to
the city. By the time the water reached
the city, it was neither hot nor cool, but
lukewarm. The church had become as tasteless
as the lukewarm water that flowed to the
city.
Laodicea was the last and worst of the seven
churches of Asia. Our Lord Jesus models
Himself, “The Amen”
(Rev.1:18), One who is steady and unchangeable
in all His intentions and promises. If your
religion is worth anything, it is worth
every thing! We should be sincere and earnest
in our devotion to Jesus. BUT, so many people
who profess to be Christians are neither hot nor cold; they are lukewarm.
Jesus promises a severe punishment if they
keep on as they are. They give a false opinion
of Christianity, like it were an unholy
religion. People around them decide that
it could bring no real satisfaction, or
its professors would have been more staunch
in their stand for the Lord, and not ready
to seek pleasure or happiness from the world.
Some causes of hypocrisy are indifference,
self-conceit and self-delusion. Just
because a person says (professes) to be
a Christian, does not make them one! There
is a BIG difference between what they think
of themselves, and what Christ thinks of
them. So many people are cheating their
our owns souls! There are millions
in Hell today, who once thought they were
far on their way to Heaven. People
just simply refuse to believe God’s
Word! Please do not flatter and deceive
yourselves. Professors (hypocrites) grow
prouder day by day, and they become carnal
(of the world); lusting for the temporary
treasures the world can offer (Mat. 6:19-20).
Their condition is wretched in God’s
eyes. The Laodicean church was poor; miserably
poor, when they thought they were rich.
They were blind to their condition like
millions today. They could not see the danger
that lay ahead. They were not justified
(Rom.3:20; Ro.5:1) nor were they sanctified
(John 17:17, 19; Ephes. 5:26; 1 Cor.1:30).
They were exposed to sin and shame; their
filthy rags (Isa.64:6) would defile them. They were naked, for they were without
Christ, because only in Him can the soul
of man find rest, peace and safety. Blessed
are those who take His counsel, for all
others shall perish in their sins.
Christ lets them know where they might have
true riches, and how they might have them.
We must receive from Christ the white
raiment He purchased and provided
for them; His own imputed righteousness
for justification, and the garments of holiness
and sanctification. If eyes are
not opened to His Word and His Spirit, ears
shall hear the verdict they do not want
to hear, Hell! Let us examine ourselves
(2 Cor.13:5) by the rule of His Word, and
pray earnestly for the teaching of His Holy
Spirit, to take away our pride, our prejudices,
and our worldly lusts. Sinners should welcome
the rebukes from God’s Word and rod,
as tokens of His love for their souls.
Apostate
Christianity today is like
the church in Revelation; lukewarm, indifferent,
not concerned with right and wrong or good
and evil. They take a neutral position,
live and let live, they don’t want
to rock the boat, don’t want to cause
waves. They sit on the fence, not being
able to make up their minds which side they
are on. They try to serve two masters (Mat.6:24),
God and self (the world, mammon). It
cannot work! It will not work! TRUE Christianity is NOT a gray area. You
are either black OR white. You are either
for Christ OR against Him (Mat.12:30). You
are either God’s child OR the devils’
child (1 John 3:8,10; Acts 13:10; Eph.2:1-5).
Apostate
Christianity ignores the
Bible’s teaching about discipline.
Many of today’s’ churches are
welcoming homosexuals with open arms, with
absolutely NO rebuke of their sin. Some
churches even accept homosexual pastors.
Lev.18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as
with womankind: it is abomination.
(KJV)
Lev.20:13 If a man also lie with mankind,
as he lieth with a woman, both of them have
committed an abomination: they shall surely
be put to death; their blood shall be upon
them. (KJV)
Rom.1:26-27 For this cause God gave them up unto
vile affections: for even their women did
change the natural use into that which is
against nature: [27] And likewise also the
men, leaving the natural use of the woman,
burned in their lust one toward another;
men with men working that which is unseemly,
and receiving in themselves that recompence
of their error which was meet. (KJV)
How
can anyone say it is OK when God says it
is an abomination to Him? In Rom.1:24,26,28,
God states three times He “gave
them up” in other words, when
they deserted God, God in turn deserted
them. God will try to reach sinners multiple
times but when a person’s wicked and
corrupt lifestyle will not cease, God will
finally turn away. He lets people do what
they please, no matter how vile and despicable.
Also
included in ignoring discipline is alternative
lifestyles (living as man and wife without
the benefit of marriage). This is fornication
or adultery! A no-no to God!
Apostate Christianity ignores what the Bible states about Jesus
being the only way to salvation.
Two
thirds of "professing" evangelicals DOUBT
Jesus’ Words.
John
3:3 Jesus answered and said
unto him, Verily, verily, I say
unto thee, Except a man be born again, he
cannot see the kingdom of God. (KJV) Jesus' Words.
John
3:15-18 That whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but
have eternal life. [16] For God so loved
the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have everlasting life. [17]
For God sent not his Son into the world
to condemn the world; but that the world
through him might be saved. [18] He that
believeth on him is not condemned: but he
that believeth not is condemned already,
because he hath not believed in the name
of the only begotten Son of God. (KJV) Jesus' Words.
John
8:24 I said therefore
unto you, that ye shall die in your sins:
for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall
die in your sins. (KJV) Jesus' Words.
John
14:6 Jesus saith unto
him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (KJV) Jesus' Words. A
shocking number of people who call themselves
“born again”
(evangelicals) reject the above words. 68%
believe that “good” people of
other faiths can also go to Heaven (without
Jesus).
Idolatry,
what is it? It
is bowing down to and worshipping images
or any other deity. It is the worship of
anything or anyone other that the True and
Living Creator God of the Bible.
APOSTATES
•
Described. Deut.
13:13 Certain men, the children
of Belial, are gone out from among you,
and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their
city, saying, Let us go and serve other
gods, which ye have not known; (KJV) Godless people (children
of the devil) mislead people to worship
useless gods.
Heb.3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in
any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in
departing from the living God. (KJV) Many places in the
Bible warns us not to “harden”
our hearts. To stubbornly set ourselves
against God is to make it so that we are
no longer able to turn to Him for forgiveness.
The Israelites hardened their hearts when
they disobeyed God’s command to conquer
the Promised Land (Num.13-14; 20; Ps.95).
Be careful to obey God’s Word, and
not allow your heart to become hardened.
•
Persecution tends to make apostates. Luke 8:11-15 Now
the parable is this: The seed is the word
of God. [12] Those by the way side are they
that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh
away the word out of their hearts, lest
they should believe and be saved. [13] They
on the rock are they, which, when they hear,
receive the word with joy; and these have
no root, which for a while believe, and
in time of temptation fall away. [14] And
that which fell among thorns are they, which,
when they have heard, go forth, and are
choked with cares and riches and pleasures
of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
[15] But that on the good ground are they,
which in an honest and good heart, having
heard the word, keep it, and bring forth
fruit with patience. (KJV) Jesus' Words. “Path”
people, like many of the religious leaders,
then and now, refused to believe God’s
message. “Rock”
people, like many in the crowds who followed
Jesus, believed His message but never got
around to doing anything about it. “Thorn”
people, overcome by worries and the lure
of worldly treasures, leave no room in their
lives for God. “Good soil”
people, in contrast to all the other groups,
follow Jesus no matter what the cost. Which
type of soil are you?
•
A worldly spirit tends to make. 2
Tim. 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken
me, having loved this present world, and
is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens
to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. (KJV) Demas had been one
of Paul’s co-workers (Col. 4:14; Philemon
1:24). He had deserted Paul because he loved
this world, loved worldly values and worldly
pleasures. Do you love what the world has
to offer . . . wealth, power, pleasure .
. . even if gaining it means hurting people
and neglecting the work God has given you
to do?
• Never
belonged to Christ to start with. 1 John 2:19 They went
out from us, but they were not of us; for
if they had been of us, they would no doubt
have continued with us: but they went out,
that they might be made manifest that they
were not all of us. (KJV) Some
people may call themselves Christians, but
that does not mean they are God’s
children. Going to church could be just a family tradition.
Maybe they like the social and business
contacts they make there. Or maybe going
to church is a habit. Unless going to church
is a Christ-centered reason, going to worship
Almighty God, you may as well stop going
for it is not doing you any good. Don’t
settle for less than the Best. You can become
personally acquainted with Jesus Christ
and become a loyal, trustworthy follower.
•
TRUE believers (saints) do not become apostates. Hebrews 6:9 But, beloved,
we are persuaded better things of you, and
things that accompany salvation, though
we thus speak. (KJV) Better
blessings belong to those who hang in there!
Hebbrews
10:39 But we are not of them
who draw back unto perdition; but of them
that believe to the saving of the soul. (KJV) TRUE believers
(Christians) are not people who turn back
and are lost. Instead, we have faith and
are saved.
•
It is impossible to restore apostates. Hebrews 6:4-6 For it
is impossible for those who were once enlightened,
and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and
were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, [5]
And have tasted the good word of God, and
the powers of the world to come, [6] If
they shall fall away, to renew them again
unto repentance; seeing they crucify to
themselves the Son of God afresh, and put
him to an open shame. (KJV) These
verses refer to professors (people who claim
to be Christians), NOT possessors (true born again believers) of
Christ! Those referred to here were enlightened
to salvation through Christ. They tasted
and they were convicted by the Holy Spirit,
but they fell away because they were never
saved in the first place. Hebrews
6:9 makes this clear. Hebrews 6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better
things of you, and things that accompany
salvation, though we thus speak. (KJV) IF a person
is TRULY saved, they may stray, they may
backslide, but they WILL come back to God.
No one who is TRULY saved can ever lose
their salvation (John
1:12-13; 10:27-29). Actually these verses
tell me that it is impossible for a saved
person to be lost. It is impossible
. . . . If they shall fall away, to renew
them again unto repentance. IF a person were saved, then could be lost,
it would be impossible for that person to
ever be saved again.
2
Peter 2:20-22 For if after
they have escaped the pollutions of the
world through the knowledge of the Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again
entangled therein, and overcome, the latter
end is worse with them than the beginning.
[21] For it had been better for them not
to have known the way of righteousness,
than, after they have known it, to turn
from the holy commandment delivered unto
them. [22] But it is happened unto them
according to the true proverb, The dog is
turned to his own vomit again; and the sow
that was washed to her wallowing in the
mire. (KJV) Peter
is NOT speaking of “born again” believers, but of a person who has learned
about Christ and how to be saved, and has
been influenced by Christians, but then
rejects the Truth and returns to his/her
sin. A person like this is worse off than
before, because he/she has rejected the
only way out of sin, and the only possible
Way of salvation. They are like a person
who can’t swim and are drowning in
the ocean, but refuses to grab the life
saving rope thrown to him/her. Anyone who
turns away from Christ throws away his/her
only means of escape.
Matthew
12:43-45 When the unclean
spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh
through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth
none. [44] Then he saith, I will return
into my house from whence I came out; and
when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept,
and garnished. [45] Then goeth he, and taketh
with himself seven other spirits more wicked
than himself, and they enter in and dwell
there: and the last state of that man is
worse than the first. Even so shall it be
also unto this wicked generation. [KJV] Jesus' Words. Jesus was describing
the attitude of Israel and the religious
leaders. To simply clean up one’s
life without filling it with God leaves
a lot of room for Satan to enter. Getting
rid of sin in our lives is the first step,
BUT, we must also take the second step:
filling our lives with God’s Word
and the Holy Spirit. Jesus was
illustrating our faulty human tendency .
. . our desire to reform often does not
last long. It is not enough to be emptied
of evil; we must then be filled with the
power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s
new purpose in our lives.
•
Guilt and punishment of apostasy. Zeph. 1:4-6 I will
also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and
upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and
I will cut off the remnant of Baal from
this place, and the name of the Chemarims
with the priests; [5] And them that worship
the host of heaven upon the housetops; and
them that worship and that swear by the
Lord, and that swear by Malcham; [6] And
them that are turned back from the Lord;
and those that have not sought the Lord,
nor enquired for him. (KJV) When
Israel arrived in the Promised Land, God
commanded that they completely rid the land
of its pagan inhabitants, who worshiped
idols. But Israel failed to do so, and slow
but sure, they began to worship the Canaanites’
gods. The Canaanites believed in many gods
that represented many aspects of life, and
the chief god was Baal, symbolizing strength
and fertility. God was extremely angry when
His people turned from Him to Baal. More
than just a statue, an idol can be anything
worshipped more than God. Idol worship is
common today, for people trust in themselves,
money, or power but not in God. But in the
end, all idols will prove worthless, and
the true God will prevail. Seek
God first (Mat.6:33), and
have no other gods before Him (Ex.20:3).
Israel worshipped the Lord God, PLUS all
the other gods of the land. They added the
“best” of pagan worship to true
faith in God. God commands that
He alone be worshiped (Ex.20:1-5);
so the people committed a horrible sin.
One of these other gods was Molech, the
national god of the Ammonites. Molech worship
included child sacrifice, an
abominable sin. From the time of Moses,
the Israelites had been warned about worshiping
this false god (Lev.18:21; 20:5), but they
refused to take heed. Because of their sins,
God would destroy them.
Hebrews
10:39 But we are not of them
who draw back unto perdition; but of them
that believe to the saving of the soul. (KJV) God never is
pleased with just an outward profession,
outward duties and outward services of those
who do not hang in there. He sees them with
great displeasure. But those who have been
faithful to Him, have reason to hope for
His grace to help them continue to live
by faith, till they receive His Promises,
salvation of their souls in Heaven with
Him. Living by faith, and dying in faith,
our souls are safe for ever.
2 Peter 2:17 These are wells without water,
clouds that are carried with a tempest;
to whom the mist of darkness is reserved
for ever. (KJV) The Word of Truth is the
Water of Life. It refreshes all souls that
receive it. But ALL deceivers (apostates,
false teachers) spread and promote error.
They are like wells without water! There
is no truth in them. As clouds obstruct
the sun light, so does the erroneous counsel
of false teachers for there is no truth
in their words. Christians should keep close
to the Word of God, and watch against all
who seek to confuse them. A state of apostasy
is worse than a state of ignorance. To speak
evil of the good way of God, and to charge
falsely against the ONLY Way of Truth, shall
bring heavy condemnation. Is your backsliding
a grief to you? Continuing on it shall bring
on the eternal agony of Hell. Turning back
to Jesus, and staying there, shall bring
eternal life in Heaven! Only Jesus can save
you!
• Cautions against
becoming an apostate. Heb.3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in
any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in
departing from the living God. (KJV) Our hearts turn away
from the living God (rebellion) when we
stubbornly refuse to believe Him. If we
persist in our unbelief, God will eventually
leave us alone in our sin (see Rom.1:26-27
on page 2). But God can give us new hearts,
new desires, and new spirits (Ezekiel 36:22-27).
To prevent having an unbelieving heart,
stay in fellowship with other believers,
talk daily about your mutual faith, be aware
of the deceitfulness of sin (it attracts
but also destroys), and encourage each other
with love and concern. 2 Peter 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved,
seeing ye know these things before, beware
lest ye also, being led away with the error
of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. (KJV) Beware my friends,
know this. Always be on guard so that you
will not be led away by the errors of wicked
people and fall from your safe position.
• Apostasy shall abound in the last
days. Mat.24:12 And because iniquity shall
abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
(KJV) False teaching and loose morals brings
a destructive disease . . . the loss of
true love for God and others. Sin cools
your love for God and others by turning
your focus on yourself and what the world
can offer you. You cannot truly love if
you think only of yourself. 2 Thes. 2:3 Let no man deceive you by
any means: for that day shall not come,
except there come a falling away first,
and that man of sin be revealed, the son
of perdition; (KJV) If
our faith is strong, we don’t need
to be afraid of what lies ahead, Antichrist
is no threat to us. God is in control, and
He will be victorious over the Antichrist.
Our job is to be prepared for Christ’s
return and to spread the Gospel so that
even more people will also be prepared. 1 Tim. 4:1-3 Now the Spirit speaketh
expressly, that in the latter times some
shall depart from the faith, giving heed
to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
[2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their
conscience seared with a hot iron; [3] Forbidding
to marry, and commanding to abstain from
meats, which God hath created to be received
with thanksgiving of them which believe
and know the truth. (KJV) It
is not enough for a teacher to appear to
know what he/she is talking about, is disciplined
and moral, or says that he/she is speaking
for God. If his/her words contradict the
Bible in ANY way, his/her teaching is false.
We must guard against any teaching that
causes believers to dilute or reject any
aspect of their faith. Much false teaching
can be very direct OR extremely subtle.
False teachers were/are hypocritical liars
who encouraged people to follow deceiving
spirits and things taught by demons. Satan
deceives people by offering a clever imitation
of the real thing. False teachers often
give strict rules (such as forbidding people
to marry or to eat certain foods). This
makes them appear self disciplined and righteous.
Strict disciplines for the body, however,
CANNOT remove ANY sin (Col. 2:20-23). We
must NOT be overly impressed by a teacher’s
style or credentials; we must look to his/her
teaching about Jesus Christ. What he/she
teaches about our Lord Jesus Christ reveals
the source of his/her message.
Other Scriptures relating to apostasy: Deut.32:15; 1 Chron.28:9; Isa.1:16; Isa.1:28-65; Jer.17:5-6; Eze.3:20; Eze.18:24; Eze.18:26; Eze.33:12-13; Eze.33:18; Mat.13:20-21; Mt.24:10,12; Mark 4:5-17; Luke 8:13; Lu.11:24-26; John 15:6; Acts 7:39-43; 1 Cor.9:27; Gal.5:4; 2 Thes.2:3; 2 Thes.2:11-12; 1 Tim.4:1-2; 2 Tim.3:1-9; 2 Tim.4:3-4,10; Heb.6:4-8; Heb.10:26-29; 2 Pet.2:1; 2 Pet.2:15,17; 2 Pet.2:20-22; 2 Pet.3:17; Jude 1:4-6
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