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Apostasy • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Apostasy, dealing with personal
Synopsis
Individual believers can fall away from faith and be restored. Scripture gives examples of such falling away, and offers advice on how such people should be dealt with pastorally.
Warnings of the dangers of personal apostasy
2 Co 11:2–3
2 Corinthians 11:2–3 (ISV) — 2 I am jealous of you with God’s own jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to the Messiah. 3 However, I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by its tricks, so your minds may somehow be lured away from sincere and pure devotion to the Messiah.
See also Ps 125:4–5; Lk 9:59–62; Ga 3:1–3; Ga 4:8–10 Those who return to strict observance of Jewish days and festivals have not understood the gospel.
Psalm 125:4–5 (ISV) — 4 Lord, do good to those who are good, and to those who are upright in heart. 5 But for those who choose their own devious paths, the Lord will lead them away, along with those who practice evil. Peace be upon Israel.
Luke 9:59–62 (ISV) — 59 He told another man, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 But he told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. But you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Still another man said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to those at home.” 62 Jesus told him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 3:1–3 (ISV) — 1 You foolish Galatians! Who put you under a spell? Was not Jesus the Messiah clearly portrayed before your very eyes as having been crucified? 2 I want to learn only one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the actions of the Law or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? Having started out with the Spirit, are you now ending up with the flesh?
Galatians 4:8–10 (ISV) — 8 However, in the past, when you did not know God, you were slaves to things that are not really gods at all. 9 But now that you know God, or rather have been known by God, how can you turn back again to those powerless and bankrupt basic principles? Why do you want to become their slaves all over again? 10 You are observing days, months, seasons, and years.
Warnings against leading others into apostasy
Mt 18:6
Matthew 18:6 (ISV) — 6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a large millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned at the bottom of the sea.
See also Pr 28:10; Ga 5:7–10
Proverbs 28:10 (ISV) — 10 Whoever misleads the upright along an evil way will himself fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good.
Galatians 5:7–10 (ISV) — 7 You were running the race beautifully. Who cut in on you and stopped you from obeying the truth? 8 Such influence does not come from the one who calls you. 9 A little yeast spreads through the whole batch of dough. 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view of this. However, the one who is troubling you will suffer God’s judgment, whoever he is.
Encouragements to guard against personal apostasy
1 Co 10:12–13; Heb 3:12–14
1 Corinthians 10:12–13 (ISV) — 12 Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing securely should watch out so he doesn’t fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it.
Hebrews 3:12–14 (ISV) — 12 See to it, my brothers, that no evil, unbelieving heart is found in any of you, as shown by your turning away from the living God. 13 Instead, continue to encourage one another every day, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin, 14 because we are the Messiah’s partners only if we hold on to our original confidence to the end.
See also Ps 85:8; Mt 24:10–13; Mt 24:24–25; Col 1:21–23; 1 Ti 6:20–21; Heb 10:35–39; Heb 12:1–8; 2 Pe 3:17–18; Re 13:5–10
Psalm 85:8 (ISV) — 8 Let me listen to what God, the Lord, says; for the Lord will promise peace to his people, to his holy ones; may they not return to foolishness.
Matthew 24:10–13 (ISV) — 10 Then many people will fall away, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people, 12 and because lawlessness will increase, the love of many people will grow cold. 13 But the person who endures to the end will be saved.
Matthew 24:24–25 (ISV) — 24 because false messiahs and false prophets will appear and display great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 Remember, I have told you this beforehand.
Colossians 1:21–23 (ISV) — 21 You who were once alienated with a hostile attitude, doing evil, 22 he has now reconciled by the death of his physical body, so that he may present you holy, blameless, and without fault before him. 23 However, you must remain firmly established and steadfast in the faith, without being moved from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
1 Timothy 6:20–21 (ISV) — 20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the pointless discussions and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge. 21 Although some claim to have it, they have abandoned the faith. May grace be with all of you!
Hebrews 10:35–39 (ISV) — 35 So don’t lose your confidence, since it holds a great reward for you. 36 For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will you can receive what he has promised. 37 For “in a very little while the one who is coming will return— he will not delay; 38 but my righteous one will live by faith, and if he turns back, my soul will take no pleasure in him.” 39 Now, we do not belong to those who turn back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
Hebrews 12:1–8 (ISV) — 1 Therefore, having so vast a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, and throwing off everything that hinders us and especially the sin that so easily entangles us, let us keep running with endurance the race set before us, 2 fixing our attention on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of the faith, who, in view of the joy set before him, endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Think about the one who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you may not become tired and give up. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 You have forgotten the encouragement that is addressed to you as sons: “My son, do not think lightly of the Lord’s discipline or give up when you are corrected by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he punishes every son he accepts.” 7 What you endure disciplines you: God is treating you as sons. Is there a son whom his father does not discipline? 8 Now if you are without any discipline, in which all sons share, then you are illegitimate and not God’s sons.
2 Peter 3:17–18 (ISV) — 17 And so, dear friends, since you already know these things, continually be on your guard not to be carried away by the deception of lawless people. Otherwise, you may fall from your secure position. 18 Instead, continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Messiah. Glory belongs to him both now and on that eternal day! Amen.
Revelation 13:5–10 (ISV) — 5 The beast was allowed to speak arrogant and blasphemous things, and it was given authority for 42 months. 6 It uttered blasphemies against God, against his name, and against his residence, that is, against those who are living in heaven. 7 It was allowed to wage war against the saints and to conquer them. It was also given authority over every tribe, people, languages, and nation. 8 All those living on earth will worship it, everyone whose name is not written in the Book of Life belonging to the lamb that was slaughtered from the foundation of the world. 9 Let everyone listen: 10 If anyone is to be taken captive, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with a sword, with a sword he will be killed. Here is a call for endurance and faith of the saints:
Dealing with apostate believers
Ga 6:1
Galatians 6:1 (ISV) — 1 Brothers, if a person is caught doing something wrong, those of you who are spiritual should restore that person gently. Watch out for yourself so that you are not tempted as well.
See also 1 Co 5:4–5; Jas 5:19–20; 1 Jn 5:16–17
1 Corinthians 5:4–5 (ISV) — 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are gathered together (and I am there in spirit), and the power of our Lord Jesus is there, too, 5 turn this man over to Satan for the destruction of his body, so that his spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord.
James 5:19–20 (ISV) — 19 My brothers, if one of you wanders away from the truth and somebody brings him back, 20 you may be sure that whoever brings a sinner back from his wrong path will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
1 John 5:16–17 (ISV) — 16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray that God would give him life. This applies to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not telling you to pray about that. 17 Every kind of wrongdoing is sin, yet there are sins that do not lead to death.
Examples of those who were restored from apostasy
Samson:
Jdg 16:20; Jdg 16:28–30
Judges 16:20 (ISV) — 20 When she cried out, “The Philistines are attacking you, Samson!” he woke from his sleep and told himself, “I’ll go out like I did at other times like this and shake myself free.” But he didn’t know that the Lord had abandoned him.
Judges 16:28–30 (ISV) — 28 Then Samson cried out to the Lord, “Lord God, please remember me. And please strengthen me this one time, God, so that I can repay the Philistines right now for my two eyes.” 29 Then Samson grabbed the two middle pillars upon which the house rested and braced himself against them with one pillar in his right hand and the other in his left. 30 Then Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” He strained with all his strength until the building collapsed on the officials and every person in it. As a result, the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed during his lifetime.
Ps 51:1–17 David
Psalm 51:1–17 (ISV) — 1 Have mercy, God, according to your gracious love, according to your unlimited compassion, erase my transgressions. 2 Wash me from my iniquity, cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgression; my sin remains continually before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done what was evil in your sight. As a result, you are just in your pronouncement and clear in your judgment. 5 Indeed, in iniquity I was brought forth; in sin my mother conceived me. 6 Indeed, you are pleased with truth in the inner person, and you will teach me wisdom in my innermost parts. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me know joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your countenance from my sins and erase the record of my iniquities. 10 God, create a pure heart in me, and renew a right attitude within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence; do not take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and let a willing attitude control me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors about your ways, and sinners will turn to you. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of shedding blood, God, God of my salvation. Then my tongue will sing about your righteousness. 15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 Indeed, you do not delight in sacrifices, or I would give them, nor do you desire burnt offerings. 17 True sacrifice to God is a broken spirit. A broken and chastened heart, God, you will not despise.
Peter:
Mt 26:74 for the account of Peter’s reinstatement see Jn 21:15-17
Matthew 26:74 (ISV) — 74 Then he began to curse violently. “I don’t know the man!” he swore solemnly. Just then a rooster crowed.
Ac 15:37–38 for evidence of John Mark’s recovery see 2Ti 4:11
Acts 15:37–38 (ISV) — 37 Barnabas wanted to take along John, who was called Mark, 38 but Paul did not think it was right to take along the man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and who had not gone with them into the work.
The punishment of apostates
Is 65:12–15; Eze 3:20; Eze 18:24–26; 2 Th 2:11–12; 2 Pe 2:17
Isaiah 65:12–15 (ISV) — 12 I’ll consign you to the sword, and all of you will bend down for the slaughter— because when I called, you didn’t answer, when I spoke, you didn’t listen; but you did what was evil in my sight, and chose what I took no pleasure in.” 13 Therefore, this is what the Lord says: “See, my servants will eat, but you’ll go hungry; my servants will drink, but you’ll go thirsty; my servants will rejoice, but you’ll be put to shame. 14 My servants will sing in gladness of heart, but you’ll cry for help from anguish of heart, and you’ll howl from brokenness of spirit. 15 You’ll leave your name to my chosen ones as a curse, and the Lord God will put you to death permanently.
Ezekiel 3:20 (ISV) — 20 “When a righteous man abandons his righteousness to practice unrighteousness, I’ll set a stumbling block before him. He’ll die. If you don’t warn him, he’ll die in his sin and the righteous deeds that he had practiced won’t be remembered, but you’ll be held responsible for his death.
Ezekiel 18:24–26 (ISV) — 24 But when the righteous person abandons his righteous deeds and commits evil, detestable practices, as wicked people do, he won’t live, will he? None of the righteous acts that he had done will be remembered. He’ll die in his treacherous unfaithfulness and sins that he had committed.” 25 “Yet you keep saying, ‘The Lord isn’t being consistent with his standards.’ Pay attention, you house of Israel: Is my behavior really inconsistent with my standards? Isn’t it your behavior that isn’t just? 26 “When a righteous person turns from his righteous deeds and does evil, he’ll die because of that evil. He’ll die because of his unrighteous acts that he committed.
2 Thessalonians 2:11–12 (ISV) — 11 For this reason, God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie. 12 Then all who have not believed the truth but have taken pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.
2 Peter 2:17 (ISV) — 17 These men are dried-up springs, mere clouds driven by a storm. Gloomy darkness is reserved for them.
Punishment through misfortune
Dt 28:63; Am 2:4–6
Deuteronomy 28:63 (ISV) — 63 Just as the Lord delighted to prosper and increase you, so now the Lord will delight to destroy, exterminate, and banish you from the land that you are about to enter to possess.”
Amos 2:4–6 (ISV) — 4 This is what the Lord says: “For three transgressions of Judah —and now for a fourth— I will not turn away; because they rejected the Law of the Lord and did not keep his statutes. Their own lies made them wander off, following along the same path their ancestors walked. 5 So I will send down fire upon Judah, and it will devour the fortified citadels of Jerusalem.” 6 This is what the Lord says: “For three transgressions of Israel —and now for a fourth— I will not turn away; because they sold the righteous for money, and the poor for sandals,
Punishment through defeat
Nu 14:43; Jdg 2:12–15
Numbers 14:43 (ISV) — 43 The Amalekites and Canaanites are there waiting for you. You’ll die violently, since you’ve turned your back and have stopped following the Lord. The Lord won’t be with you.”
Judges 2:12–15 (ISV) — 12 They abandoned the Lord God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who surrounded them. They bowed down in worship of them, and by doing so angered the Lord. 13 As a result, they abandoned the Lord by serving both Baal and Ashtaroth. 14 So in his burning anger against Israel, the Lord gave them into the domination of marauders who plundered them. The enemies who surrounded the Israelis controlled them, and they were no longer able to withstand their adversaries. 15 Wherever they went, the Lord worked against them to bring misfortune, just as the Lord had warned, and just as the Lord had promised them. As a result, they suffered greatly.
Punishment through rejection
2 Ch 24:20; Ho 4:6
2 Chronicles 24:20 (ISV) — 20 Then Jehoiada the priest’s son Zechariah was clothed by the Spirit of God, and he stood above the people and told them, “This is what God has to say: ‘Why are you breaking the Lord’s commandments. You’ll never be successful! Because you have abandoned the Lord, he has abandoned you.’ ”
Hosea 4:6 (ISV) — 6 My people are destroyed because they lack knowledge of me. Because you rejected that knowledge, I will reject you as a priest for me. Since you forget the Law of your God, I will also forget your children.