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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
Apostasy, from the Greek word apostasia, means "a defiance of an established system or authority; a rebellion; an abandonment or breach of faith." In the first-century world, apostasy was a technic...
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James Kraft
Supporter
There are many forms of apostasy. One of the problems is that we take things out of context to prove what we already know is wrong. The whole bible is for us, but not all to us. We are not old testament saints. And we are not tribulation saints. We are the church, the body of Christ. We are saved by grace, not by works. We have to know the truth to keep from error. The virgin birth of Christ is not negotiable. That Jesus is God in the flesh. That Jesus lived a sinless life. That He paid for the sins of the whole world. First John 2:2. That He wills that all men believe and be saved. First Timothy 2:4. That salvation/eternal life, is a free gift from God by just believing on His name. John 1:12. John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me HATH EVERLASTING LIFE. We have to be very careful to read in the bible what is being said. People are deceived from a lack of knowledge. We compare scripture with scripture. The bible says, by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. That is a central truth of the New Testament. Romans 3:23 All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. All. Romans 3:10 There is none righteous, no not one. Jesus came to save sinners through the gospel. First Corinthians 15:1-4 That Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures. That He was buried and rose again on the third day, according to the scriptures. Galatians 1:7-9 Though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel than that which we have preached unto you, let them be accursed. As we said before, so say I again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let them be accursed. Salvation has to be all grace and not works. It has to be a free GIFT. It can not be earned. And it has to be received by believing that is true. Romans 11:6 and Romans 4:5. Those that are trusting in what they do to save themselves, have not done the will of God. John 6:40 Apostates always deviate from Scriptural truth in some way. Usually because they have not believed the truth, and do not have the Holy Spirit in them to discern scripture through the leading of the Holy Spirit. First Corinthians 2:14. Can a born again person go into apostasy and still be saved? Yes. But a person who believes the lie from the beginning is not saved. There are some truths in the bible we can not compromise. John 3:18 Believers are not condemned, but unbelievers are condemned already because they have not believed on the name of the Son of God. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, that WHOSOEVER, BELIEVETH in Him, should not perish, but HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. Jesus said it, I believe it, and that settles it. Because He paid our sin debt in full and sealed us with the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption the day we believed. Ephesians 1:13-14 and Ephesians 4:30.
Donna Williams
Supporter
I would like to share this thought; according to Scripture this is an issue that every believer must take heed to. Hebrews 3:12: "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." The root cause of apostasy is unbelief, and this is the sin that was committed by many of the children of Israel that prevented them from entering into the Promised Land. I believe this is the reason why the Holy Spirit warns us to listen to His voice, and not to harden our hearts, because of the deceitfulness of sin. As believers we have to continue in the faith, in order to inherit all that God has promised. Apostasy is one of the signs of the coming of the Lord. That is why it imperative that we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us into all truth, and not lean to our own understanding or interpretation of scripture. We are all subject to fall into error if we do not follow our Teacher, who is the Spirit of Truth!
Jeffrey Johnson
Supporter
What is apostasy, and how can I recognise it? The Hebrew noun cha·nephʹ is used, meaning "[one] alienated from God," that is, an apostate. The related verb cha·nephʹ means "be inclined away from the right relation to God," or "pollute, lead to apostasy."—Lexicon in Veteris Testamenti Libros, by L. Koehler and W. Baumgartner, Leiden, 1958, p. 317. Apostasy is the abandonment or renunciation of a religious faith, particularly a Christian one. You can recognise it by a person's conscious and willful rejection of core beliefs and doctrines, such as rejecting Christ, departing from the community of believers, and turning away from the faith they once held. 1: The term comes from a Greek word for "rebellion" or "abandonment" and signifies a defiant break from religious authority and principles. 2: It is a conscious and willful departure from one's religious beliefs, often described as "deconversion" or "falling away" from the faith. 3: This includes renouncing central tenets and doctrines that the individual or a group once embraced. 4: A key sign is the conscious rejection of Jesus Christ, even if a person has had spiritual experiences. 5: Apostasy is taking a stand against the truth of the Bible. What characteristics identify apostates as distinct from true Christians? An apostasy among professed Christians was foretold by the apostle Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. He specifically mentioned certain apostates, including Hymenaeus, Alexander, and Philetus. (1Ti 1:19, 20; 2Ti 2:16-19) Among the varied causes of apostasy outlined in apostolic warnings were: lack of faith (Heb 3:12), lack of endurance in the face of persecution (Heb 10:32-39), abandonment of proper moral standards (2 Pe 2:15-22), the heeding of the "counterfeit words" of false teachers and "misleading inspired utterances" (2 Pe 2:1-3; 1Ti 4:1-3; 2Ti 2:16-19; compare Pr 11:9), and trying "to be declared righteous by means of law" (Ga 5:2-4). Some identifying marks of apostates— They seek to make others their followers, thus causing sectarian divisions. Acts 20:30: "From among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves." 2 Pet. 2:1, 3: "There will also be false teachers among you. These very ones will quietly bring in destructive sects and will disown even the owner who bought them... Also, with covetousness, they will exploit you with counterfeit words." An apostate from Christianity during the first century, Hymenaeus was identified by Paul as a blasphemer, full of "empty speeches that violate what is holy." In his deviation from the truth, Hymenaeus, along with a certain Philetus, taught false doctrine, subverting the faith of some. Among the varied causes of apostasy outlined in apostolic warnings were: lack of faith (Heb 3:12), lack of endurance in the face of persecution (Heb 10:32-39), abandonment of proper moral standards (2 Pe 2:15-22), the heeding of the "counterfeit words" of false teachers and "misleading inspired utterances" (2 Pe 2:1-3; 1Ti 4:1-3; 2Ti 2:16-19; compare Pr 11:9), and trying "to be declared righteous by means of law" (Ga 5:2-4). How serious is apostasy? 2 Pet. 2:1: "These very ones will quietly bring in destructive sects and will disown even the owner that bought them, bringing speedy destruction upon themselves." Job 13:16: "Before him [God] no apostate will come in." Heb. 6:4-6: "It is impossible as regards those who have once for all been enlightened, and who have tasted the heavenly gift, and who have become partakers of holy spirit, and who have tasted the fine word of God and powers of the coming system of things, but who have fallen away ["if they then commit apostasy," RS], to revive them again to repentance, because they impale the Son of God afresh for themselves and expose him to public shame."
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