A Few Thoughts about Steps into Apostasy Part A

 

The steps into apostasy

B1 Loss of first love

B2 Loss of prayer and fellowship with God

B3 Loss of truth

B4 Loss of correct interpretation

B5 Loss of creation

B6 Loss of doctrine.

B7 Loss of what’s authority

B8 Loss of Christian witness

B9 Loss of Christian worldview

B10 Loss of Christian lifestyle

B11 Loss of Christianity

B1 Loss of first love

C1 Revelation 2:4 WEL Nevertheless, I have [something] against you, because you have forsaken your first love.

D1 Why love?

E1 Considering that love is a choice. It seems that they loved something or someone else supremely.

E2 Exodus 20:3 NLT You must not have any other god but me.

E3 Matthew 6:33 EMTV But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

E4 John 14:15 WEL If you love me, obey my commandments.

D2 The Ephesians, as well as all of us sometimes, started to desire other things, justify it somehow, and eventually fulfill their desire.

E1 1 John 2:16-17 NIV For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

E2 James 1:14-15 GW Everyone is tempted by his own desires as they lure him away and trap him. 15 Then desire becomes pregnant and gives birth to sin. When sin grows up, it gives birth to death.

D3 The solution

E1 To know the truth, believe the truth, and live the truth. John 8:32 NIV Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

E2 To rely on the grace of God. Jude 1:24-25 NKJV Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, 25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

E3 The Lord. 2 Peter 2:9 EMTV then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and how to keep the unjust under punishment for the Day of Judgment,

E4 Praying to recognize the way out of temptation. 1 Corinthians 10:13 EMTV No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not permit you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation, He will also provide the way out, so as for you to be able to bear it.

B2 Loss of prayer and fellowship with God

C1 Fellowship is something God enjoys. Fellowship with God, talking to God, enjoying God’s blessings, and serving God diminish. The loss comes from enjoying spending time with other things and having no time for fellowship with God.

D1 1 John 1:3 ESV that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

D2 Micah 6:8 NIV He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

C2 Prayer is talking with God. We don’t use trite phrases, memorized words, manipulation, etc. The loss is no time to talk to God.

D1 Consider this application: Revelation 3:20 NIV Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

D2 Proverbs 15:8 NRSV The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

D3 Matthew 6:7-8 GNB When you pray, do not use a lot of meaningless words, as the pagans do, who think that their gods will hear them because their prayers are long. 8 Do not be like them. Your Father already knows what you need before you ask him.

B3 Loss of truth

C1 Replacing truth with a substitute of truth.

C2 2 Timothy 4:2-4 NLT Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. 3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

C3 God never changes. So, His truth never changes. Malachi 3:6 NLT I am the LORD, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed.

C4 Loss or changing of THE standard.

D1 God’s character never changes. If it did, then we have the problem with God’s perfection. If there is a defect in God’s character, then He cannot be perfect/flawless in what He does and decrees. There would be a defect. BUT, God has no needs, no defects, nothing missing from His knowledge. So, His standards cannot change.

D2 We must ask, “What is His purpose for the Old Testament Laws?”

E1 The Mosaic Law is a covenant with an earthly nation and people. If they do His laws, He blesses. If they do not His laws, He curses. Deuteronomy 11:26-28 NRSV See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: 27 the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you today; 28 and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn from the way that I am commanding you today, to follow other gods that you have not known.

E2 God’s purpose for the law, I believe, is to show that no one can obey His laws in thoughts or desires or words or deeds. All are condemned. God’s purpose did not lack anything.

E3 His purpose was completed in Jesus, who did obey God’s law in His thoughts and desires and words and deeds.

E4 Since God’s purpose was fulfilled, Jesus revealed the true way and true laws. Compare Galatians 3

C The solution might be

D1 Faith that since God does not change, His standards do not change either.

D2 Understanding the difference between the two worldviews taught in the Bible. They are the “flesh/world” worldview and the “spirit” worldview. Compare Galatians 5:16-26, 1 John 2:16, and Romans 8.

B4 Loss of correct Bible interpretation

C1 There are many methods of interpretation. Some examples are allegorical, symbolic, mystical, and spiritual.

C2 Losing Bible reading and study to reading mainly commentaries and articles.

C3 Many arguments for these other methods of interpretation are given, books written, and lectures orated to convince us to adopt a different method of interpretation.

C4 To me, it is most reasonable to interpret the Bible in its plain, normal sense. Since God is omniscient, omnisapient, and omnipotent, He certainly must be perfect in His communication. The plain, normal sense in His intended method of interpretation. If He wishes to communication symbolism, it is obvious.