Apostacy

Apostasy: (Webster) - The abandoning of what one

believed in, as a faith, political party, principles, etc..

A. If I were to address a large group of Christians

and asked if any of those present were in the

grips of apostasy...none would answer.

1. I should then be able to draw the conclusion

that nobody has slipped backwards...that

everyone’s walk is as strong as it has ever

been.

a. As a matter of fact...by all rights, the

longer one has been a Christian, the

stronger he/she should be...RIGHT?

You know, as well as I do that this is not always the way

things work.

A. Just because nobody will admit to apostasy, does

not mean that Christians, of today do not fall into

this sin.

1. What this does mean is that the sin of

apostasy is very hard to see in ones-self.

Let us take a look at the problem of apostasy from three

different approaches.

A. First...we want to see if there are any identifying

signs of apostasy.

1. We want to see what those marks are and how

we can recognize them in ourselves.

B. Next...we need to understand the dangers...the

consequences of apostasy.

C. Finally...we need to know just how to correct

this situation, as it arises in our lives.

I. The warning signs.

II Peter 3:17 - 17You therefore, beloved, since you know

this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own

steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked.

A. Warning sign number one...a change of heart and

a bad attitude toward the things of God.

Jer. 17:5 - 5Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who

trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart

departs from the Lord.

1. This is a shift away from the spiritual and

catering to the pleasures of this life.

a. We remember that when we were

converted, there was an emphasis that

we learned...and that emphasis was just

the opposite of what I just stated.

1.) We learn that we need to

crucify...put to death the deeds of

the flesh and embrace the things of

the Spirit.

Gal. 5:24-25 - 24And those who are Christ’s have

crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we

live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Rom. 8:1-9 - There is therefore now no condemnation to

those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according

to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2For the law of the

Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law

of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do in that it

was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own

Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He

condemned sin in the flesh, 4that the righteous requirement

of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk

according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For

those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the

things of the flesh, but those who live according to the

Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded

is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is

not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8So then,

those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9But you are

not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God

dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of

Christ, he is not His.

** In short...one major warning sign is when we place

more importance in the flesh...in the pleasures of this

world...in doing our thing............INSTEAD OF

SEEKING OUT THE SPIRITUAL...THE THINGS

OF GOD, AND HIS WILL.

B. Another warning sign is if more than one person

tries to point out the same spiritual flaw.

1. One concerned Christian should be enough

to get our attention, but certainly we should

sit up and take notice when several Christians

try to call our attention to the same problem.

II Tim. 4:3-4 - 3For the time will come when they will not

endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires,

because they have itching ears, they will heap up for

themselves teachers; 4and they will turn their ears away

from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

Prov. 12:15 - 15 The way of a fool is right in his own

eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.

C. Warning sign, number three is our conscience.

1. When we feel as though something has gone

wrong with our spiritual life...it is probably]

our conscience warning us.

a. Especially is this true and an indicator of