Apostasy: The Sin Of Judas And It’s Reality Today Series

Has anyone ever betrayed you? Walked away? Abandoned you? If so, you might understand the word that leaps off the pages of scripture today. The word is: Apostasy.

In Matthew 24: 10-12 Jesus told us that it is what we should expect to as the world moves into its final chapters. He said: “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people/. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.”

The word “apostasy” in the Bible is the Greek word “apistasia” which means: “Falling away, to leave or depart, forsake, rebellion, defection, desertion, or to abandon.”

In the Bible there are examples in the Old and New Testament of people who committed the sin of apostasy. As a matter of fact:

1. Saul was an apostate- God said to Samuel of him: “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he

has turned back from following Me, and has not carried out My commands.” I Samuel 15:11

2. Another King named Amaziah was an apostate- God said of him: “...Amaziah turned back

from following the Lord....” 2 Chronicles 25: 14-15

3. In the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy we read of a group of men who were apostate-

Some worthless men have gone out from among you and have seduced the inhabitants of their

city...” Deuteronomy 13:13

Yet, the most famous apostate was Judas who was called to be an “apostle” but instead became an apostate, walking away and betraying Jesus---becoming even today the most famous betrayer and defector of all time.

The Bible makes it clear that these people were never truly “saved” or “part of God’s family” in the first place.

I John 2:19 tells us: “They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us.”

Furthermore, Jesus told the story of them calling them “tares” instead of “wheat.” In contrast, tares are sown in the wheat fields. They appear to be wheat but they bear no fruit; and in the end, God separates them from the wheat because they are actually tares that appear to be wheat but are not.

The Book Hebrews carries five major warnings and this section of scripture serves as a warning to people who are apostate.

It is warning that is especially relevant today as God warns that this sin will be on the rise as the earths chapters and times are moving toward the final hours.

2 Thessalonians cautions saying “for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first” - in other words, the rejection of Jesus will precede the arrival of Jesus and His Second coming. (2 Thessalonians 2:3)

Transitional Sentence: How do we avoid apostasy in the last days? In these days we need to take:

I. A Close Look Inside

Vs. 26-27- “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there remains no longer a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a faire which will consume the adversaries.”

Explanation:

1 Thessalonians 5:21 instructs us to, "Examine everything and hold fast to that which is good.”

When it comes to apostasy, we must all begin with ourselves. We must examine, look inside, and scrutinize ourselves to see if we are genuinely followers of Jesus Christ.

This is not an abnormal command in scripture. 2 Corinthians 13: 5 says: “ Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test”

This passage in Hebrews is like a test. It causes us to question ourselves and see where we stand with Jesus. The last days are described as a time of deception. Therefore, he launches the first examination question with a statement.

He says: “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins but a terrifying expectation of judgment...” vs. 26-27a

Just like Judas, it’s easy to hang around Jesus and deceive ourselves into thinking that we are truly children of God. Judas saw the miracles of Jesus, he served on the finance committee, He was the treasurer. It appeared that he was the most trustable of the disciples; yet in the end, it was proven that he was an apostate.

Do you know why God wants us to “test ourselves?” Not to cause us to doubt; but just the opposite; so that we might live in confidence-- knowing 100% that our faith in Jesus is authentic.