Can A Christian Walk Away From Their Salvation Part 2 Series

Can A Christian Walk Away From Their Salvation

Part 2

Scripture: First Peter 5:2-4; Matthew 24:3-5; First Timothy 4:1-2

I closed the message last week with a brief definition of apostasy and it was my intention to delve a little deeper into the subject this morning. But Sunday afternoon and most of the day Monday, I kept thinking about a couple of phrases that would not leave my mind and in doing so I believe I need to address them before I can continue with this series. I truly want to ensure that I am being obedient to the Spirit so please bear with me this morning.

You have all heard me say that God holds me accountable for what I teach to you. I want to read to you what was written in Ezekiel chapter thirty-three and the first seven verses. It says, “Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, ‘Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say unto them,’ ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man from their territory, and set him for their watchman: if when he sees the sword come upon the land, he blows the trumpet, and warns the people, then whosoever hears the sound of the trumpet, and takes not warning; if the sword comes, and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that takes warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman sees the sword come, and blows not the trumpet, and the people are not warned; if the sword comes, and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. So you, O son of man, I have set you a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.’” (Ezekiel 33:1-7) These verses sum up one central thought: the man or woman of God is a watchman. It is our job to hear from God and warn (teach) the people. If we warn the people and the people do not heed the warning and continue in their ways, then it’s on the people. However, if God gives a warning and the man or woman of God fail to warn the people then God holds them accountable for the people who perish in sin. This idea of responsibility and accountability is also captured when God speaks of the pastors being shepherds of the flock.

Turn with me to 1 Peter 5 and we’re going to read verses two through four. It reads, “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” (1 Peter 5:2-4) I want to point out some things in this passage because they will help you understand, in addition to what I read from the book of Ezekiel, why I must occasionally teach about difficult things as a warning to you while understanding that some people will often disagree with me.

New Light, you are God’s flock, not mine. For everyone else listening to me this morning, whatever Church you attend, you are a part of God’s flock, not your pastor’s! The Church body belongs to God and the pastors are just the overseer taking care of God’s flock. So for each of you, New Light, as long as you consider yourselves members of this Church, God has entrusted you to me. Just as a shepherd watches over, feeds and cares for their sheep, my role as your shepherd/watchman is to feed you what the Lord feeds me for you while watching over you to make sure you’re not straying. That’s my job! And do you see the word “overseers”? An overseer is the person God holds responsible for protecting his flock against the wrong doctrine that is taught in the body of Christ. I take that responsibility very seriously. I only teach what the Chief Shepherd wants me to teach, but I don’t have the right to force it upon you. That’s what “nor as being lords over them” means. Now, for me, here is the most important part of the passage – “but being examples to the flock.” How am I supposed to be an example? By living out what I teach to you as evident in the things I do. What comes out of my mouth should be exemplified by how I live. What I say and do as your pastor, shepherd, and your watchman, you can rest assured that I am following what I truly believe are the instructions of the Chief Shepherd. And He holds me responsible for every word I preach and for how I live my life because I am representing Him. So, trust me when I say New Light, I am going to give you what the Lord has given to me. I wanted to share this with you because, as I said at the close of my message last week, what I am presenting is going to be a struggle for some and that’s okay. But don’t let your struggle stop you for searching the scriptures for yourself like the believers in Berea who “received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things be so.” (Acts 17:11)