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Steps To Apostasy. 2 Timothy 4:3-4. Apostasy is Real. What is it? A-po-sta-sia “Falling away, forsake” (Strong’s) “A defection, revolt, apostasy” (Vine’s) Fall away from the faith (1 Tim. 4:1) Gone astray from the faith (1 Tim. 6:21).
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Steps To Apostasy 2 Timothy 4:3-4
Apostasy is Real • What is it? • A-po-sta-sia • “Falling away, forsake” (Strong’s) • “A defection, revolt, apostasy” (Vine’s) • Fall away from the faith (1 Tim. 4:1) • Gone astray from the faith (1 Tim. 6:21). • Preached against in Acts 20:29ff, Gal. 1:6ff, Col. 2:18ff, Tit. 1:9, 10.
Apostasy is Real • Therefore God is diligent to prepare us to fight against such error. • 2 Cor. 10:4-5: Spiritual weapons of warfare (word, faith, etc.) for casting down arguments. • 2 Tim. 4:3-4: He shows us the pattern of apostasy and means to overcome it.
The Pattern of Apostasy2 Timothy 4:3-4 Falling away 2 Thess. 2:3 Not Endure Sound Doctrine Heap up for themselves teachers Turn away from truth. Turn aside to fables.
God’s Solution • “Put on armor of God” (Eph. 6:13ff). • “Preach the word” (2 Tim. 4:2). • “Watch, endure, do the work” (2 Tim. 4:5). • “Contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 3). • “Be vigilant, resist, steadfast in faith” (2 Pet. 5:8-9). • “Fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim. 6:12). Not “Unity in Diversity.” Not “tolerance.” Not “many roads to the same place.”
Conclusion • God does not say these things because He is cruel or “legalistic.” • There is only one faith (because there only one Lord and Jesus only established one gospel) (Eph. 4:4-6). • Men sinned in the first place because we turned away from God’s truth. • Now we can have salvation in Christ, but if we choose to go into apostasy again, Christ’s sacrifice will not save us (Heb. 10:26).
Conclusion • Error is in the world and it is a serious problem. • We need to take this seriously and strive to “preach the word” and “endure sound doctrine” so that we may be found faithful when the Lord comes. • Are you willing?