Answers for Apostacy

Answers for Apostasy.

II Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

What is an apostate? What are their characteristics and attributes? How can we identify them? An apostate is more than just a sinful person. They are more than just a heretic. This is a very special type of sinner. The are reprobate from the faith. They have closed the door to salvation forever. They are committed to sin and committed to turning others that same way as well.

I. Apostate II Timothy 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

These are the characteristics of the Apostate.

A. Hypocrite (They have a form of Godliness, but there is no reality to it. There is no power behind it.)

B. Hedonistic ( They are committed to sensual and sexual sins. The apostate is a sensualist, libertine, profligate, pleasure-lover.)

C. High Minded (ever learning) They always know better than everyone else. No one can teach them anything. Yet they do not really care about the truth. They prefer to show how much they know, even if they do not believe it themselves. They can tell you everything about the Bible, but the Bible makes no difference in their life.

D. Hell Bound II Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all [men], as theirs also was.

They are on their way to Hell. They resist God. So, God will resist them.

II. Apologist II Timothy 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of [them] all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

The Apologist is the righteous spiritual warrior that fights against the false doctrine that we are awash in. He explains the Bible to millions in a way that is balanced, logical, and Spirit filled. He shows the Apostate to be the fool that he is, not with insult and mockery as much as a skillful handling of reason and the Scripture.

A. Pure Doctrine He must understand what pure doctrine and the truth of God's Word is.

B. Persecution and Deliverance While the apologist will be persecuted some times, God will deliver him. Sometimes God will use miraculous means to rescue the apologist. But sometimes the apologist will stand up to the mockery of the malicious and will take the persecution for the purpose of showing the disbelieving world that there is a God that is worth believing in.

C. Perversion of the Damned (understand that the righteous will be more righteous and the wicked will get more wicked) Daniel 12:8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what [shall be] the end of these [things]? 9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words [are] closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

Some people have a defeatist attitude that acts like Christians should just go and hide themselves away from the "bad, bad world." Well the world is bad and is going to get worse. But the Righteous should not be hiding. We need to charge the gates of hell and rescue those led by their lust and sin to destruction. The wicked will become more and more wicked. But the Righteous will be more righteous.

III. Answer II Timothy 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned [them]; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

These are the things that we are going to need to stand up and answer the charge of God's Word, and the challenge of facing the World. We need.

A. Continuing Steadfastness. We need to get up and go for God. Stop giving up at the slightest bit of hardship. It's time to do what we say we believe.

B. Childhood Salvation We need to get our children to Jesus. "Suffer the children. . ."

C. Complete Study II Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

We need to study the complete Word, not just the New Testament, not just our favorites, the whole thing. We need to be ready with an answer for those that ask a reason for the hope that lies within us.

By Pastor Grosjean 11-14-09