Apostasy

What is Apostasy?

The Webster’s dictionary of 1828 defines Apostasy as, “An abandonment of what one has professed; a total desertion, or departure from one's faith or religion.” Does the Bible teach apostasy? A description of apostasy is given us by the apostle John, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.” (1Jn.2:19). John is referring to those who were professing believers but who demonstrated that they did not truly believe by later abandoning the faith of Christ Jesus the Lord. Therefore apostasy, as taught in the Scriptures, does not refer to believers who have been given life by the Spirit in Jesus Christ, who at some point fall away.

The Bible is clear in warning the church in regard to apostasy. Paul’s letters to the churches are full of such warnings. These warnings come in the context of encouragement and exhortation to persevere by faith in the demonstration of a life bearing fruit. In his letter to the Ephesians he commands them to put off the old life in the futility of sin and to put on the new self in Christ Jesus (Eph.4:17-25). It is not enough that they have professed faith in Christ they must live in him bearing fruit in a persevering faith. In his letter to the Colossians he tells them that just as they received Christ Jesus the Lord they are to walk or live in him. They received him by his grace through faith and so they are to continue to live in God’s persevering grace toward them being rooted, built up and established in it through the instrument of faith (Col.2:6, 7). The Bible teaches that it is those who endure through grace by faith bearing fruit for his glory endure for salvation.

Therefore we must warn those in the church against apostasy. We need to urge one another on in faith through the grace of God given in union with Christ by the Spirit. The writer of Hebrews urges us in this way, “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.” (3:12)

The Bible does teach apostasy but not by true believers. Some hold that Hebrews 6:4-6 is a description of true believers becoming apostate beyond reclamation and losing their salvation. In this text the writer of Hebrews is in the context of explaining Psalm 95 which tells of Israel in the Exodus generation who fell away from the living God in unbelief and disobedience and did not enter the land of promise. They were members of Israel, but not true Israel, not true believers. They had seen the light, eaten the bread of heaven, shared in the work of the Spirit hearing the Word of God, and been delivered from the destruction of the present age. However they were not true believers. The evidence was in their hardness of heart and unbelief. The same is possible today in the church. Therefore we are called to make our calling and election sure (2Pe.1:10-11), to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil.2:12), that we may enter through the narrow gate of faith in Christ, knowing that he who began the work in you by grace will bring it to completion in you by hisgrace (Phil.1:6).

Apostasy is taught in the Bible and we must think clearly about it for our own and others edification, encouragement and perseverance. I close with these important words from A.W. Pink in regard to apostasy and perseverance, “It needs to be remembered that all who had professed to receive the Gospel were not born of God: the parable of the Sower shows that. Intelligence might be informed, conscience searched, natural affections stirred, and yet there be "no root" in them. All is not gold that glitters. There has always been a "mixt multitude" (Ex. 12:38) who accompany the people of God. Moreover, there is in the real Christian the old heart, which is "deceitful above all things and desperately wicked", and therefore is he in constant need of faithful warning…Finally, let it be said that while Scripture speaks plainly and positively of the perseverance of the saints, yet it is a perseverance of saints, not unregenerate professors. Divine preservation is not only in a safe state, but also in a holy course of disposition and conduct. We are "kept by the power of God through faith". We are kept by the Spirit working in us a spirit of entire dependency, renouncing our own wisdom and strength. The only place from which we cannot fall is one down in the dust. It is there the Lord brings His own people, weaning them from all confidence in the flesh, and giving them to experience that it is when they are weak they are strong. Such, and such only, are saved and safe forever.”