Individual Apostasy

Scripture Reference: Hebrews 6:4-8

?For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, [5] and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, [6] and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame. [7] For ground that drinks the rain which often falls upon it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; [8] but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.?

Tons of debate and theological differences?

-Literal to how it is written?

-Figurative, and God didn?t mean it that way?

-Paul didn?t know what he was saying?added to

this?

-Isn?t even intended to be in the Bible and it is down-right wrong?

Hopefully we will be able to draw some kind of conclusion from this tonight?

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Let?s begin by looking at the words?

The Greek Words for ?apostasy? [abandonment, desertion, or a forsaking of one?s principles] only appear twice in the NT?

-These are in the NOUN form of the word?

Acts 21:21, ??and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.?

2 Thes. 2:3, ?Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the (a) apostasy [rebellion or falling away] comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.?

(a) - 1 Tim. 4:1, ?But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons??

Then?here in Hebrews 3:12?it appears as a VERB?

Hebrews 3:12, ?Take care, brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God.?

-It is often translated simply?departing or turning away?as well.

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This Greek word literally means??Standing Away??from God.

-It refers to abandoning what one has previously believed and experienced in Christ.

-It involves the disowning of Christ and a departure from the Body of Christ and the Christian Faith.

à Meaning that apostasy is the CONSEQUENCE of a DELIBERATE (knew what you were doing, and did it intentionally) and VOLITIONAL (not forced or coerced to, but did by your own free choice) choice to ?depart fro the living God?.

à So then, if you are ever wondering if you no longer in ?the fold??according to this definition?it would lead us to believe that this should not be a concern, since the ones falling away are the ones who have DELIBERATELY and VOLITIONALLY chosen to abandon the faith.

à However, if you do have these questions?I do want to say this?

-You might be feeling this way for a number of reasons?one of which is a while of living in sin, or being unrepentant.

-Therefore?REPENT and SIN NO MORE!

-Walk with ?the fold??after all, Jesus did leave the 99 to find the 1 who wanders off?and we occasionally do that, and must be taught about how to stay with the Body once again.

Groundwork that we must understand?

1) In order for one to be involved in apostasy?they must have first been one who HAS experienced the blood of Christ in regeneration?and sanctification. They must have been renewed through the Holy Spirit?s work, and had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

a. There MUST be a relationship with God that is cultivated and maintained!

b. Illustration is found in John 15:1-8

i. The believer is the branch that remains in relationship with Christ, the vine, and is secure and has life in Christ!

ii. However, should a believer become hardened in his heart towards God, and chooses to break their relationship of grace and union with Christ?they will be broken off and burned the Bible tells us.

2) Therefore, the Bible gives many URGENT warnings concerning this grave possibility of ?falling away?.

a. Thus, trying to motivate us to persevere in faith and obedience.

b. These warnings are not figurative, but they are alarming to the fact that apostasy is a REAL and EVIDENT possibility in our lives.

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Steps that lead to apostasy?

1) A believer, through unbelief, fails to take the truths, exhortations, warnings, promises, and teachings of God?s Word to heart with the utmost of seriousness?

Luke 8:13, ?And those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.?