APOSTASY, FALLING AWAY (1)
1. Bible Study
a) The Bible tells the story of how God — Father, Son and Holy Spirit — loves us and wants us to love Him, despite our brokenness and tendency to go our own way (Isaiah 53:6). This relationship is the “main thing” about the Bible and it’s the “main thing” to keep focused on.
b) God's Word is fully sufficient to prepare us for everything the Bible commands us to do. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to transform us into Christ-likeness.
c) We study to understand God's character and attributes. Study the Bible anytime, anywhere. Each topic is ideal for personal learning but may also be adapted for a group as well.
2. Apostasy, Falling Away
a) Christians must take heed lest they fall.
i) 1 Corinthians 10:12
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
b) Christians must take care that they do not fall away from the living God. They must obey and work out their own salvation with fear and trembling.
i) Hebrews 3:12
12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.
ii) Hebrews 6:4-8
4 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 on 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.
iii) Philippians 2:12
12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
c) Christians can stray from the truth.
i) James 5:19
19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back,
d) Some Christians in the first century had already strayed from the faith.
i) 1 Timothy 6:21
21 which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you.
e) Christians who stray from the truth are sinners. If they turn back to God, they are saved from death.
i) James 5:19–20
19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
f) Not only can a Christian fall away, but he can cause a brother to stumble.
i) Romans 14:13
13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this — not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.
ii) Romans 14:21
21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.
a) Christians must take heed lest they fall.
i) 1 Corinthians 10:12
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
b) Christians must take care that they do not fall away from the living God. They must obey and work out their own salvation with fear and trembling.
i) Hebrews 3:12
12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.
ii) Hebrews 6:4-8
4 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 on 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.
iii) Philippians 2:12
12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
c) Christians can stray from the truth.
i) James 5:19
19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back,
d) Some Christians in the first century had already strayed from the faith.
i) 1 Timothy 6:21
21 which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you.
e) Christians who stray from the truth are sinners. If they turn back to God, they are saved from death.
i) James 5:19–20
19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
f) Not only can a Christian fall away, but he can cause a brother to stumble.
i) Romans 14:13
13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this — not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.
ii) Romans 14:21
21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.
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