Four Steps to Apostasy 2 Timothy 4:1-4 Wrong Attitude False Teachers Turn From The Truth Turn To Fables

Apostasy “A falling away” “A defection” “An abandoning of what one has believed in, as a faith, cause, or principles.” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary) Used to describe a falling away from the faith and a secession from the church, a disowning of the name of Christ!

Position Must Be Reached Become God’s children through faith Romans 10:17; 1:17 Must walk by faith Hebrews 11:6 Position Must Be Reached Before A Fall

“Compromise is simply changing the question to fit the answer” Four Steps to Apostasy Wrong Attitude A compromising attitude toward preaching of the gospel will lead to unfaithfulness 2 Thessalonians 2:10 Bible preaching convicts men of sin Proverbs 23:23 Many want only “positive” preaching Acts 20:27; Matthew 5:6 “Compromise is simply changing the question to fit the answer”

Four Steps to Apostasy False Teachers Men who “tickle” ears Isaiah 30:10 False teachers have always been in demand Jeremiah 5:31 Congregations are led into apostasy because preachers try to please the people instead of SAVE the people Titus 1:10-11; Matthew 7:15

“People who are out to find fault seldom find anything else” Four Steps to Apostasy Turn From The Truth When the understanding and the heart have no desire for truth, they will NOT listen to it John 8:32; 1 Peter 1:22 When this happens – the weak, indifferent Christian will try to cast the blame for their falling away on the preacher or other faithful member “People who are out to find fault seldom find anything else”

Wayne Dyer: We are responsible for our own actions All blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, and regardless of how much you blame him, it will not change you. The only thing blame does is to keep the focus off you when you are looking for external reasons to explain your unhappiness or frustration. You may succeed in making another feel guilty of something by blaming him, but you won’t succeed in changing whatever it is about you that is making you unhappy. We are responsible for our own actions Hebrews 10:26

“My greatest thought is my accountability to God” (D. Webster) Four Steps to Apostasy Turn To Fables The acceptance of false doctrine – wanting to believe what they want to believe Men do not find the TRUTH agreeable to them and readily accept false doctrine 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 Fables in exchange for the soul-saving truth John 12:48 “My greatest thought is my accountability to God” (D. Webster)

End Result -- Complete Apostasy! Four Steps to Apostasy 2 Timothy 4:1-4 Wrong Attitude False Teachers Turn From The Truth Turn To Fables End Result -- Complete Apostasy!

Four Steps to Apostasy CONCLUSION End Result Complete Apostasy! Bible warns of the difficulty of restoring those who fall away 2 Peter 3:17 Let us welcome and remain faithful to God and His blessed Word! “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13)