1. Steps To Apostasy 2 Timothy 4:3-4

2. Apostasy is Real What is it? What is it? –A-po-sta-sia –“Falling away, forsake” (Strong’s) –“A defection, revolt, apostasy” (Vine’s) Fall away from the faith (1 Tim. 4:1) Fall away from the faith (1 Tim. 4:1) Gone astray from the faith (1 Tim. 6:21). Gone astray from the faith (1 Tim. 6:21). Preached against in Acts 20:29ff, Gal. 1:6ff, Col. 2:18ff, Tit. 1:9, 10. Preached against in Acts 20:29ff, Gal. 1:6ff, Col. 2:18ff, Tit. 1:9, 10.

3. Apostasy is Real Therefore God is diligent to prepare us to fight against such error. Therefore God is diligent to prepare us to fight against such error. 2 Cor. 10:4-5: Spiritual weapons of warfare (word, faith, etc.) for casting down arguments. 2 Cor. 10:4-5: Spiritual weapons of warfare (word, faith, etc.) for casting down arguments. 2 Tim. 4:3-4: He shows us the pattern of apostasy and means to overcome it. 2 Tim. 4:3-4: He shows us the pattern of apostasy and means to overcome it.

4. The Pattern of Apostasy 2 Timothy 4:3-4 Not Endure Sound Doctrine Heap up for themselves teachers Turn away from truth. Turn aside to fables. Falling away 2 Thess. 2:3

5. God’s Solution ← “Put on armor of God” (Eph. 6:13ff). ← “Preach the word” (2 Tim. 4:2). ← “Watch, endure, do the work” (2 Tim. 4:5). ← “Contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 3). ← “Be vigilant, resist, steadfast in faith” (2 Pet. 5:8-9). ← “Fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim. 6:12). Not “Unity in Diversity.” Not “tolerance.” Not “many roads to the same place.”

6. Conclusion God does not say these things because He is cruel or “legalistic.” God does not say these things because He is cruel or “legalistic.” –There is only one faith (because there only one Lord and Jesus only established one gospel) (Eph. 4:4-6). –Men sinned in the first place because we turned away from God’s truth. –Now we can have salvation in Christ, but if we choose to go into apostasy again, Christ’s sacrifice will not save us (Heb. 10:26).

7. Conclusion Error is in the world and it is a serious problem. Error is in the world and it is a serious problem. We need to take this seriously and strive to “preach the word” and “endure sound doctrine” so that we may be found faithful when the Lord comes. We need to take this seriously and strive to “preach the word” and “endure sound doctrine” so that we may be found faithful when the Lord comes. Are you willing? Are you willing?