The Great Apostasy: Lost Forever
An apostate soul is lost forever. There is an abundance of Biblical proof that shows anyone that apostatizes cannot repent – and even stronger – has been given a reprobate mind and will not repent. The Greek word apostasion means a divorcement. The apostate person has divorced the truth of God and has been divorced by the Holy Spirit. They are lost forever. There is a multitude in today’s church, which are so captured by the watered down message that they refuse to even believe “plain truths” from the Holy Scripture.
Please consider what is evident in the very term apostate. We are not discussing someone going back into sin or simply ceasing to walk with the Lord. That is backsliding and we see a clear picture of that in the prodigal son in chapter fifteen of Luke. He left the Father’s House and wandered far from home, but he came to himself and returned. I have often said that there is a little of the prodigal in every one of us. We have all had to repent because we failed to be fully obedient. This state of a soul has no real kinship to apostasy.
Apostate people are more religious than the true saints. They have departed from the great principles and established doctrines of the Holy Bible and are committed to guaranteeing that everybody else does the same. Apostasy is a departure from truth while being convinced that they have discovered greater truths. It is the replacement of the eternal truth with religious human imagination. The book, The God Chasers, by Tommy Tenney is an excellent case in point. He states that the Bible is where God has been and the new revelation is where God is now at work. Rick Warren is clearly at the same point. He has replaced the Born Again life by the Holy Ghost with a “purpose driven life” of psychological relativisms.
In the apostate world there are many paths to God, and Jesus Christ is only one of them. The absolute teaching of Jesus Christ about an eternal Hell and eternal Lake of Fire is now to simply lie in the grave and fail to enjoy God forever. The Bible can be pen-knifed by the apostate church and almost every truth can have varied meanings. Separated living is a relic of the past and the Christian is free of all restraints in the Ten Commandments, etc. A ballgame on Sunday night is just as spiritual to this company as a great sermon from God’s eternal truth. Romance music has replaced the music that lifts the spirit of man into the Holy of Holies, where God’s Spirit sanctifies and purifies the soul.
The Holy Bible warned us of this End Time phenomenon. The most powerful Scripture about apostasy is in the great book of Hebrews. This passage has been almost ignored by most Bible teachers because it upsets their weak theology. “And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall “Fall Away,” to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame” (Hebrews 6:3-6).
Apostle Paul does not just suggest the end results; he proclaims without question that this state of apostasy cannot repent. Please note the words, “fall away,” which identifies the apostate person and states that they were once partakers of the Holy Ghost, were once enlightened, and had tasted the Word of God and the world to come. But, now, they have turned from all of that great life and cannot return to their former spiritual state. The term “fall away” is from a unique Greek word that applies to the person that is part of the “falling away” or “apostasia” we see in II Thessalonians chapter two, verse three.
The prophecy of II Thessalonians is a clear companion to the truth in Hebrews. As the apostle writes about the coming Antichrist and the Day of Christ, he warns us of the “falling away.” “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (II Thessalonians 2:3-4).
Again, we see “falling away” from the two Greek words, apostasia and apostasion. These are very religious persons who have turned to “another gospel.” They did not love the pure word of God and were wise in the flesh to create their own theology. They watered down the truth to draw the crowds into their great fold. And, then, they must keep compromising to keep the crowds.
The Holy Ghost takes the apostle right down to the fine point of what the results will be, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (II Thessalonians 2:7-12).
God’s omniscient Spirit warns them that He will give them “strong delusion,” and “that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned.” It is not the truth that saves the soul. The world is full of people that know the Bible. Many souls study the Bible just to argue their deception more successfully. It is the “love of the truth” that saves the soul. Now, we are discovering the real heart of apostasy. It is to reject the truth for error and our highly intellectual church world is fulfilling this prophetic design to a tee.
There is clear evidence that this condition of apostasy is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. The Spirit of Truth is absolutely the Holy Ghost. To reject truth, to change truth, to water down truth is to grieve, quench, and blaspheme the Spirit. The whole matter of apostasy is the forsaking of truth. The Holy Ghost inspired every Bible writer and they wrote as “they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (II Peter 1:21). There is no way you can blaspheme Him more readily than when you attack His revelation. From Moses, the writer of the Pentateuch, to John, the writer of the Book of Revelation, the Bible is the pure Word of God.
The final proof of apostasy is found in Revelation chapter twenty-two. The Spirit said, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19). When you alter the Bible, you are an apostate person and will be eternally lost.
Jim S
Dear Pastor Chambers, With regard to Hebrews 6:4, one must take into account the Parable of the Sower who in Luke 8 confirms many will hear (taste) the word but not be converted by it. Only a remnant of those who hear the gospel will believe and continue in faith because they have good and noble hearts, possessing deep soil suitable for receiving the seed of God’s word. They hear the gospel and cling to it, allowing the seed to sprout and grow roots deep into their hearts. They esteem the gospel as the farmer who found a great treasure in a field, and then selling all he had to posses it (Matt 13:44). The good and noble hearts are believers who have conviction of sin and see their need for the Savior, unlike most in the parable.
On closer examination and perhaps the mother of all verses supporting the argument for losing one’s salvation is the following verse is Hebrews 6:4-6. The pivotal words in verse five and an important clue to its intended meaning are “have tasted” the heavenly gift. Verses five and six present a picture of the Holy Spirit at work convicting (enlightening) the unconverted of sin and need for salvation. During conviction, the Holy Spirit enters into a “provisional relationship” with the unconverted for the purpose of bringing light to darken minds. They see truth. The Holy Spirit encourages the one under conviction to come out from darkness into the light to see who they are apart from God and learn of their need for Christ.
Regrettably, many will taste the truth but will not ingest (swallow) the truth, thereby preventing the word from breaking them down into good soil. Jesus says in John, “8:31If you abide (go on) in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Genuine converts taste, and then ingest the truth allowing the digestive action of the word to convert them from sinner to saint. They go on in the word to learn more truth, grow in grace and knowledge, and stand boldly before their Lord in faith (Philippians 3:7-10).
Those who fall away tasted of the heavenlies but were never saved…they believed a lie. They heard the truth but did not love the truth that they might be saved. The apostates are those who hear the truth (taste) but do not (ingest) the truth they might become good soil for the word (seed) of God.
MY FRIEND JIM,
WHY DO SO MANY MAKE “ALMOST” EVERY SUBJECT REVERT BACK TO ARGUE OVER “ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED”. I did not touch that subject in this article.
I stayed away on purpose. Let’s let everyone read thie article and read the Words of the Holy Ghost and decide for themselves. I’m an Arminian with a strong faith in the Soverienty of God. I admit your responce was slick, but it will not convienve we Bible believing Arminians. We will keep on being Brothers and Sisters of all saved Believers whether we agree or not.
RJ
Wow, Brother Chambers, thank you once again! Truly Holy Spirit inspired!!
Rich
What is Romance Music?
Dave B
Brother Chambers is correct in what he writes. Not only does Hebrews make the case for it, John 15 clearly describes a person who can be “in the vine” which is “in Christ” which is “saved” then that person is cutoff from the vine by the Father, which means no longer “in the vine” and no longer “in Christ” which is no longer “saved.” No equivocation possible with that scripture. “In Christ” all your sins are forgiven and everything Jesus did for you applies to you. If you are cutoff from Christ, do you really think you are still “saved?”
Another good article brother Chambers, you nailed it.
Gary Ciesla
Brother Chambers: I appreciate your teaching in this area. I listened to the Open Bible Dialogue last Saturday, and even called in to the program. You mention that many multitudes of believers have been deceived by the watered down doctrines of compromise, and I agree. I once preached a sermon about what I see as possibly the biggest lie in the church today: “God is Love!” Lest I be misunderstood I want to be quick to explain clearly that if ALL you preach is about God’s love, and you never preach about God’s coming judgement upon the world, then you have misled the people, as many ministers and ministries have done. Hellfire and brimstone is not a topic that will bring multitudes into church. Many churches preach just the one “soft” side of God, the love side, while failing to teach their congregations about the consequences of sin.
I continue to have deep concern for the acceptance of divorce and remarriage within the church. Millions of people simply dismiss Jesus clear teaching in Luke 16:18.
KJV Luke 16:18
Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
I have asked before, and I ask again this same thorny question: Do you believe there are exceptions where divorce from a one-flesh spouse and remarriage while that one-flesh spouse lives is acceptable to God? If so, what scripture would supercede what Jesus said in Luke 16:18 or Mark 10:11-12, or Paul’s words in Romans 7:2-3?
Please comment. Thank you.
Sincerely in Christ through the KJV,
Gary Ciesla
Highland Falls, NY
Byron
Dear Brother,
Very disturbing, it does seem so. So many are in the ministry today preaching the very words you spoke (above, on apostasy) of, what really bothers me are ‘those’ straight out of seminary(s), for example, a few years back during the funeral of a friend this young man pastors a church close to SF Ca (related to the deceased) had some disturbing beliefs (even though I pointed them out in Scripture) he felt (believed) that these thing’s were not valid, and me, maybe being to narrow minded (I think not). His father (son of the deceased) told me that he (son) was not brought up that way at home or in the Church, either he came out of seminary learning this or the pressures of those who attended his church that he pastors. God don’t change, man can and does. When ‘they’ will not listen to reason of the word then maybe they are apostate’s. It’s the same w/these emergence, post modern’s etc, it is Satan thats infiltrated the church that will have a hand along w/the ‘club of Rome’ that will bring all religions together to form the “whore”! Please pray for this young man, I’m not going to write him off just yet. These young people today (almost seems that they do not stand a chance at times) are taught that Darwinism is a fact and the Bible is nothing but a book of fable’s, along w/the in there face sex in the media, peer pressure, it takes the Holy Spirit to defuse these young minds so that the “truth” of the Gospel of Jesus Christ can soak in. It was getting bad when I was a young man but nothing, nothing like it is now, Satan feeds them every vice possible and then when “they” get to a church (thank God theirs still many Bible believing ones out there) many are introduced to this watered down stuff thats not even Biblical, Lord help them, bring them to us! Thank you for the heart felt post, I’m afraid (for many) that your right on!
God Bless
jaimie
Dear Pastor Chambers,
Thank you for the well crafted and gentle manner in which you delivered this tract. I readily confess that i too have been a prodigal. Never the less, i still know that the Lord has possessed me from the beginning of His ways, before His works of old, Proverb 8:22. The wild grafted into the cultivated, totally contrary to how it is done by man.
My dream the other night, i saw the rapture and the will of the Lord was a mighty wind that took only the good things. I thought how Just and Holy he was in doing so….Praise Jesus, Come quickly Lord.
jaimie
Dave
Dear Brother Chambers, The only way saved children of God can loose their souls salvation if they fall away “is if they themselves determin in their heart’s and lives that they will not return to God in repentance” they do that, they prevent God from healing and delivering their souls back to the fold, and God cannot do anything about is, it is their choice. Repentance and forgivness is available to them right up to their deaths. God does not want one single person to perish, that includes the whole of mankind. We make our choices whom we will serve, God cannot intervien. If you are saved and born again stay in the Lord Jesus Christ, there, you are safe.
Kimber (Yahalomit)
While I agree, it makes me very very sad. We are seeing this happen today before our eyes… a great falling away.. It makes me even more sad because my former husband was raised to know Jesus and through his sin (adultery) he left the truth for a cult. I’ve had a difficult time understanding this and it has been since 2003 Yet I look at Saul/ Paul and what Jesus did for him… and continue to pray that He will open my former husbands eyes.
Ed Wood
Hello Pastor Joseph.
What you said sounds harsh, but I think you are absolutely right. We are well into the age of a Neo-Laodicean Church which is not only lukewarm, but infected with false doctrine. I think it has gone beyond the point of the church today simply preaching and promoting error, but actually believing it as well. In other words they have lost the capacity to tell right from wrong – the “Seared Conscience” syndrome, if you will.
I have related my departure from the Episcopal Church before. Its decline into apostasy started out slowly as it adopted more and more liberal philosophies. But in the past decade it really fell off the cliff, the first blatant act that of permitting actively homosexual Gene Robinson to become a bishop in 2003. Truth is, ordination of homosexuals was already going on for years prior to that.
John Shelby Spong’s blasphemous and heretical “Thesis” set the trend for TEC’s decline. Rather than being expelled, the church actually has adopted much of his false doctrine.
Parishes of this church who oppose its current error are finding themselves at the business end of lawsuits which confiscate their properties and material resources under the ungodly “Dennis Canon” which effectively makes parish real estate and funds property of the national church and the parishioners only as “trustees”. In short, it legalizes the national church’s taking of these properties and resources toward which they never contributed and gives TEC powers that would be completely unreasonable and legally indefensible in the secular world.
This church has only gotten worse every passing year. In a very real sense, Pastor Joseph, they are beyond saving because by tossing out the Holy Spirit, they no longer have the ability to repent since they can not recognize that they are wrong.
This is just another sign of these times.
RobiMac
Wow, this is the best commentary to date. I had no idea that once someone was entrenched in apostasy that there was no chance for repentance. I thought only Satan was irredeemable given that he was never tempted but the tempter. Thank you for posting this. I see things in a better perspective.
G-d bless all
RJ
wow…. Talk about timing!! ~ this article & the reminder in Rev. to not take any words (or add to) anything in the Bible. When one googles for information, you will find that the Roman Catholic Church made some changes to “their” Bible yesterday!!
They (RCC) renamed Prov 31 to a “poem on the woman of worth” and they changed the wording of Is. 7:14 from “the virgin shall be with child…” to a “young woman”… literally deleting the word, “virgin”…. Hmm!!
Subtle changes? Or totally misleading? Well, regardless, the Bible instructs people to NOT change anything in its text!! ~ period! End of sentence!! Bet Eve thought it was “no big deal” eating the forbidden fruit that day either!
And BTW, *sigh* very reluctantly, a relative is dying this very day, which means we will have to be attending his funeral in the next few days in…. you guessed it…. the RCC!!! I HATE participating or even being inside one, but afraid to not go would do more damage, so it’s the proverbial, “let each one make up his own mind” thing; but I would at least request prayer covering. Thank you.
And it’s SO hard to know how to comfort these people ~ when we are ions apart on doctrinal beliefs!! I think I’ll do my best just to not say anything and to sit there & pray for them instead, while they’re bowing to the priest and getting “holy water” sprinkled on them.
Icorigin
Dear Beloved Pastor Chambers,
Your fine commentary on the meaning of “apostasy” is well done!
It reminds me of the verse which I once heard Billy Graham quote during
one of his crusades, and which I have read a number of times in the Bible:
“He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken
beyond healing.”
Also, a verse in Hebrews chapter 11 warns us that Esau “was rejected,” though
he sought blessing acquisition “with tears.”
However, I would not wholeheartedly agree that apostates (such as universal-religion
false-prophet deceivers like Barack Hussein Obama) are necessarily “more religious”
than the elect saints of Jesus Christ. In fact, they are instead “IRRELIGIOUS” – though
sometimes adamently dogmatic [not really “religious”] in their rebellious deviance.
“If we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer
remains a sacrifice for sins [including viable personal application of Christ’s own bloody
atoning sacrifice on the cross], but [only] a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of
fire which will consume the adversaries.”
“They shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, and exclusion away from the
presence of the Lord,” according to Saint Paul’s Thessalonian epistle.
Thus, Hell will be an ETERNAL state in which the bodies of the damned are being consumed, but
ever regenerated, so there is perpetually more to burn in torment and anguish, within the solitary-confinement isolation of Outer Darkness (worse than being in a deep underground cave when all the lights are turned off — all of which gives the willfully and relentlessly wicked added incentive to fulfill their desire to more forcefully curse and blaspheme the righteous right and the orthodox fundamentalist Savior Jesus of the blessed, as they weep and gnash their teeth).
jaimie
Dear Pastor,
To Icorigin Esau is Hebrews 12:17 KJV with respect to being forsaken not Hebrews Chapter 11
sincerely
jaimie
Ray
This is why I support the ministry
Dale
Apostasy seems to be occurring during many different
ways today. Nominal Christians are becoming Muslims
in Texas. The subject of apostasy often draws a response
regarding the “once saved” heresy because this heresy is
so darling to many of its followers in America. The truth
of apostasy contrasts this lie. A better way to teach
conditional security of the believer is found in 2 Timothy 2:11-14.
(If we deny Him, He also will deny us)
2 Timothy 2:11-14
11It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
14Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they
strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
Robert
I believe if you were saved you will always be saved, The question is were you ever saved or
are you profession without possession, By your fruits you will be known, Saved people usually
go foreward increasing in knowledge, Sticking with the Kings James Version, (GOD BREATHED)
Falling away people are apt to do anything. I love the LORD JESUS CHRIST. i HAVENT ALWAYS BEEN RIGHT ON EVERYTHING. GOD straightens me up, I learn a lot from reading Good Preachers, like
DR. chambers.
GOD BLESS YOU FOLKS–~Rob