the nature ofapostasy i timothy 4:1-5. now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times...

The Nature The Nature of of

Apostasy Apostasy

I Timothy 4:1-5

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” – I Timothy 4:1 (KJV) - Prophecy that Paul received - Relative to the Church Age

*Dispensational Language

The Nature of Apostasy

7 Dispensations 1) Innocence (Creation to Fall) 2) Conscience (Exile to Flood) 3) Human Government (Post Flood to Tower

of Babel) 4) Promise (Abraham to Exodus) 5) Law (Mt. Sinai to Christ, then to end of Great

Tribulation) 6) Grace (Age of Church to Rapture) 7) Millennium (Millennial Reign to Eternity)


In the dispensations, there is a purging before transitioning into next dispensation.

- Adam and Eve - The Flood - Tower of Babel - Exodus - Rapture

“…in the latter times some shall depart from the faith…” – I Timothy 4:1 (KJV)


“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” – I John 2:18 (KJV)

Antichrist: Genealogy: - In place of - Daniel 7- In opposition of


“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” – I John 2:19 (KJV)

- “of” = origin, out, from


“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” – John 15:5-6 (KJV)


“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” - John 15:5-7

Apostasy: The act of abandoning the faith.

Apostate: he/she who abandons the faith.

Apostasy is an issue of proximity, trust, and truth.


Giotto’s Kiss ofJudas - an act appearing to be an act of friendship, which is in fact harmful to the recipient.


Giotto’s Kiss ofJudas

- Sense of peace in spite of chaos

- Delivered by aPerson who is IN the flock, but notOF the flock.


Apostasy warns us that our leaders (Ministers, Life Groups, etc…) must be full of the Word and Spirit:

- To counteract false doctrine - To discern the spirit of the dialogue or

question.

Life Groups have 2 Objectives


“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.” – I John 4:1-2 (KJV)


“try” (dokimazo) - verb

1) to test, examine, prove, scrutinize (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals 2) to recognize as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy

- Thayer’s Greek Definitions


How Does Apostasy Occur?“…giving heed to…” (v.1)

prosecho 1) to bring to, bring near

a) to bring a ship to land, and simply to touch at, put in

- Thayer’s Greek Definition


“And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” – I John 4:3 (KJV)

Apostasy is always connected to Application. - Application vs. Interpretation - Disguising Application as Doctrine


Question:

“What about people leaving the church due to an offense, then attend a Trinitarian church, and accept that doctrine?”

- 2 Issues1) Offense 2) Levels of Apostasy


3 Types of Apostates (David G. Bromley)

“Apostate role: defined as one that occurs in a highly polarized situation in which an organization member undertakes a total change of loyalties by allying with one or more elements of an oppositional coalition without the consent or control of the organization.”



“Defector role: an organizational participant negotiates exit primarily with organizational authorities, who grant permission for role relinquishment, control the exit process, and facilitate role transmission.”



“Whistleblower role: defined here as one in which an organization member forms an alliance with an external regulatory unit through offering personal testimony concerning specific, contested organizational practices that is then used to sanction the organization.”


“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” - II John 1:17 (KJV)

*same as “seducing” (planos) in I Timothy 4:11) wandering, roving2) misleading, leading into error

a) a vagabond, “tramp”, imposterb) corrupter, deceiver (Thayer’s)


Relative to Thayer’s definition, adultery is the Old Testament equivalent of apostasy.

Symbolizes: - Betrayal - Covenant Breaking Adultery is connected with an Infatuation.


I Timothy 4:3

“Speaking lies in hypocrisy” - Persons pretending, not only to Divine inspiration, but also to extraordinary degrees of holiness, self-denial, mortification, etc., in order to accredit the lies and false doctrines which they taught.” - Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible


I Timothy 4:3

“…having their conscience seared with a hot iron; which exactly describes the above mentioned persons, whose consciences are cauterized and hardened, and past feeling; and have no regard to what they say or do, make no conscience of anything, but under a cloak of sanctity commit the most shocking impieties.” - John Gill’s Exposition


I Timothy 4:3

“Branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron…Branded with the mark of Satan.” - Robertson’s Word Picture


“But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.” – I Corinthians 10:20

- Gentiles, as a history


“Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.” – I Timothy 4:3

“Forbidding to marry - That is, “They will depart from the faith through the hypocritical teachings.” – Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible - Exerting Authority


“The tenth article of the decree of the Council of Trent (1546-1563), in relation to marriage, will show the general view of the papacy on that subject. “Whosoever shall say that the married state is to be preferred to a state of virginity, or celibacy, and that it is not better and more blessed to remain in virginity, or celibacy, than to be joined in marriage; let him be accursed!” - Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible


“I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband.” – I Corinthians 7:8-10


“Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats (food), which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature (formation, product – Mark 16:15) of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.” – I Timothy 4:3-4


I Timothy 4:3-4

a) Genesis 1:29, 9:3

b) Allusions to Cornelius/Gentiles (Acts 10)- Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15)


“For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” – I Timothy 4:5

“Not declared holy, but made holy. The declaration confirms the last clause of –1Tim.4:4. Thanksgiving to God has a sanctifying effect. The food in itself has no moral quality (Rom. 14:14), but acquires a holy quality by its consecration to God.” - Vincent’s Word Studies


“BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” – Psalms 119:9-11

BETH: - 2nd Letter in Hebrew Language - “House” (Celebration AND Life Group)The Nature of Apostasy

Every Church Contains Three Experiential Elements:

- Spirit Led

- Missional - Biblically Exegetical


Hierarchal Ecclesiastic Paradigm

1) Primary focus dictatescomplete experience.

2) Other areas neglected usually due to lack of time or resources.

3) Shifting focuses is animpossibility.


Biblical Ecclesiastic Paradigm

1) Relational

2) Equal importancegiven to all elements.

3) Follows Acts 2 Model


Acts 2 ModelPrimary: Acts 2:38 (Doctrine)

Secondary: - Spoke in Tongues (2:1-4) - Celebration and Life Groups (2:44-46)

Peripheral: - Vision Casting (1:4-8) - Organization (1:15-26)


Background of Paul’s Sermon - Jerusalem

a) Religious and Cultural Centerb) 16 ethnic segmentsc) “Strangers” and “Proselytes” = all

encompassingd) “dwelling” = denotes wealth and power

- Pentecost (50 days after Passover)a) All levels of faith, doctrine, and practice.


Paul’s Sermon (Acts 2:14-3636)

“Both Lord and Christ - Not only the Messiah, but the supreme Governor of all things and all persons, Jews and Gentiles, angels and men. In the preceding discourse, Peter assumes a fact which none would attempt to deny, viz. that Jesus had been lately crucified by them.He then proves…” – Adam Clark’s Commentary


“1. Proves his resurrection. 2. His ascension. 3. His exaltation to the right hand of God. 4. The effusion of the Holy Spirit, which was the fruit of his glorification, and which had not only been promised by himself, but foretold by their own prophets: in consequence of which,” - Adam Clarke’s Commentary


“5. It was indisputably proved that this same Jesus, whom they had crucified, was the promised Messiah; and if so, 6. The Governor of the universe, from whose power and justice they had every thing to dread, as they refused to receive his proffered mercy and kindness.” – Adam Clarke’s Commentary


The Collision of Faith (Truth)


Baptism in Jesus Name

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