Steps toward ApostasySteps toward Apostasy2 Timothy 4:1-52 Timothy 4:1-5

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Satan Never Satan Never Leaves Christians Alone!Leaves Christians Alone!

• At war with the church, At war with the church, Rev. 12:17Rev. 12:17• Spiritual warfare, Spiritual warfare, 2 Cor. 10:3-52 Cor. 10:3-5• Do not surrender, Do not surrender, Eph. 6:10-13Eph. 6:10-13• More than conquerors, More than conquerors, Rom. 8:37-39Rom. 8:37-39

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APOSTASYAPOSTASY• aphistemi:aphistemi: lit., a standing away from lit., a standing away from

((apoapo, from + , from + histemihistemi, to stand), to stand)– apostasiaapostasia, “a falling away, defection” , “a falling away, defection”

((ThayerThayer, 67),, 67), 2 Ths. 2:32 Ths. 2:3– aphistemiaphistemi, “To depart, go away from… , “To depart, go away from…

apostatise” apostatise” ((MoultonMoulton, 62),, 62), 1 Tim. 4:11 Tim. 4:1

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Apostasy is Defection from…Apostasy is Defection from…

• The word of God,The word of God, Luke 8:13Luke 8:13• The faith,The faith, 1 Timothy 4:11 Timothy 4:1• God,God, Hebrews 3:12-13Hebrews 3:12-13

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History of Man…History of ApostasyHistory of Man…History of Apostasy

• Adam and Eve Adam and Eve (Gen. 2:17; 3:9-10)(Gen. 2:17; 3:9-10)• Sons of God Sons of God (Gen. 6:1-5; 4:26)(Gen. 6:1-5; 4:26)• Israel Israel (Exo. 32:8; Jer. 3:8)(Exo. 32:8; Jer. 3:8)• Jesus warned His disciples, Jesus warned His disciples, Matt. 10:22; Matt. 10:22;

1 Cor. 10:12; Rev. 2:4-5 1 Cor. 10:12; Rev. 2:4-5

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How Apostasy Develops How Apostasy Develops (2 Tim. 4:1-5)(2 Tim. 4:1-5)

• Step 1Step 1: Wrong attitude : Wrong attitude toward truth, toward truth, 4:3 4:3 (Prov. 4:23; 23:7)(Prov. 4:23; 23:7)– ““Will not endure sound Will not endure sound

doctrine”doctrine” (Psa. 119:140)(Psa. 119:140)– Other messages Other messages (4:1-2)(4:1-2)– Complacency, compromise, Complacency, compromise,

convenience & shameconvenience & shame

PreventionPrevention Seek, welcome Seek, welcome

& walk in truth,& walk in truth, 1 Ths. 2:13 1 Ths. 2:13

Col. 2:6-7Col. 2:6-7

PreventionPrevention Seek, welcome Seek, welcome

& walk in truth,& walk in truth, 1 Ths. 2:13 1 Ths. 2:13

Col. 2:6-7Col. 2:6-7

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How Apostasy Develops How Apostasy Develops (2 Tim. 4:1-5)(2 Tim. 4:1-5)

• Step 2Step 2: Comfortable with error, : Comfortable with error, 4:34:3– ““According to their own desires” According to their own desires”

(1 Jno. 2:15-17)(1 Jno. 2:15-17)– Choke God’s word, Choke God’s word, Mk. 4:18-19; Jas. 4:1-4Mk. 4:18-19; Jas. 4:1-4– Judah, Judah, Jer. 5:30-31Jer. 5:30-31– Itching ears: Hear only what pleasesItching ears: Hear only what pleases

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How Apostasy Develops How Apostasy Develops (2 Tim. 4:1-5)(2 Tim. 4:1-5)

• Step 2Step 2: Comfortable : Comfortable with error, with error, 4:34:3– Bears with false Bears with false

teachers, teachers, 2 Cor. 11:42 Cor. 11:4– Will cause us to be lost, Will cause us to be lost,

Eph. 5:8-13 (2 Jno. 9-11)Eph. 5:8-13 (2 Jno. 9-11)

PreventionPrevention Humbly contend for Humbly contend for

the faiththe faith (Jude 3; Jas. 4:7-10)(Jude 3; Jas. 4:7-10)

PreventionPrevention Humbly contend for Humbly contend for

the faiththe faith (Jude 3; Jas. 4:7-10)(Jude 3; Jas. 4:7-10)

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How Apostasy Develops How Apostasy Develops (2 Tim. 4:1-5)(2 Tim. 4:1-5)

• Step 3Step 3: Abandon truth & replace : Abandon truth & replace it with error, it with error, 4:44:4

– ““Turn their ears away from the truth”Turn their ears away from the truth” – How do we react to God’s word:How do we react to God’s word:

• Ignore?Ignore? Psa. 32:3Psa. 32:3• Argue?Argue? Acts 5:39; 26:14Acts 5:39; 26:14• Falsely accuse?Falsely accuse? Gal. 4:16Gal. 4:16• Too hard?Too hard? 1 Cor. 10:12-131 Cor. 10:12-13

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How Apostasy Develops How Apostasy Develops (2 Tim. 4:1-5)(2 Tim. 4:1-5)

• Step 3Step 3: Abandon truth & replace : Abandon truth & replace it with error, it with error, 4:44:4

– ““Be turned aside to fables”Be turned aside to fables” • Dislocated from proper place, Dislocated from proper place, Col. 2:18-19Col. 2:18-19• Fables: Narratives, fiction Fables: Narratives, fiction • Profane, idle babblings – Contradict truth, Profane, idle babblings – Contradict truth,

1 Tim. 6:20-211 Tim. 6:20-21

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How Apostasy Develops How Apostasy Develops (2 Tim. 4:1-5)(2 Tim. 4:1-5)

• Step 3Step 3: Abandon truth & : Abandon truth & replace it with error, replace it with error, 4:44:4– Gospel is not sophistry Gospel is not sophistry

of fables, of fables, 2 Pet. 1:162 Pet. 1:16– Repeatedly warned, Repeatedly warned,

1 Tim. 1:4; 4:7; 1 Tim. 1:4; 4:7; 2 Tim. 4:4; Titus 1:142 Tim. 4:4; Titus 1:14

PreventionPrevention BeBe watchful, watchful,

endure & work endure & work 2 Tim. 4:5; Jno. 2 Tim. 4:5; Jno.

8:31-328:31-32

PreventionPrevention BeBe watchful, watchful,

endure & work endure & work 2 Tim. 4:5; Jno. 2 Tim. 4:5; Jno.

8:31-328:31-32

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Any Step Toward Apostasy is Any Step Toward Apostasy is Going too Far!Going too Far! (1 Jno. 2:1)(1 Jno. 2:1)

• Remedy: Repent & do the first works,Remedy: Repent & do the first works, Rev. 2:4-5; Matt. 6:33Rev. 2:4-5; Matt. 6:33– Lest hardening occur & repentance is Lest hardening occur & repentance is

impossible, impossible, 1 Tim. 4:2; Heb. 3:13; 6:4-61 Tim. 4:2; Heb. 3:13; 6:4-6– Do not procrastinate or be complacent… Do not procrastinate or be complacent…

spiritual death! spiritual death! (Acts 8:20-24)(Acts 8:20-24)