• A PATTERN OF APOSTASY
PART TWO
• It will happen if we allow it.
• We must know what the pattern is and expose it when we see it.
• INTRODUCTION
• We discussed the first three steps of apostasy last time.
• They were seemingly insignificant but yet they are effective in beginning
the falling away from the truth.
• They were:
• Flirtation
• Consideration
• Toleration
• Today we will consider the most extensive part of this apostasy.
• ACCOMMODATION
• Accommodation
• This is where some start to teach that we cannot know with certainty
the will of God.
• This is where some will offer "gray areas" as a justification
of not really being sure.
• And if they are not really sure on the matter, maybe they should not
make any big disturbance over the topic under consideration.
• Some examples of how this is used.
• ACCOMMODATION
• Marriage Divorce Remarriage
• Theistic Evolution
• Continual Cleansing
• Unity In Diversity
• The Boundaries Of Fellowship
• ACCOMMODATION
• James 5:19-20 "My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth,
and one turns him back,20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error
of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins."
• How really sad it is when a faithful Christian will be reprimanded and
called all sorts of names because they tried to bring someone back into the
truth.
• Those who promote the truth are pictured as the vilest of all creatures.
• ACCOMMODATION
• We are pictured as being cruel, unloving, unmerciful, and many other
things which is non-God like.
• Why?
• Because we expose error and those that teach it.
• We teach that their current lust is evil, and opposed to sound doctrine.
• We tell them that they can't do what they want to do if they want to
go to Heaven.
• ACCOMMODATION
• Notice that the proponents will turn to Romans 14 for the promotion
of their ways.
• Romans 14:1-23
• But notice what was spoken just prior to this chapter.
• Romans 13:12-14 "The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand.
Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.13
Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not
in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.14 But put
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its
lusts."
• And notice what is spoken right after Romans 14.
• Romans 16:17-18 "Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those
who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned,
and turn away from them.18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but
of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive
the hearts of the unsuspecting."
• We are not allowed to call someone a false teacher?
• Matthew 7:15-23 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you
in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.16 "You will know
them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from
thistles, are they?17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the
bad tree bears bad fruit.18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor
can a bad tree produce good fruit.19 "Every tree that does not bear good
fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.20 "So then, you will know them
by their fruits.21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter
the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.22
"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your
name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'23
"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you
who practice lawlessness."
• ACCOMMODATION
• 1 Timothy 6:3-5 "If anyone advocates a different doctrine, and
does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the
doctrine conforming to godliness,4 he is conceited and understands nothing;
but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words,
out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,5 and constant
friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose
that godliness is a means of gain."
• 2 John 9-11 "Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the
teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he
has both the Father and the Son.10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring
this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting;11
for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds."
• 1 John 4:1-6 " Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the
spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone
out into the world.2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses
that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;3 and every spirit that
does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist,
of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.4
You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is
He who is in you than he who is in the world.5 They are from the world; therefore
they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them.6 We are from God;
he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us.
By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error."
• ACCOMMODATION
• One argument is that fellowship is only to be considered in the local
church.
• As a result, they can use a known false teacher, and fellowship that
person, since they are not a part of the local fellowship.
• Also, they are not allowed to condemn or expose the error of someone
not in the local fellowship.
• When we point out that we have scriptural examples, they point out that
the apostles were inspired, but we are not, thus have no right to do these things.
• But what does scripture say?
• ACCOMMODATION
• Look at the pattern from scripture.
• Acts 2:42 " And they were continually devoting themselves to the
apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
• Acts 8:4 "Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching
the word.“
• 2 Timothy 2:2 " And the things which you have heard from me in
the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able
to teach others also."
• 2 Timothy 1:13 " Retain the standard of sound words which you have
heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus."
• 2 Timothy 3:14 " You, however, continue in the things you have
learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them;"
• 1 Timothy 4:6 " In pointing out these things to the brethren, you
will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of
the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following."
• 2 Thessalonians 2:15 " So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to
the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter
from us."
• ACCOMMODATION
• The point is, we can obey the truth and we can follow the apostles examples
today.
• Romans 16:17 " Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those
who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned,
and turn away from them."
• 1 Timothy 6:3-5 " If anyone advocates a different doctrine, and
does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the
doctrine conforming to godliness,4 he is conceited and understands nothing;
but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words,
out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,5 and constant
friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose
that godliness is a means of gain."
• ACCOMMODATION
• 1 Corinthians 5:3-5 " For I, on my part, though absent in body
but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as
though I were present.4 In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled,
and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,5 I have decided
to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, that his spirit
may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."
• 2 Thessalonians 3:4-6 " And we have confidence in the Lord concerning
you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.5 And may the
Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.
6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you
keep aloof from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to
the tradition which you received from us."
• 2 Thessalonians 3:14 " And if anyone does not obey our instruction
in this letter, take special note of that man and do not associate with him,
so that he may be put to shame."
• The next step is:
• CONCLUSION
PART TWO
• When you start to accommodate error, you have already bought into it.
• You no longer see clear lines of distinction, but everything is blurred.
• People cannot tell you are any different than the denominations.
• Invitation
By Carey Scott from a sermon by Larry Ray Hafley
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