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“APOSTATE” What or who is an “apostate”? Here is the way Mister Webster defines the apostate: APOS'TATE, n. [Gr.] “One who has forsaken the church, sect or profession to which he before adhered. In its original sense, applied to one who has abandoned his religion; but correctly applied also to one who abandons a political or other party” Here is what Moses wrote about the “apostates”: (Deut 13:13) “Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;” So we see that Webster agrees with the writing of Moses; Webster says an “apostate” is one “who has forsaken the church” and Moses wrote by inspiration that there were some who “are gone out from among you, saying let us “go and serve other gods”. Both are saying basically the same thing. In the New Testament the Hebrew writer wrote this: (Heb. 3:12) “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” This also was written through God’s inspiration! I conclude from the message of the Hebrew writer that neither time nor covenant changed God’s mind concerning those who forsook Him. What would cause anyone to forsake God? Some have forsaken God because they were persecuted: (Matt. 24:9 – 10) “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.” In reality it is hard to say how we would react to severe persecution. What can we do to assure ourselves that we would not forsake God if we were to be persecuted for the name of Jesus Christ? My suggestion is that we do a lot of praying before and during any such persecution and rely on the help and strength of Almighty God to see us through it. We read of one man who became an “apostate” because of a worldly spirit: (2 Tim. 4:10) “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.” We are left with no doubt as to why Demas forsook Paul; it was because he loved the present world [in other words he was a man who possessed a worldly spirit. Although Paul said Demas had forsaken him I feel confident in saying that Demas actually forsook God and the church of Jesus Christ. Saints do not become apostates, this was true during the days of the Psalmist: (Psa. 44:18) “Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;” The same can be said concerning the early members of the church: (Heb. 10:39) “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Of course we know that the early church suffered severe persecution and they did so without turning back; if they did so, so can we! Notice how the Hebrew writer felt about those to whom he was writing: Heb. 6:9) “But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.” Do you wonder how the Hebrew writer would think about us today? Maybe we should spend some time pondering this! The sad thing about “apostates” is that many who fall away cannot be renewed again to repentance: (Heb 6:4 – 6) “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, 5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6If 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.” If they have “tasted the good word of God [I.e. if they have once heard and believed the word of God] what can you say to them that they don’t already know? Brethren, let us stand strong and firm in the word of God or else we too might become one who forsakes God and the church of Jesus Christ. May we give this careful thought and earnest prayer! May God bless us in our efforts to remain faithful!
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