Apostasy in the church – Part 2 (WARNING MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH LEADERS)

By Nick Bibile

In part 1 we saw the meaning of apostasy. Let’s take the first century church. The direct teacher of the apostles was the ultimate greatest teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ. They were directly taught by Christ and they had the greatest advantage as the absolute infallible message was taught by Christ.

Apostles revealed the whole counsel of God to the churches.

Acts 20:27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

You would think that the early church would keep the faith as they were pure but will not depart from it. But we see the early apostasy creeping into the church while the apostles were still alive!

The church of Corinth was planted by apostle Paul and watered by Apollos, yet few years time, many in the church denied the resurrection of the dead and apostle Paul wrote this in 1 Corinthians 15:12-18

Let us see more examples.

In Galatia apostle Paul planted the churches, he instructed them the whole counsel of God, they were excited of the gospel, in a very short time, apostasy crept into the church, especially they fell away from doctrine of grace by faith alone and fell into apostasy by believing the works of the law, keeping all of the Old Testament law and especially the Gentiles need to be circumcised in order to be saved.

It dearly hurt the apostle Paul and he rebuked them as they were turning from the truth to a different gospel, gospel of works not the gospel by faith alone.

Galatians 1:6-9 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

Galatians 3:1-3  O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 

The word ‘bewitch’ means charming someone. Apostle Paul calls them foolish twice and asks them who charmed them, deceived them into apostasy. How fast the apostasy crept into the church.

Then apostle Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus were full of warnings of apostasy of the gospel. Then apostle John warns in his epistles of apostasy and falling away from the truth, the book of Revelation out of the 7 churches 6 churches were accused of apostasy from the truth. Jude also warned the church of apostasy, there were warnings of apostasy filled in the New Testament, but today very rarely we hear teaching on this subject.

Apostle Paul warned the elders of the Ephesian church for 3 years that savage wolves in sheep's clothing would come upon them in apostasy of the truth. (Acts 20:29-30) Apostle Peter also warned that many false teachers would come with heresies.

2 Peter 2:1  But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies…

If the apostolic churches fell into apostasy while the apostles were still alive, how about today? Satan is active as Christians are DECEIVED. Deceived by believing, you don’t have to be watchful of apostasy.

Many believe that their denomination or their church will never fall into apostasy. The devil is cunning as ever as making people in the church to justify their apostasy. I am just a nobody but a small voice calling upon the church leaders to wake up and warn their churches.

Acts 20:28-31 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.