THE FALLING AWAY

 

SCRIPTURAL FOUNDATION

Luke 8:13-14 “They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring not fruit to perfection.”

I Corinthians 10:12 “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come.  Therefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

Galatians 5:16 “This I say then, walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 6:10-11 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil...” (See complete text 6:12-18)

Philippians 2:12-13 “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do his good pleasure.”

II Thessalonians 2:1- “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him.  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 

Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?  And now ye know what with holdeth that he might be revealed in his time.  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 

And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.  Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.”

Hebrews 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 Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if 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.”

James 5:10-12 “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.  Behold, we count them happy which endure.  Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”

II Peter 1:9-12 “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Where I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.”

II Peter 3:17-18 “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To him be glory both now and forever.  Amen.””

Jude 24 “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”

 

PREPARING FOR THE “FALLING AWAY

FAITH (pistis persuasion, credence, conviction of truth, truthfulness of God, reliance upon, constancy, assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity)

“Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our savior Jesus Christ: And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue;” (II Peter 1:1, 5)

VIRTUE (arête valor, manliness, excellence, praise, virtue; arrhen arsen male, as stronger for lifting, male, man; airo to lift, take up or away, raise)

“And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (II Peter 1:5a)

KNOWLEDGE (gnosis the act of knowing, knowledge; ginosko to know absolutely, be aware, have knowledge, perceive, be resolved, be sure, understand)

“And to your virtue knowledge;” (II Peter 1:5b)

SELF-CONTROL (egkrateia self-control, continence, temperance; egkrates strong in a thing, masterful, self-controlled, temperate; kratos vigor, great, dominion, mighty, mightily, power, strength)

“And to knowledge temperance;” (II Peter 1:6a)

PERSEVERANCE (hupomone cheerful, hopeful, endurance, constancy, enduring, patience, patient, continuance, waiting; hupomeno to stay under, remain, undergo, bear trials, have fortitude, persevere, abide, endure, patient, suffer, tarry behind; hupo under, beneath, underneath; meno to stay, abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry)

“And to temperance patience;” (II Peter 1:6b)

GODLINESS (eusebeia piety, godliness, holiness; eusebes well reverent, pious, devout, godly; eu good, well, well done; sebomai to revere, adore, devout, religious, worship)

“And to patience godliness;” (II Peter 1:6c)

BROTHERL KINDNESS (philadelphia affection, brotherly love, kindness, love of the brethren; philadelphos fond of the brethren, fraternal, love as brothers; philos dear, friend, fond, friendly; adelphos of the same womb, a brother)

“And to godliness brotherly kindness;” (II Peter 1:7a)

LOVE (agape love, God kind of love as manifest in Christ’s death, affection, benevolence, charity, dear; agapao much love, to love dearly)

“And to brotherly kindness love.” (I Peter 1:7b)

© 2014 New Testament Church