We Are Living in the Last Days
2 Thessalonians 2:3
3 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;
Apostasy – The word is a noun and its definition is, the abandonment or renunciation of a religious belief. To a born-again believer, it means to fall away from the truth, or someone who has once believed, or that was almost persuaded, and then rejected the truth of God.
- God and Man (John 1:1, 14; 8:24; Col. 2:9; 1 John 4:1-4).
John 1:1, 14; 8:24; 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
Colossians 2:9 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
John 4:1-4, 1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) 3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. 4 And he must needs go through Samaria.
If you don’t believe this, you are either illiterate, don’t listen to good preaching, or are probably a bit Apostate.
- Jesus Rose from the Dead Physically (John 2:19-21).
John 2:19-21 19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
If you don’t believe this, you are either illiterate, don’t listen to good preaching, or are probably a bit Apostate.
- Salvation is by grace through faith (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 5:1-5).
Romans 5:1 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Galatians 5:1-5 1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
If you don’t believe this, you are either illiterate, don’t listen to good preaching, or are probably a bit Apostate.
- The gospel is the Death, Burial, & Resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Gal. 1:8-9).
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Galatians 1:8-9 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
If you don’t believe this, you are either illiterate, don’t listen to good preaching, or are probably a bit Apostate.
- There is Only One God (Exodus 20:1-3; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6, 8)
Exodus 20:1-3 1 And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Isaiah 43:10 10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
Isaiah 44:6-8 6 Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. 7 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them. 8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
If you don’t believe this, you are either illiterate, don’t listen to good preaching, or are probably a bit Apostate.
- Primary Non-Essentials (Bible, Church ordinances, and practice) – Denial does not void salvation, yet we are clearly taught in scripture. Denial suggests apostasy.
- Male Eldership & Pastor’s (1 Tim. 2:12-13; 3:15; Titus 1:5-7)
- Fidelity in Marriage in Heterosexual relationships (1 Cor. 6:9)
- The Condemnation of Homosexuality (Rom. 1:26-27)
- Inerrancy or Infallibility of Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16)
The Primary Essential
In the way the Bible is written, it say’s that if you deny Jesus is God, you are dead in your sins (John 8:24, 58 compare with Exodus 3:14); that if you deny Jesus’ physical resurrection, your faith is in vain (1 Cor. 15:14, compare with John 2:19-21); that if you add works to salvation, you are not in Christ (Gal. 3:1-3; 5:1-4); and that if you preach a gospel contrary to what the apostles preached, you are accursed (Gal. 1:8-9, compare with, 1 Cor. 15:1-4). Therefore, to deny any of these doctrines, according to scripture, is to be outside the camp of Christ and invited eternal damnation. This would obviously be apostasy.
