The Proclaimer

Examples of Apostasy

Last week the question was asked: Is apostasy possible?  The response was a resounding “Absolutely!”  In fact I wrote, “No doctrine is more clearly refuted in Scripture than the notion that the saved cannot sin so as to fall from God’s grace.”  There are many examples in the New Testament of individuals who, after finding salvation in Christ from their past sins, sinned again and placed their souls in jeopardy.  Consider the following examples that illustrate that apostasy is possible.

Ananias and Sapphira are a clear example of Christians who fell from grace and lost their souls.  As you recall, because of the multitudes converted to the Lord, the church in Jerusalem had brethren that were in physical need.  To provide for them, some brethren, Barnabas among them, sold property and gave the proceeds to the apostles so that the church could care for these needy brethren.  Ananias and Sapphira also sold property, but gave only a portion of the proceeds to the church and misrepresented their gift.  Their conspiracy of hypocrisy caused them to lie to God and try the Spirit of the Lord.  The result: God struck them dead (Acts 5:1:10).

Simon the Sorcerer observed the miracles performed by Philip and obeyed the gospel.  But when he saw Peter and John lay hands upon Samaritan brethren to impart miraculous  gifts of the Spirit, Simon “offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.  But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money.  Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God.  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee” (Acts 8:19-22).  The “wickedness” (sin) of Simon needed to be “forgiven” if he was to go to heaven.  He had fallen away from God’s grace.

Peter is certainly remembered for his denial of the Lord on the night of His betrayal, but this was not the only time we have record of Peter sinning.  Paul writes of a time in Antioch when he “resisted him to the face, because he stood condemned” for refusing to eat with the Gentiles being afraid of the Jews (Gal. 2:11, 12).  In fact, other Jewish Christians “dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that even Barnabas was carried away with their dissimulation” (v. 13).  Paul rebuked them when he saw, “that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel” (v. 14).  Since many believe that no child of God can ever be lost, much has been made by Calvinists trying to down play the word “condemned” in v. 12, asserting that the “condemnation” of Peter was merely a accusation placed on Peter that could not have eternal consequences.  But Lenski says “this verb never means ‘to accuse’ in Biblical Greek.”  There was no question as to the guilt of Peter.  He “stood condemned” along with those that followed him because “they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel.”

Demas is mentioned along with Luke as being with Paul when he wrote his letter to the Colossians (Col. 4:14).  But when Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy, Paul writes, “Demas forsook me, having loved this present world” (2 Tim. 4:10).  It’s clear that Demas not only forsook Paul, but forsook the Lord as well.

Other examples could be given, but surely these suffice to illustrate the possibility of apostasy no matter who we are.  Let each of us beware!

                                                                               -- Clark Dugger

The Proclaimer