Pm Scripture Reading: Acts 20.28-32

David M. Fiddament

BEWARE, THE APOSTASY

Introduction:

1. The Holy Spirit warned of a great falling away in 1 Tim. 4.1.

2. άποστασία (apostasia): a falling away. (2 Thess. 2.3)

3. Paul says that Christ won’t come till the apostasy happens.

4. We must always beware of apostasy and stand fast in the Truth! (Read Acts 20.28-32)

I. APOSTASY PRODUCED

A. By Satan. (John 8.44)

B. By False Teachers. (2 Pet. 2.12; Matt. 7.15-20)

C. By Stubbornness. (Acts 7.57; Acts 28.25-28)

D. By a Love of the World. (Mark 10.17-22, 1 John 2.15-16)

II. APOSTASY EXHIBITED

A. In Resisting the Truth. (John 9.1-37; Acts. 13.45)

B. In Manipulating the Truth. (2 Pet. 2.1-3; 2 Cor. 11.12-15)

C. In Forsaking the Truth. (1 Tim. 1.18-20)

III. APOSTASY DENIED

A. By Continuing in Truth.

1. Study. (2 Tim. 3.13-17)

2. Grow! (2 Pet. 1.5-11)

B. By Wearing the Armor of God. (Eph. 6.10-18)

C. By Brotherly Admonition.

1. Paul, Peter, and Apollos were all in error.

2. But they were corrected. (Acts 8.1-3; ch. 9)

D. By Removing Apostasy.

1. False teaching is a cancer. (2 Tim. 2.16-18)

2. Cancer kills unless removed. (Titus 3.9-11)

Conclusion: The better we understand our enemy’s devices, the better we survive.