Apostasy In And Out Of The Church

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus In Every Chapter
Date: Sunday, December 20, 2015
Chapters: Book of 2 Peter
Message Title: Apostasy In And Out Of The Church

Hello My Friend,

The Book of 2 Peter is the twenty-second book of the New Testament, the sixty-first book of the Bible, and contains three chapters. The author of this epistle is Peter and it was written to Christian exiles. The purpose of the letter was to warn them of the apostasy and false teaching in the Church. What we are to learn from the book is that the greatest dangers within the Church of Christ are apostasy and false teaching. “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” - 2 Peter 2:1.

Apostasy, an abandonment of what one has professed. People every day turn away from their faith in Christ, and become something even the world shakes their head at. This is why it is so hard for those in the world to accept Christ, people who either claim they are Christians or once were are living wicked and immoral lives. The reason so many people flee Christ in the first place is because they were trusting man rather than Christ, nevertheless, we are to be the example that brings people to Him. This is what Peter addresses in his second letter, we are to be righteous examples of Christ, and reminds them that trials are to bring godliness, not recklessness.

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and 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. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” - 2 Peter 1:3-9.

“For if these things be in you, and abound,” When Christ lives in and through us, He changes us, and we no longer see many of the things we use do as right, so we repent of them. That's what Christ is all about, to help us remove the things that cause problems for us. Of course, we are not saved by our works, but our works change as we walk with Christ. We need to be different than the world, we are not by any means better than them, but we are children of God, fully capable of living like Christ, and if we stop worrying about what everyone else has and seek the things of Christ than we will receive more than what we need. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” - 1 John 1:5,14,15.

I talked to my ex-boyfriend and I swear I don't know if it was God reminding me of how blessed I am that He took me out of that relationship or the devil laughing at me because it brought all these old emotions and bitterness of the past, plus added to it. This man is supposed to have gotten saved, yet he is more corrupt and immoral now than when we dated. You know, God knows how to bring us out of situations that would cause more harm than good. He might have a struggle as we tend to think with our heart, but He never stops giving up on us, it took me ten years to break free from my ex, and I imagine the only reason for our brief conversation was to remind me of the amazing transformation God made in me, and that I never want to go back to that life again. Peter reminds us of what happens when a Christian turns away from Christ and returns to the world.

“The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.” - 2 Peter 2:9-12,20.

“the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.” You think going back into the world and living a wicked life has no consequences, even if you renounce your faith in Christ? Think again. There is only one thing that causes apostasy, lusts of the flesh, either they were not saved to begin with or they never allowed Christ to be Lord of their lives. If God will not spare the angles that have reserved them for judgment, He will not spare anyone who falsely believes in Him for the sake of being justified for their sin.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” - 2 Peter 3:9-13.

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night;” We do not know the hour in which Christ will return, but we do know that we better be prepared. Let me make one thing clear, we are saved by grace through our faith and acceptance of the Lord, Jesus Christ. However, we are not saved from the consequences that result from living an immoral or wicked life if we do not repent. God's grace, it's an amazing thing, to be forgiven, to receive eternal life through Christ by no efforts of our own, it is truly something that no true Christian will fully understand. And while we want to believe that God will save all, the truth is, He will not. Why? Along with the devil, those who will not be saved are self willed, rebellious, proud, and arrogant people, who go against everything that Christ stands for. “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” - Revelation 21:7,8.

Today's Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for the great sacrifice You made in giving Your life to save us, You did not have to, but you did, and all because You love us too much to see us end up in hell with the devil and all the unbelievers. Lord, I want You in my life in all that I do, walk with me, give me the strength that only You can give me, help me to live in obedience to Your Word, not because I have to, but because I want to. Put Your hedge of protection around me, keep the devil and everyone else he uses from temptation and corruption. If I am doing anything that will cause a hindrance or division between us, reveal it and help me repent of it. Through Your power, I can do all things. In Your name Jesus, I pray, Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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