Apostasy means that a person who previously professed faith abandons or denies his or her faith. According to the Bible, the end times will be marked by apostasy, and believers are urged to persevere and hold on to their faith or risk missing out on heaven. If, against all odds, you have fallen away from your faith in Jesus, you are urged to repent before it is too late.
Bible Verses
“1Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,” (1 Ti 4:1)
“24For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” (Mt 24:24)
“3knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.” (2 Pe 3:3)
“6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—” (Ga 1:6)
“3Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,” (2 Th 2:3)
“3For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (2 Ti 4:3–4)
“38For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”” (Mk 8:38)
“6If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.” (Jn 15:6)
“12Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” (Heb 3:12–14)
Study Questions
- Give examples of how to fall away from the Christian faith?
- How to prevent yourself from falling off?
- Is it important to have a sound theology?
- What do you do if someone gets further and further away from sound doctrine?
Additional Bible Verses
Heb 6:4-8, 2 Pet 3:17, Matt 18:6, 1 John 2:19