The Possibility of Apostasy
By Moses E. Lard
The Lord says, "When the wicked turneth from his wickedness, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive." Ezek. 33:19. But if the wicked man turns from his wickedness and does that which is lawful and right, and yet is finally lost, he will not save his soul alive. The Lord also says, "But if the righteous turn away from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and do according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die." Ezek. 18:24. But if the righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and yet is finally saved, he shall not die. These passages plainly teach the apostasy of saints. Let us now consider:
I. The Possibility of Apostasy.
The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, or, as it is sometimes called, the doctrine of unconditional election and final perseverance, is one of the five points of Calvinism. It is based on the doctrine of unconditional election, which is, that God from eternity chose certain persons to be saved, not on account of any foreseen faith or good works in them, but purely of his sovereign will and good pleasure; and having chosen them, he will infallibly save them, notwithstanding all their sins and apostasies. This doctrine is utterly unscriptural and irrational. It is unscriptural, because it contradicts the plain declarations of the Bible. It is irrational, because it makes God a respecter of persons, and destroys human accountability.
The Bible teaches that God has given to all men the power of choice. "Choose you this day whom ye will serve." Josh. 24:15. "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword." Isa. 1:19, 20. "If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door." Gen. 4:7. These passages, and many others like them, clearly show that God has given to men the power of choice, and that they are accountable for their actions. If God has unconditionally elected certain persons to be saved, and they will be saved notwithstanding all their sins, then they have no power of choice, and are not accountable for their actions. This is a doctrine of devils, and not of God.
The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints is also contradicted by the experience of all good men. There is no man who has lived a life of piety and devotion who has not at times been led astray by the temptations of the devil and the allurements of the world. The history of the church is full of examples of men who once stood high in the favor of God, but who finally fell away and became vessels of wrath. Judas Iscariot was chosen by Christ to be one of his apostles. He was with him for three years, and heard his teachings and saw his miracles. He was sent out with the other apostles to preach the gospel and to heal the sick. He was even made the treasurer of the apostolic band. Yet he finally betrayed his Master for thirty pieces of silver, and went to his own place. Demas was a fellow-laborer with the apostle Paul. "Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you." Col. 4:14. "Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow-laborers." Philem. 24. Yet he forsook Paul, "having loved this present world." 2 Tim. 4:10. Hymenaeus and Philetus were once members of the church at Ephesus. They were probably elders or deacons. Yet they "concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some." 2 Tim. 2:17, 18. These are only a few of the many examples that might be given of men who once stood high in the favor of God, but who finally fell away.
II. The Cause of Apostasy.
The cause of apostasy is sin. Sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4. It is the departure from the path of duty. It is the neglect of known duty. It is the violation of the commands of God. Sin is the cause of apostasy, because it separates the soul from God. "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." Isa. 59:1, 2. When a man sins, he turns his back upon God, and God turns his back upon him. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." Psa. 66:18. "The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup." Psa. 11:4-6.
Sin is the cause of apostasy, because it hardens the heart. "Exhort one another daily, while it is called To-day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Heb. 3:13. "He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." Prov. 29:1. When a man sins, he becomes more and more insensible to the influence of the Holy Spirit. He becomes more and more attached to the world, and more and more alienated from God. He becomes more and more like the devil, and more and more unlike God. Finally, he becomes so hardened that he is no longer susceptible to the influences of the gospel, and he goes down to the grave in his sins.
Sin is the cause of apostasy, because it leads to other sins. "When lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:15. One sin leads to another. The man who indulges in the sin of uncleanness will soon fall into the sin of adultery. The man who indulges in the sin of intemperance will soon fall into the sin of drunkenness. The man who indulges in the sin of covetousness will soon fall into the sin of theft. The man who indulges in the sin of pride will soon fall into the sin of envy and malice. And thus, sin leads to sin, until the man is completely enslaved by it, and he becomes a child of wrath.
III. The Remedy for Apostasy.
The remedy for apostasy is repentance and reformation. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." Acts 3:19. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit." Psa. 51:10-12. Repentance is a sorrow for sin, a hatred of sin, and a turning away from sin. Reformation is a change of life, a change of conduct, a change of character. When a man repents and reforms, he is restored to the favor of God, and he is saved from the power of sin.
The remedy for apostasy is also faith in Christ. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:36. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph. 2:8, 9. Faith is the condition of salvation. Without faith it is impossible to please God. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Heb. 11:6. When a man believes in Christ, he is justified from all his sins, and he is adopted into the family of God. He becomes a child of God, and an heir of heaven.
The remedy for apostasy is also prayer. "Pray without ceasing." 1 Thess. 5:17. "And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." Matt. 6:5-8. Prayer is the breath of the soul. It is the means by which we communicate with God. It is the means by which we obtain grace and strength to resist temptation and to overcome sin. When a man prays, he is strengthened in his faith, and he is enabled to live a life of piety and devotion.