SPIRITUAL DECLENSION

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 7, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 39.

SPIRITUAL DECLENSION.

Backsliding a Sign of the Last Days.

1. WHAT did our Lord declare would be a marked sign of the end of the world or age?

"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that endureth unto the end, the same shall be saved." See Matt. 24: 12-14.

2. What does the apostle Paul say will be a noted feature of the last days?

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come." 2 Tim. 3: 1.

3. For what reasons may these perilous times be expected?

"For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God." Verses 2-4.

4. Among whom will these sins be found?

"Men . . . having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." Verses 2, 5.

NOTE.—The times are not perilous because these sins are found among worldlings; for there they have always been found, the natural works of the flesh. What makes the times perilous is that these sins abound in the professed church of Christ, those who make a profession, who have a form of godliness, but deny its power. When that body designed of God to lift up a standard to the world, loses its power, it takes off all restraint of crime and sin; and we witness its effects to-day in the increase of sin and crime.

5. How do backslidden religionists deny the power of godliness?

"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." Titus 1: 16.

NOTE.—This does not mean disobedient to church creeds, or councils, or human traditions, but disobedient to Him whom they profess to know.

6. Should we accept such religionists as our standard or teachers?

"From such turn away." 2 Tim. 3: 5. "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Rev. 18: 4.

7. What must we do "that we may work the works of God"?

"This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." John 6: 28, 29.

8. What will those do who truly believe and love Christ?

"If ye love Me, keep My commandments." John 14: 15. "This is love, that we walk after His commandments." 2 John 6. "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked." 1 John 2: 6.