1. (Part 2)

2. Luke 8:13; Gal. 5:4 1 Cor. 10:12; Heb. 3:12 Luke 8:13; Gal. 5:4 1 Cor. 10:12; Heb. 3:12 Romans 5:1-2 2

3. Why do some Christians who fall away keep living in sin? What are we to do in the meantime? 3

4. Sin is not forced on us: -It is the result of evil thoughts put into action, Mk. 7:21-23; Jas. 1:14-15 Sin is not forced on us: -It is the result of evil thoughts put into action, Mk. 7:21-23; Jas. 1:14-15 – Willful sin: Deliberate choice to sin even after knowing the truth, 10:26 – Possesses knowledge – yet continues practicing sin, 10:26, 29-30 – Irreverence toward God, Heb. 10:31 (12:29) 4

5. What Are We To Do? What Are We To Do? – Church discipline: Destroy flesh, 1 Cor. 5:4-5 (Gal. 5:24) – Individuals withdraw social interaction, 2 Ths. 3:6,14-15 No ongoing fellowship, Matt. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:9, 11 No ongoing fellowship, Matt. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:9, 11 Make opportunities to urgently call to repentance, Lk. 15:1, 4, 17-24 (Rom. 11:20) Make opportunities to urgently call to repentance, Lk. 15:1, 4, 17-24 (Rom. 11:20) 5

6. Previously escaped, again overcome, Eph. 5:8-12 Previously escaped, again overcome, Eph. 5:8-12 – Through the knowledge of the Lord, 2:20; 1:3-4 – Entangled: Entwined – Overcome: Conquered, 2:19 – Spiritual condition: End is worse than the beginning, 2:20-22; Matt. 12:43-45 6

7. What Are We To Do? What Are We To Do? – Identify those leading saints into sin, 2 Pet. 2:18-19 False teachers, 2 Pet. 2:1-3; 2 Tim. 2:16-18 False teachers, 2 Pet. 2:1-3; 2 Tim. 2:16-18 Expose darkness, Eph. 5:11 Expose darkness, Eph. 5:11 – Rescue the perishing! Jude 22-23 – Be careful not to defile yourself, Jude 23 7

8. What Are We To Do? What Are We To Do? “While the utmost effort was to be made to save them, they were in no way to partake of their sins; their conduct was to be regarded as loathsome and contagious; and those who attempted to save them were to take every precaution to preserve their own purity. There is much wisdom in this counsel. 8

9. What Are We To Do? What Are We To Do? “While we endeavor to save the ‘sinner,’ we cannot too deeply loathe his ‘sins;’ and in approaching some classes of sinners there is need of as much care to avoid being defiled by them, as there would be to escape the plague if we had any transaction with one who had it. Not a few have been deeply corrupted in their attempts to reform the polluted.” (Barnes) 9

10. Christians Fall Away and Continue is Sin Due To… Developing evil hearts of unbelief, Heb. 3:12 Developing evil hearts of unbelief, Heb. 3:12 Failing to grow to maturity, Heb. 6:1-6 Failing to grow to maturity, Heb. 6:1-6 Sinning willfully, defiantly rejecting God, Heb. 10:26-27 Sinning willfully, defiantly rejecting God, Heb. 10:26-27 Turning back to the world and its sinful entanglements, 2 Pet. 2:20 Turning back to the world and its sinful entanglements, 2 Pet. 2:20 10

11. We Must… Beware and be diligent, Heb. 3:12-14 Beware and be diligent, Heb. 3:12-14 Help the immature to grow, praying for them, 1 Ths. 5:14 Help the immature to grow, praying for them, 1 Ths. 5:14 Faithfully apply discipline while continuing to make compassionate appeals to repent Faithfully apply discipline while continuing to make compassionate appeals to repent Expose and rebuke sin’s defilement, trying to rescue the perishing while avoiding our own defilement Expose and rebuke sin’s defilement, trying to rescue the perishing while avoiding our own defilement 11