1. Steps toward Apostasy 2 Timothy 4:1-5 1

2. 1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 2

3. Satan Never Leaves Christians Alone! At war with the church - Rev. 12:17 At war with the church - Rev. 12:17 Spiritual warfare - 2 Cor. 10:3-5 Spiritual warfare - 2 Cor. 10:3-5 Do not surrender - Eph. 6:10-13 Do not surrender - Eph. 6:10-13 More than conquerors - Rom. 8:37-39 More than conquerors - Rom. 8:37-39 3

4. APOSTASY aphistemi: lit., a standing away from ( apo, from + histemi, to stand) aphistemi: lit., a standing away from ( apo, from + histemi, to stand) o apostasia, “a falling away, defection” (Thayer, 67) - 2 Thess. 2:3 o aphistemi, “To depart, go away from… apostatise” (Moulton, 62) - 1 Tim. 4:1 4

5. Apostasy is Defection from… The word of God – Luke 8:13 The word of God – Luke 8:13 The faith – 1 Timothy 4:1 The faith – 1 Timothy 4:1 God – Hebrews 3:12-13 God – Hebrews 3:12-13 5

6. History of Man…History of Apostasy Adam and Eve – Gen. 2:17; 3:9-10 Adam and Eve – Gen. 2:17; 3:9-10 Sons of God – Gen. 6:1-5; 4:26 Sons of God – Gen. 6:1-5; 4:26 Israel – Exo. 32:8; Jer. 3:8) Israel – Exo. 32:8; Jer. 3:8) Jesus warned His disciples – Matt. 10:22; 1 Cor. 10:12; Rev. 2:4-5 Jesus warned His disciples – Matt. 10:22; 1 Cor. 10:12; Rev. 2:4-5 6

7. How Apostasy Develops (2 Tim. 4:1-5) Step 1: Wrong attitude toward truth – 4:3 (Prov. 4:23; 23:7) Step 1: Wrong attitude toward truth – 4:3 (Prov. 4:23; 23:7) o “Will not endure sound doctrine” - Psa. 119:140 o Other messages - 4:1-2 o Complacency, compromise, convenience & shame 7 Prevention Seek, welcome & walk in truth, 1 Thess. 2:13 Col. 2:6-7

8. How Apostasy Develops (2 Tim. 4:1-5) Step 2: Comfortable with error – 4:3 Step 2: Comfortable with error – 4:3 o “According to their own desires” (1 Jno. 2:15-17) o Choke God’s word - Mk. 4:18-19; Jas. 4:1-4 o Judah - Jer. 5:30-31 o Itching ears: Hear only what pleases 8

9. How Apostasy Develops (2 Tim. 4:1-5) Step 2: Comfortable with error - 4:3 Step 2: Comfortable with error - 4:3 o Bears with false teachers - 2 Cor. 11:4 o Will cause us to be lost - Eph. 5:8-13 (2 Jno. 9-11) 9 Prevention Humbly contend for the faith (Jude 3; Jas. 4:7-10)

10. How Apostasy Develops (2 Tim. 4:1-5) Step 3: Abandon truth & replace it with error – 4:4 Step 3: Abandon truth & replace it with error – 4:4 o “Turn their ears away from the truth” o How do we react to God’s word: Ignore it? Psa. 32:3 Ignore it? Psa. 32:3 Argue with it? Acts 5:39; 26:14 Argue with it? Acts 5:39; 26:14 Falsely accuse teacher of truth? Gal. 4:16 Falsely accuse teacher of truth? Gal. 4:16 Too hard? 1 Cor. 10:12-13 Too hard? 1 Cor. 10:12-13 10

11. How Apostasy Develops (2 Tim. 4:1-5) Step 3: Abandon truth & replace it with error – 4:4 Step 3: Abandon truth & replace it with error – 4:4 o “Be turned aside to fables” Dislocated from proper place - Col. 2:18-19 Dislocated from proper place - Col. 2:18-19 Fables: Narratives, fiction Fables: Narratives, fiction Profane, idle babblings – Contradict truth, 1 Tim. 6:20-21 Profane, idle babblings – Contradict truth, 1 Tim. 6:20-21 11

12. How Apostasy Develops (2 Tim. 4:1-5) Step 3: Abandon truth & replace it with error – 4:4 Step 3: Abandon truth & replace it with error – 4:4 o Gospel is not sophistry or fables - 2 Pet. 1:16 o Repeatedly warned, 1 Tim. 1:4; 4:7; 2 Tim. 4:4; Titus 1:14 12 Prevention Be watchful, endure & work 2 Tim. 4:5; Jno. 8:31-32

13. Any Step Toward Apostasy is Going too Far! (1 Jno. 2:1) Remedy: Repent & do the first works – Rev. 2:4-5; Matt. 6:33 Remedy: Repent & do the first works – Rev. 2:4-5; Matt. 6:33 o Lest hardening occur & repentance is impossible - 1 Tim. 4:2; Heb. 3:13; 6:4-6 o Do not procrastinate or be complacent… spiritual death! (Acts 8:20-24) 13