Tag Archives: apostasy

Denying Jesus

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Matthew 26:69-75

Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.”  But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.”  And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”  But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”  And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.”  Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!”  Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.

Peter’s denial would be what we refer to in theological terms as “Apostasy.”  By definition it simply means “a turning away”. Denying Christ is serious.  It is a tragic and terrible sin, yet Christ forgives each sin, no matter how terrible it might be.  Christ forgave Peter, and in forgiving Peter He has demonstrated to us, you and me, His love and compassion. 

The cause of Peter’s denial was “apostasy.” He “sat without in the palace.”  He sat down with the crowd which represented the world of rejecters.  Peter was failing Christ and failing Him miserably.  Sitting down with the crowd was the last place he should have been.   Of course, he should have never forsaken Christ.  But having done so he should have been off some place seeking God in prayer, seeking answers and understanding from God.  Or, he should have been with the other followers of Jesus seeking answers from God so that they might understand and have direction in their lives. 

Three things that cause us to deny Christ.  All three things are seen in Peter’s experience.

He turned away, deserted and fled from Him.

Matthew. 26:56 – But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.  “Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.”

He “followed Christ afar off”: not walking close to Him, not standing or being identified with Him.

Matthew. 26:58 – But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.

2 Timothy 1:7-8 – For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.  Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,

He was “sitting without” or sitting with the crowd, not being where one should be.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 – Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate”, says the Lord. “Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.  I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,” says the Lord Almighty.”

2 Thessalonians 3:6 – But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.

Peter’s Denial was also by Pretension

Peter pretended to have nothing to do with Jesus, and even pretended to not even knowing him.  

Mark 8:38 – For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.

I Peter 3:15 – But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear

Pretending is one of the constant sins of men.

  • We are asked if we think something.  We do and deny it.
  • We are asked if we feel something.  We do and deny it.
  • We are asked if we fear something.  We do and deny it.
  • We are asked if we did something.  We did and deny it.
  • We are asked if we know something.  We do and deny it.

Too many believers deny Christ by pretension.  Very simply, they pretend not to know Christ when out in the world…

  • at their place of employment
  • at their school
  • at their social functions
  • among their neighbors
  • among their friends
  • among strangers

Pretension is two things: 

Pretension is hypocrisy.  It is pretending to be something we are not.

Pretension is denial of Christ.  It is a shying away from or lying about one’s confession of Christ.  Even in our silence we condemn ourselves because by our silence we are denying Christ.

Peter’s Denial was with an Oath

His denial by oath was strong and emphatic and strong.  He said: “I swear by God, I do not know the man.  I know nothing about Him.”  The denial that uses an oath downgrades Christ.  Here he says I never knew “the man.”  Earlier Peter had stated loud and clear “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Matthew. 16:16

Peter had sworn loyalty to Christ even if it meant death. 

Matthew. 26:33-35 – Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”  Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”  Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”  And so said all the disciples.

Matthew 10:33 – But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

2 Timothy 1:8 – Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God.

In the first denial he was charged by only one person and he denied knowing Christ.  In the second denial he was charged by the crowd.  He felt more threatened; therefore his denial was stronger and more emphatic.  He used an oath.  The lesson for us is very clear.  The more we are among the crowds of the world, the more we are threatened with ridicule, embarrassment, abuse, and persecution for our profession in Christ.  And the more we are threatened, the more likely we are to deny Christ.

Romans 12:1-2 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 – Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate,” says the Lord.  “Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.  I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,” says the Lord Almighty.”

I John 2:15-16 – Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

There is a strong warning for us in Peter’s denial:

  • Peter was a strong disciple
  • Peter knew and had trusted Christ as the Messiah, the Son of God.
  • Peter had a strong profession of loyalty to Christ.
  • Peter had just partaken of the Lord’s Supper, the very first.
  • Peter had left all to follow Christ.
  • Peter had been taught about God, taught by Christ himself.
  • Peter had even been forewarned that the flesh was weak and that he would fail.
  • Peter’s Denial was with Cursing and Swearing

Peter’s denial were progressively worse:

  • In the first denial, he simply responded that he did not know the Christ.  He just evaded the issue.  He sinned. 
  • In the second denial, he used a socially acceptable oath (although it too was wrong and sinful).  He committed apostasy, and infidelity.  He sinned.
  • In the third denial, he declines swiftly into depraved cursing, totally unacceptable to righteous hearts and pure minds and clean lips.  He committed perjury and blasphemy.  He sinned.

Ephesians 5:11 – And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

Titus 1:16 – They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

2 Peter 3:17 – You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked.

Proverbs 4:14 – Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil.

The Answer to Denial – Repentance

He remembered the words of the Lord, for when he heard the rooster crowing, and eye to eye with the Lord he realized what he had done.

Luke 22:31-32 – And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren

Getting alone he left the porch or courtyard as fast as he safely could.  He rushed out through the gate into the night to get alone with God, and there he was broken and full of shame, pain and anguish, and he wept bitterly.

He repented and experienced godly sorrow.

2 Corinthians 7:10 – For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.         

I John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Acts 8:22 – Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.

Proverbs 28:13 – He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy

A Thief in the Night

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1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.  Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

  • Watch and pray
  • Watch, you do not know the day
  • If you are a farmer and
  • You want to reap corn, then plant corn
  • You want to reap soy beans, then plant soy beans
  • You want to reap wheat, then plant wheatIf you want to be  a factory worker, then work in the factory

BUT, if you want to be a witness, then be a witness whether you are a farmer, a factory worker, a housewife, a professional, a college student.  No matter what, BE A WITNESS.

Be fruitful, bring in a great harvest to the kingdom.

Be helpful, lift others up, Christian and non-Christian.

No wonder that Christ’s return is of importance to the Christian faith, as approximately one out of every thirty verses in the Bible mention this teaching.  The coming of Christ, as told in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke are not the coming I am speaking of in this message.  Christ’s return is mentioned in 318 references in 216 separate chapters.  Entire books, for example, are 1 and 2 Thessalonians.  Entire chapters, including Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, are devoted to it.

  • Christ’s return is the theme of the Old Testament prophets.  The careful reader will quickly note that they sometimes merge the two comings so that it is not at first apparent that there are two comings, yet the teaching is there.

1 Peter 1:11 – Searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 

  • Jesus Himself bore constant testimony to His coming again.

John 14:1-3 – Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 

John 21:22 – Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” 

Look more thoroughly to Matthew 24 and 25, Mark 13 and Luke 21.

  • The angels bear testimony to His second coming in:

Acts 1:11 – Who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” 

  • The apostles faithfully proclaimed this truth:

Acts 3:19-20 – Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before. 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 – For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 

Hebrews 9:28 – So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. 

1 John 2:28 – And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 

Jude 14-15 – Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”  Jude 14-15

  • The church is told to look forward to this great hope that we have in His second coming:

Titus 2:13 – Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. 

2 Peter 3:12 – Looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 

  • His second coming is a teaching from God’s Word that proves to be the greatest incentive to living a consistent Christian life.

Matthew 24:44 – Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 

Luke 21:34-36 – But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” 

1 John 2:28 – And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 

1 John 3:3 – And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 

One question we should ask ourselves in all areas of life, especially some “gray” areas, is, “Would I like to have Christ find me doing this when He comes?”

  • His second coming is a great comfort to all believers.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 – For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 

  • Some scoffers say it is not going to happen.  Why would something so comforting and helpful to the believer be spoken against?  There are many reasons some have for believing that lie from Satan.
  • The unreadiness of the individual and, in general, the church
  • Preconceived ideas
  • Extravagant or non-scriptural predictions as to time
  • Lack of knowledge of the Scriptures
  • Failure of the church to teach on this subject

2 Peter 3:4 – Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 

Hopefully we will not be caught asleep, not awaiting His return as the Jews were when they rejected His first coming.

  • What is meant by the phrase, “the second coming?”

Acts 1:10-11 – And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 – For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 

Revelation 1:7 – Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. 

Some mistaken ideas for the meaning of Christ’s second coming include:

  • His coming at the death of a saint
  • The coming of the Holy Spirit
  • The destruction of Jerusalem

There is a distinction of Christ’s coming for His saints (1 Thessalonians) and coming with His saints (2 Thessalonians).  These two books, if studied, will answer many questions.

He comes for His Church, the Bride of Christ, to remove us from this sinful world.  Following this event a time of great distress, in Scripture called the Great Tribulation, and following this period of approximately seven years He then returns to bring judgment upon all the world.

Many efforts by saints and sinners alike have been put forth to set dates concerning His return.  The best answer that I can scripturally give to you is simply, “Soon, be ready.”

Some of the signs we can readily see that point to His return are:

  • Great apostasy and departure from the faith

1 Timothy 4:1 – Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. 

2 Timothy 3:1-5 – But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away. 

Luke 18:8 – I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” 

  • Time of great heaping up of wealth and possessions

James 5:1-9 – Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you. Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.  Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! James 5:1-9

  • Time of great missionary activity

Mark 13:10 – And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 

Revelation 5:9 – And they sang a new song, saying:  “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 

  • Return of the Jews to Israel

Deuteronomy 30:1-3 – Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God drives you, and you return to the Lord your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, that the Lord your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the Lord your God has scattered you. 

Zechariah 14:1-4 – Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst.  For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished.  Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.  Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle.  And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east.  And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south. 

Zechariah 12:2-3 – Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.

Be ready.  He’s coming soon!  Do not be caught unaware.