2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, "Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."
Throughout the teachings of the New Testament, the church age is chronicled and an inevitable slide into apostasy is foretold. The bible often refers to the "last days" or "latter days" or "that Day" as a time when the fundamentals of the faith will be denied and replaced by man-centered teachings instead of God-centered teachings. The word apostasy literally means the abandonment or renunciation of a belief or principle. As we survey the condition of what is called Christianity today, it is hard to escape the truth of what the bible tells us would happen right before the return of Christ, and the subsequent appearance of the Antichrist. Their is only one place where we can base our faith, and that is upon the word of God. This is known as sola scriptura. When our teachings stray from God's revelation of Himself to us, we have usurped His teachings and replaced them with our own. This is apostasy.
Dr. Thomas Ice, a renowned teacher of biblical prophecy, gave a scriptural view of what would mark this apostasy in a recent blog. This departure from a biblically based faith will include:
Denial of God: Luke 17:26, 2 Timothy 3:4-5
Denial of Christ: 1 John 2:18, 4:3, 2 Peter 2:6
Denial of Christ's Return: 2 Peter 3:3-4
Denial of the Faith: 1 Timothy 4:1-2, Jude 3
Denial of Sound Doctrine: 2 Timothy 4:3-4
Denial of the Separated Life: 2 Timothy 3:1-7
Denial of Christian Liberty: 1 Timothy 4:3-4
Denial of Morals: 2 Timothy 3:1-8, 13, Jude 18
Denial of Authority: 2 Timothy 3:4
Looking around at what is called Christianity today we see each of these things predicted in the bible already occurring or in the process of coming about. Things that would have been inconceivable a few generations ago as they would have been correctly viewed as sin and heresy, are widely touted by so-called Christians in so-called churches today as a "new Christianity" in an ever evolving faith. A lawless and unbiblical view of the doctrine of grace has replaced sola scriptura and a literal understanding of the bible and propelled us into that age the bible refers to as the "last days."
The doctrine of grace is combined with our faith in the blood atonement and resurrection of Christ is the foundation of our salvation. But many are taking grace beyond biblical teachings on the subject and assigning to it a soft view of sin that is completely repudiated by sound biblical exegesis. Paul writes through the Holy Spirit in Romans 6:1-2, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" Yet today, under the guise of an unbiblical view of grace, things clearly identified as sin and false teaching are readily accepted and proclaimed by many who call themselves Christians.
There is only one foundation for being a Christian, and that is the word of God. 2 Peter 1:19-21 tells us; "And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." God's word proclaims itself as "God breathed." It is His only revelation of Himself to mankind, and the only basis for God-centered teaching. Any teaching that contradicts, changes, adds too or subtracts from God's word is a man-centered false teaching from the pit of hell.
Jesus warns us in Matthew 7:13-27 that His way, revealed through His word, is a "narrow gate". The path to God is through one "gate," one "door," one "way," and that is Jesus Christ as revealed through the bible. Their are other ways, "wide gates," that will be pleasing to the ear and taught by "false prophets" and "teachers." Many of these false teachings will be proclaimed in the name of Jesus. But all of them will lead to "destruction." Jesus tells us many will choose that "wide gate." They will cry to Him in the day of judgment; "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?" Yet Jesus will reply to them, "I never knew you, depart from Me you who practice lawlessness." The Jesus they proclaimed was not the Jesus of the bible.
Is the gate through which you base your faith wholly founded within the pages of scripture? God has given us a clear presentation of Himself in the pages of scripture. His word is His way. Do not be deceived by the teachings of man that seem so right to the ear, yet completely ignore the word of God. When we stand before Christ in judgment, only one thing will matter. Did we receive into our heart and follow the Jesus of the bible, "God in the flesh." Did we obtain "by grace," "through faith" His salvation as revealed in the bible. Many claim they represent Christ, yet only the bible reveals Him. Do not place your decision for eternal salvation in any other place than the clear revelation of Jesus in the bible!
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