PIC by Chris Ensminger on Unsplash
The reality for apostate “Christians” is stated in 1 John 2:19: “none of them are of us”
Critical of true believers
Apostate “believers” are everywhere these days, as predicted would happen in the End Times. Are you one of them? Be aware of what the Bible says of being “really of us”.
Verse 19 of 1 John 2:18-19 explains why so many are so critical of true believers:
“19They went out from us [seeming at first to be Christians], but they were not really of us [because they were not truly born again and spiritually transformed]”
Also (see in one link) or: 1 Timothy 4:1; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 1 Timothy 1:3-7.
The full passage is:
18 Children, it is the last hour [the end of this age]; and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming [the one who will oppose Christ and attempt to replace Him],
even now many antichrists (false teachers) have appeared, which confirms our belief that it is the last hour.
19 They went out from us [seeming at first to be Christians],
but they were not really of us
[because they were not truly born again and spiritually transformed];
for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out [teaching false doctrine], so that it would be clearly shown that none of them are of us.
Reality: “none of them are of us“
The reality for apostate “Christians” is that “none of them are of us“, as 1 John 2:19 tells us. The apostle John tells us this very clearly.
This John was one of the twelve that Jesus specifically chose to be disciple and later apostle, and later inspired writer of Scripture (1 John 1:1-5).
John was the son of Zebedee, and known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. Inspired supernaturally by the Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16), John declared:
“If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness [of sin], we lie and do not practice the truth”
– 1 John 1:6
“If we say… and yet walk” in sin, we “do not practice the truth” — and God can clearly see into “our reality”.
Fakers show Him they actually have no “fellowship with Him“, and they are not truly born again, not saved. The reality for all apostates is: they are still lost.
Being “really of us”
When you zip on over to the other side, you will immediately step into the ultimate reality of God’s World. Hopefully you are in His reality now. Are you sure you are?
See: | The Other Side |
| Passing on through to the other side |
| After that moment of passing |
| Realities God Has Established |
| As if your mindset is protected by God |
A book that “reviews” as: apostate
If you examine closely what book commentators spout about, and compare that with Scripture, it becomes clear sometimes who are real believers, and who are one of the aforementioned “apostate believers”.
I did this with the reviews of the Andy Stanley book: Not in It to Win It. (See the actual reviews here). My review is in my article: I’m in it to win it.
One of the apostate commentators, Alan Nicholson (at Amazon on June 10, 2022), is one who fits 1 John 2:19. He evaluated the Stanley book saying, “I was raised as a Christian but left the church long ago.” Well… that was honest! But Alan Nicholson gets it totally wrong about “strife” and “how Jesus handled political confrontation”, saying:
“This book isn’t about separation of church and state, it’s about separation of religion and politics. I’m more than half-way through the book, and it’s going slowly because I pause and ponder, and I go back and re-read parts. I look back on some things I’ve said in the past that couple my faith with my political beliefs, and these 2 things do need to be separated. “All Christians are Republican….unless they’re Democrats.” Or vice versa?
The church wants so desperately to win in politics and policy that we have lost our honorable calling as Christ’s followers.
As Andy says, “The moment our love or concern for country takes precedence over our love for the PEOPLE in our country…we are off mission.”
“When a local church becomes preoccupied with saving America at the expense of saving Americans, it has forsaken its mission.”
our hearts have veered from the Good News to cultural warfare.
what it really means to follow Jesus.
it is full of helpful ideas as to how those not yet considered apostate can draw others closer to Jesus.
If more people practice their religion as Andy does there would be a lot less Strife in this world.
If you’re struggling with a church leader preaching about politics, you’ll enjoy this take on how Jesus handled political confrontation.
I was raised as a Christian but left the church long ago. I am offended by most of today’s Christians and it is unlikely that I’ll ever rejoin the church. I enjoyed this book and recommend it to folks like myself and those that believe or think they believe.“
In my article I’m in it to win it, I responded:
Editor note: Reading Nicholson, I am reminded here of these Scriptures (see in one link) or: 1 John 2:18-19; 1 Timothy 4:1; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 1 Timothy 1:3-7.
“19They went out from us [seeming at first to be Christians], but they were not really of us [because they were not truly born again and spiritually transformed]”
Are you in agreement with the Jesus of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Paul? Or are you following a watered-down version?
I’ve taken a firm grip on the real thing: The Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the one and only from Jesus as shared by those who met Him personally: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Paul. They share with us what really is the actual salvation in Christ.
– Source: The Great Water Down of Jesus’ Message to us all
Andy Stanley and his reviewers err in thinking that Jesus came to earth to bring peace and harmony. What!? Jesus did not come to earth to unite, nor to quell divisions. Quite the opposite! What “bible” have they been studying under Stanley?! Jesus said,
51 Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division [between believers and unbelievers];
52 for from now on five in one household will be divided [over Me], three against two and two against three.
53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Andy Stanley has trained and now leads a cadre (MWebster) of wrong headed thinkers, apostates who misinterpret Jesus’ teaching. They seem to have no idea what it means to “stay true & faithful to Jesus“. Stanley is one of the many apostates rejecting biblical Christian faith in these End Times.
See: How far will you go to stay faithful to Jesus?
In an article on faithwire.com Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary spoke-out bravely about Stanley’s divergence from “historic, normative, biblical Christianity”:
“[A]s a theologian, I just feel a responsibility to say that what this represents is a departure from historic, normative, biblical Christianity. I think both sides understand this is the most basic disagreement we could imagine, so are sex and gender.
It’s over ontology and being; it’s over Scripture, the authority of Scripture, and the interpretation of Scripture. It’s over God and the Gospel.
It just doesn’t get any more basic than this, but I do recognize the gravity of the words I’m using when I say that what we see here is a departure from historic, normative, biblical Christianity. I say that because I believe that’s exactly what it is, and I believe Christians ought to take note of it.”
Ethics professor at SBTS, Andrew T. Walker (@andrewtwalk) is the author of “God and the Transgender Debate,” and he said on Twitter, October 2, 2023:
“What Stanley considers as a failure to live up to an unattainable ideal, Scripture calls sinful. Nowhere in the messages was there any expectation that someone would turn from their same-sex relationship. This is an example of unbounded empathy that listens (which is good) but never invites toward transformation (which is not good).”
The “expectation” of God
The “expectation” of God is that sinners will repent of all of their sins – and thus find grace and mercy at the cross. But Stanley accepts those who accept their sin rather than allow the Spirit of God to bring-on transformation. The arrogance is palpable (Psalm 119:85).
Jesus calls us to repentance of sin, not acceptance of it. He expects us to conform to righteousness, not conform to the world (Romans 12:2; Job 22:21; Psalm 119:9; Matthew 10:38; Matthew 16:24; Matthew 23:26; Luke 14:27; John 12:26; Acts 13:22; Romans 6:18, 20; Galatians 3:6; Philippians 3:10; …see search).
And he who does not take his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] is not worthy of Me. – Matthew 10:38
And when He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king: of him He testified and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart [conforming to My will and purposes], who will do all My will.’ – Acts 13:22
“unbounded empathy
that listens (which is good)
but never invites
toward transformation”…
is not in the Gospel of Jesus Christ
We are not expected to be sinless. But we are expected to call our performance “sinful”, humble ourselves, come to Him in repentance, and then follow Him in righteousness.
Biblical Christian faith
The thing is: only biblical Christian faith saves sinners. All the others are found on the errant road that leads to Hell. There is no other saving Gospel. And the kind that Andy Stanley is preaching… is just “another gospel”, an apostate gospel, worthless for eternal purposes. Really want to be found following that? …on Judgement Day?
See: | About Being Apostate… following “another gospel” |
| Do not attend apostate churches |
Charismatic Apostates
The problem with Charismatic Apostates is that they disobey God. And you cannot walk in disobedience to God, practicing what He calls “sin” — and then be acceptable to God. Preach till you’re blue in the face about God’s grace towards their practices – but it is clear in Scripture that they are living in disobedience.
God saves those who repent of their sin, not those who say one thing… yet walk in direct conflict with His stated will for us.
See: Got a Cracked Heart?
Practicing, walking in …sin
There are dire consequences of walking in sin. Accepting a sin as God’s will for you – is a Hell of a way to go.
Put quite starkly: If you support what is actually evil in the eyes of Holy Holy God, you are unworthy of coming into God’s Heaven. You do not meet the standard of God’s Holy Holy Kingdom. Think you will sneak in anyway??
– Source: Consequences of supporting evil
Scripture is adamant:
The reality of God’s universe is
— it’s not your universe.
It behooves us to seek after God
and get His word on things.
Our thoughts are not His thoughts.
My thoughts
will not be consulted by God
on That Day.
– From: Balancing-out my faith with my practice
No matter how loving and kind you are, how long you have claimed to follow Jesus — if you reject God’s Word and walk in direct conflict with what He has required of us all: how can He accept us into His Kingdom? He will not.
See: | Contradicting Jesus |
| Is yours a sound doctrine that Jesus will approve? |
| As if your mindset is protected by God |
| Jesus will reject many “Christians” |
The scariest passage in the Bible will catch many by surprise:
Matthew 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me on that day [when I judge them], ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and driven out demons in Your name, and done many miracles in Your name?’
23 And then I will declare to them publicly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me [you are banished from My presence], you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].’
Examine your practice
Is it acceptable to Jesus?
FOR MORE:
The Great Water Down of Jesus’ Message to us all
Is yours a sound doctrine that Jesus will approve?
As if your mindset is protected by God
Consequences of supporting evil
Jesus will reject many “Christians”
Claiming a sin as God’s will for you
Why might many Charismatics not be saved?
Excerpt: Why might many, many charismatics not be saved? You? Let’s look at some reasons, with a focus on Matthew 7:21-23:
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me on that day [when I judge them], ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and driven out demons in Your name, and done many miracles in Your name?’
23 And then I will declare to them publicly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me [you are banished from My presence], you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].’
Why suckling with the mother cat does not make the piglet a kitten
Excerpt: Getting saved is like the proverbial example: Staying in a garage does not make you a car. So it is true that: Liking Jesus does not make you a born again Christian.
The message of salvation spoken by Jesus to Paul
The Gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Paul
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