Baptist Apostasy [The Cycle of Apostasy]

It also means that 2Thes 2:3 is NOT a reference to the rapture. I can concede this point if you can concede that the apostacy is not necessarily a reference to born again christians.

Apostasy is never about regenerated believer-disciples who persistently commit theirselves and their lives to The Christ Who saved them with His Blood and Righteousness. Neither does it refer to the souls who never took up the offer by The God of salvation by His grace. Apostasy is the act of unregenerated "believers" voluntarily participating in the affairs and activity, often having moments of great enthusiasm, but who in the end cannot sustain and persist in their own perseverance and determined will of the flesh.

An example of this is the 20th Century Charles Templeton, who started in the work of evangelism as a young man; but the more seminary he took, the more he fell away. Look him up.

The passage in Hebrews describes such people:

"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame" (Heb. 6:4-6 AV)

What this says, very somberly, if one gets involved enthusiastically through being enamored, but walks away, never was "saved" to begin with; and perhaps can never go back. Christianity is not something to dabble in.

Ah, what did Jesus mean "this rock" when he was talking with Simon BarJonah? Tell me about this, eh?

41 posted on 06/15/2013 9:02:43 PM PDT by imardmd1 (Let the redeemed of The LORD say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy. (Ps. 107:2))

You might find this interesting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=729f03_vjbs

42 posted on 06/15/2013 11:00:03 PM PDT by Safrguns (PM me if you like to play Minecraft!)

To be answered later — preparing for assenbling at this moment —

43 posted on 06/16/2013 4:26:22 AM PDT by imardmd1 (Let the redeemed of The LORD say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy. (Ps. 107:2))

Yes, the speaker has an considered view. In memorizing the book of Hebrews (took me 9 years) this knotty passage offered a great opportunity for meditation. It takes a deeper study of the Greek to get at the meaning in context, and those who think that the passage describes that one can lose one's salvation is mistaken. But the speaker in this video would be corrected by Barnes, who has a clearer (but necessarily lengthy) summary.

One must always keep in mind that this section is primarily addressed to the Jewish diaspora who, having operated under the law covenant, met all the conditions--but under the law, could fall aside, and miss the benefit of the first (and only) crucifixion.

44 posted on 06/16/2013 5:57:01 AM PDT by imardmd1 (Let the redeemed of The LORD say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy. (Ps. 107:2))

Do I understand you right, are you saying (like Safguns) “apostasy” in 2 Thess. 2:3 means the pretrib rapture?

No. More later. It's church time for me.

45 posted on 06/16/2013 5:59:58 AM PDT by imardmd1 (Let the redeemed of The LORD say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy. (Ps. 107:2))

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