John 6:66
The text we have read is an interesting text. It tells us some disciples of Jesus Christ stopped following him. They turned their back on him and will no longer walk with him. Why did this happen? The text say “After this”. The question is after what? The answer: after Jesus has told them the truth about him self and who he is. We see that in the verse 60: “When many of his disciples heard it, they said, This is a hard saying; who can listen to it”? What did they hear? Jesus’ statement of giving himself to them as bread of life and his divine origin (vv. 41-42; 52). They couldn’t bear the truth of who Jesus is, therefore in the verse 66, they walked away.
And this is an interesting subject for us this morning to consider. Disciples of Jesus turned back and no longer walked with him. We have some questions in here to answer. Haven’t we just finished the topic Perseverance of the Saints and I have boldly declared that a Christian cannot lose their salvation? And I am sure you also believe the same with me. What is happening here then? I have questions to answer. It seem these disciples have lost their salvation, they have walked away from Jesus. And that is what will engage our attention this morning. So our sermon this morning will be more like me trying to defend of Perseverance of the Saints.
I want us to consider for a topic Guarding Against Apostasy. We will consider three things today: What Is Apostasy, Why Do People Fall Into Apostasy and Ways to Guard Against Apostatising
What Is Apostasy?
Apostasy is defined as an act of refusing to continue to follow, obey, or recognize a religious faith (Webster Online). So simply, apostasy is to turn ones back from what they previously believed. And we see this clearly in the text (i) his disciples turned back (ii) they no longer walked with him. This means they abandoned whatever faith they had in him. They became apostate. They abandoned the faith.
In the Scriptures, we see a number of people who abandoned the faith or they became apostate – One who has abandoned the faith. And our first and best example is Judas, he betrayed Christ. He is mentioned in the narrative as a betrayer (vv. 64; 70-71). There is an incident that breaks my heart deeply about Judas. This happened during the last supper and recorded in John 13:30: “So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night” This is a sad scene, Judas walked away from the light and walked into the darkness. It was night.
Paul spoke about some of his co-labourers who deserted him. It is not clear whether their deserting Paul is their deserting of Christ, however, it is evident they left the faith they once professed. They became apostate
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some (2 Timothy 2:15-18).
Why Do People Fall Into Apostasy?
Apostasy is real. There are real examples of people who once claimed they believed but no more believe. I am sure even in our own personal lives, we know some persons who once were Christians, but later on in their lives, they rejected the faith. So what do we make of this in line of our belief in eternal security. for those of us who believe a Christian cannot lose their salvation, how do we explain these things? How do people fall into Apostasy?
People fall into Apostasy because they were False converts who reject the truth. They haven’t truly believed so eventually they reject the truth (vv.60-64). There is at least two kinds of rejection we see clearly pointing to why they fell into apostasy (i) They Rejected Jesus’ Words and they (ii) Rejected Jesus’ Divinity ( vv. 42, 52). And this is common to all who reject the truth of the faith. They start questioning the truth and who Jesus is
Dear friends, anytime you hear someone fall away from the faith, the truth is that they never were in the faith to begin with. That is why they are able to reject the truth. Jesus said not all who say to me Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom (Matthew 7:21). Look at 1John 2:19, it clearly tells us why people fall into apostasy.
Ways By Which We Can Guard Against Apostasy
The reality of people falling away must be a warning to us not to presume upon the grace of God. Don’t ever in your Christian Walk get to a point of thinking how you live your life doesn’t matter. It does matter dear friend. Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound. Paul asked in Romans 6:1. Are you a Christian? Are you living your life how a Christian must live?
When others walk away from the faith, we must never think it will never happen to us but rather it must be a wake up call for us. Jesus’ question throws more light and gives us an indication of Ways To Guard Against Apostasy. Will you also go?
That question is asking for their Commitment. Dear friends you don’t become a Christian and live your life anyhow. You must be committed to Christ. That is one way by which you will not fall into apostasy. Your commitment to Christ. Are you committed to Christ? Is he your delight? Do you take your joy and peace from Christ.
Jesus must be our delight and the source of our joy. You are not saved to live independent of Christ. You are saved to be committed to Christ.
Commitment is dedication: “choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15). The Lord seeks the commitment of his disciples and that’s the reason for the question. Remember Jesus question to Peter. Three times Peter was asked Do you love me? That’s really the same kind of question here: “Will you also go?”
Christ put the question to them…with design to draw out from them a promise to adhere to him (Matthew Henry).
Their answer, from Peter, on behalf of the twelve, is moving: “Lord, to whom shall we go” This is the peak of commitment. Peter expresses their commitment that they have no one else to go to. You and I must have the same commitment of having no alternatives to Christ. For the married, your partner is not an alternative to Christ. For the children, your parents are not alternatives to Christ. To the rich, your riches is not an alternative to Christ. Whatever is precious to you on this earth is not an alternative to Christ. Jesus Christ must be our all in all.
O Jesus, shepherd, guardian, friend,
my Prophet, Priest, and King,
my Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
And how can our commitment be known? By the we we live.
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,[e] and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities[f] are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers,[g] be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2Peter 1:5-11)
What we have just read are Christian conduct. Christian conduct is a sign of Christian commitment. Our lives must display our commitment. Our relationships, our business dealings, everything we do must display our commitment to Christ. Loving one another. Caring for one another. Forgiving one another. Watching our for one another and continuing in fellowship with one another.
Another way to guard against apostasy is in our Convictions (firm beliefs, things sure of and convicted about). We must be a people of conviction. Say this is what I believe and I am not moving until convicted by the Scriptures. Peter continued in his answer: “You have the words of eternal life and we have believed, and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God” These words are words of conviction. These are words affirming the things those who turned back rejected. Are you convicted in your beliefs. Do you truly know Jesus and convicted about who he says he is? There are many false teachings out there. And for you and I what will save us is to be grounded in the truth. It is to know who Jesus is: He is God and there is no life outside of Christ. If you are committed to Christ and Convicted in your beliefs, you will not be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.
Now observe something about Jesus’ response to Peter (vv.70-71). This also tells us even in our commitment and convictions, we can still be living in unbelief. The example of Judas is there for all of us to be cautious and not presumed on grace
Amen
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