"THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"

The Great Apostasy (4:1-3)

INTRODUCTION
  1. Paul's concern in his first epistle to Timothy is proper conduct "in the house of God, the church of the living God" - 1Ti 3:15
    1. The church Jesus said He would build - Mt 16:18
    2. The church Paul wrote that Jesus loved - Ep 5:25-27
  2. The Lord's intent was that there be one church...
    1. He prayed for the unity of His followers - Jn 17:20-23
    2. Paul later wrote that there is one body (i.e., church) - Ep 4:4-6; cf. Ep 1:22-23
  3. Yet we see around us so much religious confusion, so many different churches...
    1. How did it happen? When did it happen?
    2. What can disciples of Christ today do about it?

[Our text (1Ti 4:1-3) is one of several passages in which Paul and others foretold of an 'apostasy', a falling away...]

  1. THE GREAT APOSTASY FORETOLD
    1. BY PAUL...
      1. In warning Timothy
        1. Describing how some will "depart from the faith" - 1Ti 4:1-3
          1. Giving heed to "deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons"
          2. Forbidding to marry, commanding to abstain from meats
        2. Describing how some will 'not endure sound doctrine' - 2 Ti 4:1-4
          1. Getting teachers who will tell them what they want to hear
          2. Turning from the truth, turning aside to fables
      2. In warning the Ephesian elders - Ac 20:27-31
        1. Of "wolves" coming in from outside the flock
        2. Of men "from among yourselves" drawing disciples away
      3. In warning the church at Thessalonica - 2Th 2:1-3
        1. Of a great "falling away" that must come
        2. Revealing "the man of sin", "the son of perdition"
    2. BY PETER, JUDE, AND JOHN...
      1. Peter warned of false teachers to come - 2Pe 2:1-2
        1. Who will bring in destructive heresies
        2. Whom many will follow
      2. Jude warned of false teachers who were present - Jude 3-4
        1. Who had crept in unnoticed
        2. Who were turning the grace of God into lewdness
        3. Who were denying the Lord God and the Lord Jesus Christ
      3. John warned of "antichrists" who had come - 1Jn 2:18-19
        1. Many, in fact, had come!
        2. Indicative of living in "the last hour"

        [Even Jesus warned there would be false prophets (Mt 7:15). Before the canon of the New Testament was completed, the apostasy was already underway. As one examines early church history, there are further indications of...]

  2. THE GREAT APOSTASY FULFILLED
    1. IT WAS A GRADUAL PROCESS...
      1. In many cases, it appeared innocent at first
        1. Attempting to deal with errors in and out of the church
        2. Leading to a change in the organization of the church
          1. From autonomous and independent congregations overseen by a plurality of elders (also known as bishops and pastors) - cf. Ac 14:23; 20:17,28; 1Pe 5:1-2
          2. To a collectivity of churches under one bishop - e.g., writings of Ignatius
        3. Resulting in centralization of power and influence among key individuals; just as Paul warned! - cf. Ac 20:30
      2. This subtle change made it much easier for error to spread
        1. When those in power began teaching false doctrine
        2. Before long, the very errors foretold by Paul were being taught! - cf. 1Ti 4:1-3
          1. Such as celibacy
          2. Such as abstaining from certain foods
        3. Many other errors were introduced during this time, including:
          1. Sprinkling instead of immersion for baptism
          2. Mechanical instruments of music instead of a capella singing
      3. Through slow but gradual changes, the seeds of modern churches were sown
        1. Producing what later became known as the Roman Catholic Church
        2. But also many other "orthodox" churches (Greek, Egyptian, Russian, Armenian, etc.)
        3. And eventually the multitude of Protestant denominational churches
        -- Just as foretold, many departed from the simplicity of the Lord's church as revealed in the New Testament
    2. WHAT OF THE LORD'S CHURCH...?
      1. The Lord's church has continued unabated
        1. For not even the gates of Hades could prevail against it - Mt 16:18
        2. It is a kingdom that cannot be destroyed - cf. Dan 2:44; Lk 1:32-33
      2. Faithful disciples would have undoubtedly been treated as "heretics"
        1. For refusing to follow those in "power"
        2. By those presuming to have "authority" over the Lord's flock
      3. But where there were faithful disciples, though few and unknown, the church existed
        1. For the Word of God is an incorruptible seed - cf. 1Pe 1:22-25
        2. Wherever the gospel was faithfully preached and believed, souls were saved and added by the Lord to His church - e.g., Ac 2:38-41,47
        -- History may not record (or may misrepresent) the existence of those who remained faithful, but the Lord knows His own! - 2 Ti 2:19
CONCLUSION
  1. Throughout the history of the apostasy, many have come to realize what has happened, and efforts made to rectify the problem...
    1. Appeals to reformation have produced many denominations
    2. Appeals to new revelation have produced many cults
  2. The only antidote to apostasy is that given by Paul to the Ephesians elders...
    1. First, take heed to yourself and those around you - cf. Ac 20:28
    2. Second, be on the watch and remember what the apostles warned about false teachers - cf. Ac 20:29-31
    3. Third, look to God and His Word (not traditions of men); i.e., diligent prayer and careful Bible study - cf. Ac 20:32

With this "antidote" to apostasy, you can have confidence that God in His grace will "build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified"...!