When a church loves the world more than Jesus, perverts God’s word and practices ungodliness and idolatry, it faces certain death. Although the church of Sardis professed the name of Jesus, it was rebuked for being spiritually dead (Rev. 3:1). So it is with the apostate Roman Catholic Church. Many Catholics profess to be Christians but have never been born of the Spirit of God. They have a form of godliness but deny the Gospel and its power to bring life to those dead in their sins (2 Tim. 3:5). Jesus offers a sobering warning for those who are Christians in name only: many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’ (Matt. 7:21-23). Jesus Is Replaced The last step into apostasy occurs when Jesus is no longer part of the Church as witnessed by the rebuke of the Laodicean church Jesus is on the outside asking to be invited back in: Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me (Rev. 3:20). What a vivid picture this is of the Roman Catholic Church which has replaced the glorified Jesus Christ with the worship of a lifeless piece of bread. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image (Rom. 1:21-23). The Catholic Church has also replaced Jesus as the only way of salvation by declaring itself necessary for salvation4 and as the only mediator by declaring Mary the mediatrix.5 The church of Laodicea also boasted of being rich and in need of nothing yet unaware of its spiritual poverty. So it is with the Roman Church which has now become the richest institution on the face of the earth. The Roman Catholic Church is not alone in yielding to these 5 steps of apostasy. Since the reformation there are now a number of protestant churches, denominations, seminaries and ministries in different stages of apostasy. What are we to do? Are there biblical exhortations to follow? If you are one of God’s elect worshipping in an apostate church, the message is clear: come out from their midst and be separate, says the Lord. And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty (2 Cor. 6:17-18). If you are a believer in the midst of apostasy, the message is also clear: do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them (Eph. 5:11). Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God...do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds (2 John 9-11). As we witness the great apostasy enveloping the world it is both discouraging and encouraging. It is discouraging to see so many being deceived and falling away from the true faith. However, it is encouraging to know that the great apostasy must occur before the Lord Jesus returns to take His church home to heaven (2 Thess. 2:3).
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 04:52:11 +0000
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