Perseverance
Apostasy Explained
Grace · 4 verses
Those who utterly and finally fall away demonstrate thereby that they never possessed genuine faith, for true believers, being born of incorruptible seed and sealed unto redemption, cannot experience total apostasy. Temporary backsliding differs categorically from final apostasy—the former characterizes genuine believers being chastened, the latter exposes false professors never truly regenerated.
Scripture References
“But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.”
“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.”
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
“They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.”