The Coming Apostasy

Northwest Bible Church – Dec. 31, 2023 – 2 Thess. – Alan Conner
2 Thess. 2:1-3
The Coming Apostasy

Intro

A. BE NOT DISTURBED (2 Thess. 2:1-2).

1. Don’t be alarmed by reports that the day of the Lord had come.

2. Wrong assumptions that persecution was part of the day of the Lord.

B. BE NOT DECEIVED (2 Thess. 2:3).

1. “Deceived” – used of Satan’s deception of Eve in 2 Cor. 11:3; 1 Tim. 2:14.

2. Two signs will precede the day of the Lord: apostasy, man of lawlessness.

C. THE COMING APOSTASY (2 Thess. 2:3).

1. Apostasy here has the idea of a defection from the true faith, the gospel of Christ.

2. True believers cannot apostatize. Jn. 10:28; 6:39; 1 Jn. 3:9; Phil. 1:6; Rom. 8:30; Lk. 22:32.

3. Paul aligns with Mt. 24: 5, 9-13, 23-24.

4. This defection is also found throughout this age. 1 Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Tim. 3:1, 5; 2 Pet. 2:20; Gal. 3:1; 5:4; Heb. 3:12; 6:4-6; 2 Cor. 11:3-4; 1 Jn. 2:18-19; Rev. 2:4; 3:1; Acts 20:29-30.

D. APPLICATION – how to survive the temptation of apostasy.

1. Persevere in the means of grace.

2. Persevere in being prepared for hard times.

3. Persevere in testing yourself.

4. Persevere in fixing our eyes on Christ.

Conclusion