0101. Apostates From the Faith–Their Saving

Apostates From the Faith–Their Saving

"And of some have compassion, making a difference;

"And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh" (Jdg_1:22-23).

These verses at once present the only hope of apostate teachers and deniers, as lying in the ones who are true to the Lord. Those who are building upon their most holy faith, praying in the Spirit, keeping in the love of God, and looking for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life, may help to save the apostate from the fire.

The true may help the false–but they are given wise and guarded instructions, as to how it is to be done.

1. No love for or desire to save destructive critics can ever be used as a Scriptural excuse to fellowshiping with them. A believer must hate "even the garment spotted by the flesh". Ours must ever remain a contest for the faith, not a condoning of the denials of the faith.

2. We are clearly to make a difference. Some of these faith-deniers have been caught in the net of doubt in an underhanded way, they have fallen unawares. Others have deliberately, not ignorantly, chosen their path. Of such we may make a difference.

3. Even those we seek to win we must "save with fear, pulling them out of the fire". The fire we cannot put out, for God has foretold us that the apostasy would surely come, and that it would head up in the apostate antichrist. We may, however, by loving and faithful preaching and praying, be able to save some out of the fire. We can surely do all that in us lies, on this line of action.

Blessed be God, that we ourselves have One who is "able to keep [us] from falling", and who will "present [us] faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy".

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR