Four types of people in the Bible Part 4

Four types of people in the Bible

1.  Pagans

2.  Syncretist Christians

3.  Christians

4.  Apostates

Today we look at Apostates.

Group 4

My study on this topic, is pure theology. Pure as it is in God’s Word, the Bible. Not my interpretation, just as it is written

My personal thoughts on this topic, will be in the Summary.

Group 1 Do not know Jesus as LORD and Saviour

Group 2 Think they know Jesus Christ, but by their very actions, they deny him.

Group 3 They know Jesus. They walk in Spirit and in Truth. They sin, but when shown/confronted with their sin, they repent.

Group 4 They have known Jesus Christ as LORD and Saviour, but just go back to the world and its ways.

Mth13:1ff  parable of the Sower. Types of soil.;

Verses 7 and 29 syncretic christians grow with Christians. Till the end of time. They grow together.

Pagans evident verse 4.

Verse 5, 6 apostate.

Verse 8 Christians

Unlike Syncretist christians, who have never met the TRUE Christ, this Group 4, apostates, have walked and fellowshipped, with true believers. They know the Truth.

They came out of Group 1, paganism,  to Group 3, salvation, They came from Group 2, syncretism, to Group 3, salvation. But now, they have gone back to Group 1, but much worse.

They create pain, confusion, harships for believers, due to their return to the world.

Because they have done such damage to Christians, the Name of Christ, for this reason, Group 4, apostate, at the end of time is reserved the worst punishment in the Lake of Fire.

Heb 10: 29 worse punishment reserved for apostates than any other sins ever committed.

Insulting the Spirit of Grace, which they professed to be led by, they now trample on all they learnt.

Much more severe punishment for an apostate than a pagan, Group1 or a syncretist christian Group 2.

A very heart wrenching verse in this group 4 is

Heb 6: 4-6 they cannot be brought back to repentance.

Impossible, who shared in the Holy Spirit, Christian Fellowship, tasted God’s goodness of love, forgiveness, provision in their lives. To come back to Christ.

For Christ died once.

Christ saves his people once.

Mth 5: 13, salt that loses its saltiness, is good only for being trampled on.

Mth 12: 31 Blasphemy of the spirit will never be forgiven

Mth 12: 44 then it says, 'I will return to the house I left. ' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45:Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.

2 Peter 2: 20-22 here Peter uses the teaching of Jesus to explain apostacy.

There are not a few verses on apostacy, many. With warnings. Taught throughout the New Testament.

The effect of apostacy, on the individual is total compromise

The effect on the Body, the Church, is separation..

Everything has a start..

Gal 5: 7-8..Paul writes, who cut it on you from following Christ in faith? This is where apostacy starts. It may have started subtly, or gently, but a believer gave room, for following  what is not true, and then, full blown back to paganism.

Gal 4: 10-11- Paul says I fear for you, somehow I have wasted my efforts……

Like a slide back to Group 2, then to Group 1, but having professed Group 3, there is no more sacrifice left. No more repentance. So its to Group 4.

A pagan never denied Christ. They never knew Christ.

But for a believer to deny Christ by going back to paganism, is worse than a pagan ever did.

That’s why the greatest punishment is reserved for an apostate.

As Christians, we must pray for all…yet John writes….

1 John 5:16 states, "If anyone sees their brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, they should ask and God will give them life. There is sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for that.".

There is a sin that leads to death. Group 1, pagans, can come to Group 3, SAVED. Group 2, syncretic, can come to Group 3, SAVED.

But Group 4, Apostacy, are lost forever. No return.

John says, am not saying you should pray for them.

Jesus is clear also “do not throw your pearls before swine" is Matthew 7:6.

There is a time, a cut off time, in a person’s behaviour, they just will not listen. They won’t.

These are the 4 groups of people clearly taught in the New Testament.

Saved

Group 3 SAVED. Christians

Lost

Group 1 Pagan

Group 2 Syncretic

Group 4 Apostate

Mth 7: 1 do not judge others

James 4: 12 God is Judge

Luke 12: 57 Jesus said, make your own decision

GROUP 4