The Possibility of Apostasy (9)
(1 & 2 Timothy)
Mike Johnson
In 1 and 2 Timothy, Paul calls Timothy’s attention to many things that can happen to a person’s faith. Those who teach “once saved, always saved” usually teach that people are saved by “faith only.” It should be no trouble to see if people lose the very thing that saves them, then they will be lost on Judgment Day. Please note some things which a person can do to his faith.
A Christian can make shipwreck of his faith (1 Timothy 1:19). Paul told Timothy to “wage a good warfare,” and then he said, “having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck. ” The term “shipwreck” is forceful. Consider the following question. If being “shipwrecked” describes a person’s faith, is that person saved? That person is not! One can survive a shipwreck, of course. Similarly, one whose faith has become shipwrecked can repent and return to God.
A Christian can depart from the faith (1 Timothy 4:1-4). Here Paul said, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.” The “faith” would refer to the gospel of Christ—the teaching of the New Testament as a whole. The NIV says, “abandon the faith,” and the NASB and ASV say, “some shall fall away.” One who departs from “the faith” no longer has it— he has left it. The person is described as “giving heed to deceiving spirits,” and “doctrines of demons.” He speaks, “lies in hypocrisy.” His conscience has been “seared with a hot iron.” Does this describe a saved person? Is this person just as saved as one who contends earnestly for the faith (Jude 3) and opposes the doctrines of demons?
A Christian can deny the faith (1 Timothy 5:8). This verse says, “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” In this context, Paul is speaking about the responsibilities Christians (v. 16) have to provide for their own. In verse 8, he states the consequences of not doing that. (These verses show people can deny the faith by their actions as well as by their words.) If people do, they have denied the faith and are worse than unbelievers. Generally, even an unbeliever will understand the importance of providing for his own.
A Christian can stray (erred KJV) from the faith (1 Timothy 6:10). Paul here speaks of the love of money and says, “for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” He would have to be discussing Christians here as he errs FROM the faith. If a person cannot err from the faith, why mention it? Can a person err from that which saves him and still have salvation?
A Christian can have his faith overthrown (2 Timothy 2:18). Verse 18 describes Hymenaeus and Philetus, who are said to have strayed from the truth (they taught that the resurrection was already past) and had “overthrown the faith of some.” Therefore, our faith can be overthrown! These brethren had strayed (erred-KJV) and had caused the overthrow of the faith of others.
The verses cited speak of five things that can happen to our faith. If any of them happens to a person’s faith, that person will be lost!