Church of Christ Sermons
Bobby Stafford	The Falling Away   Text:  II Thessalonians 2:1-3		Thessalonians

The Falling Away 

Introduction:

     Some of the dear brothers in Thessalonica had been misled into thinking that Jesus had already returned.  Others there believed His return was imminent; so they had quit working.  Therefore, Paul explained that the “falling away” must happen before that great event. 

Text:  II Thessalonians 2:1-3 

Body:

  I. The Falling Away Is Predicted

• Paul had already written to them about the second coming.                     (I Thessalonians 4:13-18, 5:1-10)  But they needed further information.
• He encouraged them not to be shaken or troubled because some false teachers had spoken to them and written to them that they had missed Christ’s second coming! 
• Paul had warned the Ephesian elders about a “falling away.”    (Acts 20:28-31)  Some even inside the church would help bring about this departure from the truth. 
• Paul warned young Timothy of a coming departure.                       (I Timothy 4:1-3)  He gave examples of some ways in which this would occur.  In his second letter to him, he wrote                         II Timothy 4:1-4. “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:  Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.  Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” NKJV

 II. The Falling Away Begins

• This “departure” began in the first century.
  1. Antichrists (I John 2:18-22, 26)
  2. False prophets (I John 4:1-3, 6)
  3. Ungodly men (Jude 4)
• One of the first departures was in the church organization.  Each congregation is to have two or more elders or pastors.  (Titus 1:5) Many churches would have one “chief” elder or sometimes one bishop over several congregations.
• Other areas where churches “fell away” from the truth included:
  1. Church councils decided beliefs and doctrines.
  2. Pouring and sprinkling were substituted for immersion.
  3. Instrumental music was used instead of or to accompany vocal music (singing).

• Many, many other departures could be listed.
• In our day many are continuing to fall away from God’s Word.
  1. Modern-day revelations are believed.
  2. The Lord’s Supper is taken on days other than Sunday.
  3. Divorce for any reason is allowed by God.
  4. Missionary societies carry out the work of the church.
• So the “falling away” continues to this day.

III. The Falling Away Can Be Stopped

• We must pay close attention to the Word.  (Hebrews 2:1-3)
• Take care to guard out hearts.  (Hebrews 3:12)
• Exhort each other.  (Hebrews 3:13)
• Hold fast to our confidence, our faith.  (Hebrews 3:14)

Invitation:

     God warns each of us to not let ourselves be misled or deceived into departing from the truth.  This “falling away” is often quite subtle and gradual.  It is first seen in our attitude toward God, His Word, and spiritual things in general.  This leads us into becoming more and more like the world.  But this doesn’t have to happen. 

Bobby Stafford

August 28, 2011