We frequently hear the statement, "We are only one generation away from apostasy." Indeed, this is true. The apostle Paul warned, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." (1 Corinthians 10:12) Again, the scriptures caution, "Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in anyone of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God." (Hebrews 3:12) If it were impossible to fall, Paul would not have sounded such warnings.

If we are to stand, we must cultivate a proper attitude toward God's word. David said:

• "Through thy precepts I get understanding; therefore, I hate every false way." (Psalm 119:104) This expresses a two-fold obligation--we must seek to understand God's word, and we must hate what is false.
  
  
• "Therefore, I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way." (Psalm 104:128)
  
  
• The Old Testament prophet Amos said, "Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate." (Amos 5:15)
  
  
• The apostle Paul continually warned about "... false apostles, deceitful works, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)
  
  Just because a man professes to be a preacher or an elder does not mean that he is "handling aright the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15) Read and study for yourself. John said, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1) We must learn to love the truth and diligently seek it, lest we be allowed to "believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

We must establish priorities. It is difficult to stay focused on the things that ought to be the most important. However, this is not a new dilemma. Paul cautioned those in Colossae, "Seek those things which are above... Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:1-3; cf. 1 John 2:15-17) We often become very selfish. Families, jobs, and recreation are all very important, but Jesus said:

• "So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33)
  
  
• "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it." (Matthew 16:24-25)

Paul saw such selfishness in his generation. "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy... lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (2 Timothy 3:2-5)

The world often snuffs out our desire to do right. Jesus said, "... The love of many shall wax cold." (Matthew 24:12)

We must sound the alarm. Isaiah answered, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." (Isaiah 58:1)

An angel of God told the apostles, "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life." (Acts 5:20)

We cannot look the other way when people wallow in sin. We must use God's word to rebuke their error and sin. We cannot wait until everyone agrees with us. Remember, the Lord and one person makes a majority. Peter stated, "For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God." (1 Peter 2:15-16)

Certainly, sin and error abound, but understand that God has given us all we need to rebuke sin and root out error, warn the unruly, and live lives that are pleasing and acceptable to Him. He has given us His word. "And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you the inheritance among all them that are sanctified." (Acts 20:32) His word is forever relevant to make us everything God wants us to be.

Paul said, "Every scripture inspired of God (is) also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Let us never minimize its importance or its relevance in our lives.

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Brother Galloway has done a good job of answering those who teach the doctrine of eternal security-once saved always saved. How do those who teach this doctrine deal with the warnings given in the scriptures? Let me add a few for you to study and ponder:

1. "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears." (Acts 20:31) Why did Paul spend three years warning them?
   
   
2. "Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." (Colossians 1:28) Why did Paul "warn every man" when he instructed them in the ways of the Lord?
   
   
3. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences." (2 Corinthians 5:10,11) Why would His people be in "terror of the Lord"? Remember 1 Corinthians was written to the saints at Corinth.
   
   
4. "For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: 'A dog returns to his own vomit,' and, 'a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.'"(2 Peter 2:20-22) Why would Paul warn them about being "again entangled"?

Sadly, many people are misled into believing that accepting Christ gives them a free ride for the rest of their journey here on earth. Unfortunately, such teaching is wishful thinking and pure heresy! God gave warnings for a good reason-there is DANGER of falling back into the bondage of sin. For our own spiritual good, we need to heed God's warning. (KMG)