History is a great reminder of the way the future will unfold. A lot of the problems that have a tendency to arise are problems that have arisen in the past. “History repeats itself,” is an often-said term that can be true in many instances.
The Bible covers a span of thousands of years, and in a sense, not much has changed. People started out living on the earth, and they sinned against God. As a result of sin, marriages have been met with affliction, people have sought to kill one another, righteousness has been attempted to be earned through the law, and so on. Wars seem to be taking place all the time in one part of the world or another, and there always seems to be a competing view about how the world came to be.
History will repeat itself, and as the wise man Solomon once declared, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9). It is with this thought that this article now turns to the topic of apostasy.
Judas is an example that is given to the Christian in Acts 1:15-20, and much can be gleaned from this portion of Scripture on the topic of apostasy. In this passage, Peter is in the upper room with a large number of people. They are waiting for the promised Holy Spirit. They also need to find a new apostle to take the place of Judas.
The response to apostasy
Peter begins this portion of Scripture by speaking boldly about what took place in the life of Judas. Scripture says, “…Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty)” (Acts 1:15). Peter speaks out about the falling away of Judas. It was important for the people to know and be educated about the workings of Satan and thus to be on guard in their own lives.
When people fall away from the faith, there is a sense of appropriateness in informing other believers about their fall. It should not be done in pride nor with a desire to gossip. And when a believer hears about someone’s fall, there is a proper personal response as well. The believer should be on guard in his own life, knowing that he could fall into the same temptations. The believer should also commit the information to prayer and should potentially respond with evangelism to that individual. While evangelism is important, there is also a proper form of separation that may need to take place.
Peter responded boldly to apostasy by informing his sheep.
The reminder of apostasy
Peter was not the only one who spoke of Judas’ downfall. Scripture says, “…this scripture must needs have been fulfilled…” (Acts 1:16). Peter makes it clear that the Bible told them this time would come. They should not be alarmed or caught off guard. God’s Word did not fail them. Rather, God’s Word found its fulfillment. Jesus used the parable of the sower to warn of various groups of people who will fall away.
In this parable, a man goes out to sow his seed. As he walks, he throws the seed onto the soil, but some gets thrown onto the path that borders the soil. The seed that gets thrown on the path represents those who show no evidence of salvation at all. In this group, there is no “falling away,” since there was nothing there to begin to with. However, there are two other groups that closely resemble what took place in the life of Judas.
Jesus tells of another batch of seed that gets thrown along rocky soil. As the seed lands on this soil, it shoots up quickly. This represents individuals who experience an emotional reaction to the Gospel without a real heart transformation. These people later fall away because they have no root. When times of affliction come their way, they turn from Christ.
Jesus also mentions a group of seed that falls among thorns. This group is allured by the world and eventually turns back to the world after a period of time, much like what is seen in the life of Demas (2 Tim. 4:10).
Jesus warns that there will be times of apostasy.
The robes of apostasy
This next point is the sad reality of the world in which the Christian finds himself. Judas appeared to be a believer. Scripture says, “For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry” (Acts 1:17). A time came when Jesus said he was going to dip a piece of bread into wine and give it to His betrayer. So Jesus dipped the bread and gave it to Judas. The disciples still did not know that Jesus’ betrayer was Judas. They could not see through his robes, through his mask, through his hypocrisy. They saw his outward performance, and it seemed good, but his heart was far from God. Shortly after this, Judas set out to betray Jesus.
Jesus uses an illustration of a vine and branches. He tells of those that do not bear fruit as being cut off from the vine. Judas was a branch that did not bear real fruit, and he was cut off from the vine. The reason why he didn’t bear fruit is the same reason why a branch wouldn’t bear fruit.
When a branch does not bear fruit, it may appear outwardly that it is connected to the vine, but internally there is a vital connection that is not present. This internal vital connection allows the vine to supply the branch with what it needs to bear fruit. In the case of Judas, he appeared to be connected to the vine, but internally, his heart was far from God.
The reward of apostasy
Sin has a reward. If it did not have a reward, people would not choose sin. Nevertheless, sin is said to be fleeting, and the pleasures only last for a season (Heb. 11:25). It is this elusive monster after which the people of the world chase. They continue to seek out pleasure, all the while wreaking havoc on their own souls.
Judas sought out a reward for his sin. His heart was continuing to grow cold toward Christ as greed for financial gain was growing strong. Jesus earlier tells the believer that he cannot serve two masters. But Scripture, speaking of Judas, says, “Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity…” (Acts 1:19). Judas received a “reward” for his sin. So will anyone else who turns from Christ. They will gain some type of “reward,” but the “reward” will not be as satisfying as it seemed at the first.
The road of apostasy
Scripture says, “…and falling headlong, he burst sunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out” (Acts 1:18). The road that Judas traveled led to destruction. He believed it was the road to life. He thought it was the road to happiness. He considered that it would be the road to fame. All of these were but a mirage. They were a lie from the father of lies.
Satan got Judas to believe a lie. In this belief, Judas gave up the glorious King of kings and Lord of lords, the Ruler of heaven and earth, for thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave in the Old Testament. The road that Judas walked was not paved with gold. It was paved with fool’s gold. He thought it was the path he should travel, and so he did. As he did, he found himself in the very field that was purchased with his silver. He hung himself there on a branch that hung over the cliffs. The branch broke, and he fell onto the rocks beneath. He “burst asunder,” as his sin eventually found him out.
Application
Times of apostasy will come. Hold fast to the Lord Jesus Christ. Do not be alarmed. Rather, trust in the Lord, and He will be your mighty fortress.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for the grace that You have given me to remain in the faith. I pray that You would deepen my walk with Christ. Hold me in the palms of Your hand and do not let me go. Declare that I am of Your fold and lead me, Good Shepherd. In Jesus’ name, Amen.