This post is part a response to a continuing dialogue and debate on the newest book from Rob Bell titled "Love Wins" (which I have not read ) and part an expansion of a current study series in the Sunday Bible class I teach on Church leadership and order.
The book "Love Wins" and its author Rob Bell are at the center of controversy among evangelicals and is a featured topic on various Facebook and you tube links to interviews . You view,compare with scripture ,you decide.
The danger lies with Rob Bells great influence and platform on this wildly popular teaching that we get to have it both ways ..our choice now, Gods Grace later. "Eternity is too long to be wrong". (Or maybe not, so I hear, if it all works out in the end and "LOVE WINS")
Apostasy,"falling away" 2 Thess. 2:3 is the act of professed Christians who deliberately reject revealed truth as to (1) the Diety of Jesus Christ ,and (2) redemption through His atoning and redeeming sacrifice (1 John 4:1-3 ;Phil. 3;18; 2 Peter 2:1)
Apostasy differs, therefore from ERROR concerning truth, which may be the result of ignorance (Acts 19:1-6), or HERESY , which may be due to the snare of Satan (2 Tim. 2:25-26), both of which may exist with true faith. The APOSTATE is perfectly described in 2 Tim. 3:7 "always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" and 2 Tim 4:3-4 "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; 4. and they will turn their ears away from the truth , and be turned aside to fables"
APOSTATES depart from the faith , but not from the outward profession of Christianity 2 Tim. 3:5 "having a form of godliness but denying its power" Apostate teachers are also described in 2 Peter 2:1-19 , Jude 4,8,11-13, 16.
Apostasy in the church, as in Isreal (Is. 1:5-6; 5:5-7), is irremediable and awaits judgement (2 Thess. 2: 10-12; 2 Peter 2:17,21; Jude 11-15 ; Rev. 3:14-16.
The Good News of Divine revalation is contrasted with "a different gospel" 2Cor 11:4 ; Gal. 1:6 which Paul states is not another but a perversion of the Gospel of the Grace of God.
We are warned of all its seductive forms which deny the sufficiency (or requirement )of grace alone ,to save , keep ,and perfect. (mature)
Its teachers lie under the awful anathema of God. Gal 1:9
Grace is the basis for salvation in all dispensations, and is under all circumstances the only way of salvation from sin.
