APOSTASY
The first step astray is a want of adequate faith in the divine inspiration of the
Sacred Scriptures. DG13
In looking carefully over the history of the times, and the movement of the times,
of which we have written briefly, this fact is apparent: that where ministers and
Christian churches have held fast to the truth that the Holy Scriptures have been
given by God as an authoritative and infallible rule of faith and practice, they have
never wandered very seriously out of the right way. But when, on the other hand,
reason has been exalted above revelation, and made the exponent of revelation, all
kinds of errors and mischiefs have been the result. DG13
Saul was once among the prophets, but he was more at home among the persecutors.
2LS20
This would be the first step in apostasy; men first forget the true, and then adore the
false. TD44:20
If I must be lost, let it be anyhow rather than as an apostate. If there be any
distinction among the damned, those have it who are wandering stars, trees plucked
up by the roots, twice dead, for whom Jude tells us, is “reserved the blackness of
darkness for ever.” Reserved! as if nobody else were qualified to occupy that place but
themselves. They are to inhabit the darkest, hottest place, because they forsook the
Lord. 547.11
You know how many passages there are in which it is positively asserted that if a
child of God did deliberately and totally apostatize, his restoration would be
utterly impossible—not difficult, but impossible. This is one of the greatest
proofs of the doctrine of the final perseverance of the saints, since there is no man
in a condition in which it is impossible to save him, and yet any man would be in such
a state if he apostatized. Therefore true believers shall not apostatize, but shall stand
fast, and shall be kept even to the end. Yet, could they totally apostatize, they could
never be restored again: the greatest remedy having already failed, there would
remain no other. 1341.129
The raw material for a devil is an angel. The raw material for the son of perdition
was an apostle; and the raw material for the most horrible of apostates is one who is
almost a saint. 1929.623
That which begins with shamefacedness, equivocation, hesitation, and compromise
will ripen into apostasy. 2209.328
Neither would it ensure your salvation to be able to foretell the future, for Balaam
was a great prophet, but he was a great sinner; he was an arch-rebel although he
was an arch-divine. 2330.495
He is not the God of apostates, for he hath said, “If any man draw back, my soul shall
have no pleasure in him.” 2633.362
You must pick from among the apostles to find an apostate. 2914.610
Beginners in the way of grace, it is a great and solemn truth that every child of God
will hold on until the end, but it is an equally solemn truth that many who profess to
be the Lord’s are self-deceivers, and will turn out apostates after all. 3520.329