By: Gen. Jim – 1/5/25
Pt.1
One Christian author/historian said, “The ‘lapsed’ were those Christians who denied Christ, sacrificed to the gods, or compromised in some other way during the persecution.”
I don’t think I’ve used this word in any of my articles. I’ve always used the words “fall away,” “back-slidding” “turning away” etc. in reference to “departing” from the faith. I’ve put together several booklets, put together CDs/DVDs on “Can a Christian lose their Salvation” / “Once saved always saved?” And the “If”/ “Then” clause (posted). There is no Hebrew/Greek word. The English definition is: error, a falling away from a moral standard, a falling or slipping into a lower or worse condition, a falling away from one’s belief or faith etc. the word (lapsing) means to fall, to slip or deviate from a higher state/standard or fall into (former) erroneous ways, backslide etc..
This English word is implied in Revelations 2:4, where the Ekklesia at Ephesus had left their first love: Jesus uses the words “left” (v.4) and “fallen” (v.5); the Ekklesia at Pergamos was encouraged to “hold fast”/ “not deny my faith” (2:13); the Ekklesia at Thyatira was told to “hold fast” (2:25); the Ekklesia at Sardis was told to “be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain” (3:2); the Ekklesia was given a good report, “You have kept My word and have not denied My name” (3:8); the lost, Laodicea, had a bad report card, they were vomitious in the eyes of God, basically they were BACKSLID!
Christ Jesus made this stark statement: “Whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:33). The modern back-slidden/PC/woke church does not accept this. Oh, no! They claim it is a mis-translation, an addition, hateful, unloving and false! When one denies Christ, they have lapsed!
Lapse vs. Overcome
Go back to those 7 Ekklesias in Revelations you will find the word “overcome” written 7 times: there are 3 Greek words for overcome:
1 – Nikao – used
(a) of God (Romans 3:4) (a law term), R.V., “mightest prevail;”
(b) of Christ (John 16:33; Revelations 3:21; 5:5; 17:14;
(c) of His followers (Romans 12:21; 1 John 2:13,14; 4:4; 5:4,5; Revelations 2:7,11,17,26; 3:5,12,21; 12:11; 15:2; 21:7;
(d) of faith (1 John 5:4);
(e) of evil (passive voice) (Romans 12:21);
(f) of predicted human potentates (Revelations 6:2; 11:7; 13:7);
2 – Hettaomai = to be made inferior, be enslaved, is rendered “is (are) overcome,” in 2 Peter 2:19,20;
3 – katakurieuo = translation “overcome” in Acts 19:16.
The Greek word Nikao (#1) is used in Revelations meaning to subdue (lit. or fig.) conquer, prevail, get and keep the victory etc. This Greek word comes from the prim. word nike, meaning conquest, success, victory.
Blot Out!?
Revelations 3:5 reads: “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will NOT blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” Reverse that and one’s name WILL be blotted out, i.e. non-overcomer.
“Blot Out” (Greek: exalsipho/“έξαλείφω”), from ek, out, used intensively, and aleipho, to “wipe,” signifies to “wash,” or to “smear” completely. Hence, metaphorically, in thy sense of “removal,” to “wipe away,” “wipe off,” “obliterate” – see Acts 3:19: “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be BLOTTED OUT so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19, NKJV).
Repentance “washes away” one’s sins, see also Acts 26:20:
Colossians 2:14 uses the Greek exaleipho: “Having WIPED OUT the handwriting of requirements that against us…”;
Revelations 3:5, as already discussed uses BLOT OUT;
Revelations 7:17 uses the Greek word, “wipe away”;
Revelations 21:4 uses the same Greek word and phrase, “wipe away.”
The Greek – English Lexicon of the N.T. (1886), published by Arnoldische Buchhandlung Leipzig (with many Greek scholars who were keen on points of etymology, lists exaleipho/“ίξαλείφω”as aor pass infin. = “to anoint or WASH in every part, to be smear, to whitewash or plaster, to overlay, removal, to wipe off, wipe away, to obliterate, erase, blot out… the guilt of sins.”
Never lose salvation vs. Blot our name
As Revelations 3:5 states that the overcomer will not have his/her name BLOTTED OUT of the Book of Life. But the “condition” is to remain in the faith and finish one’s course (see all my articles on this – posted).
This “blot out” may be an allusion to the custom of registering the names of those who were admitted into the church in a book kept for the purpose from which custom our baptismal registers in churches are derived. These are properly “books of life,” as there those who were born unto God were registered; as in the latter those who were born in that perish were enrolled. The Roman Catholic church and the non-RCC kept records of such.
As per “white raiment,” the allusions to the W.R. worn by the priests, and the ERASING of the name of any priest out of the sacerdotallist who had either sinned, or was found not to be the seed of Aaron (going back to the O.T. era). In the Jewish Middeth, fol. 372 we read: “The great council of Israel sat and judged the priests. If in a priest any vice was found they stripped off his white garments and clothed him in black, in which he wrapped himself, went out, and departed.
There were not LGBTQ plus et al perverted persons in the priesthood contrast the days of old to today’s clergy. Every vice known to man and satan is in today’s church… with PRIDE and a HATRED for repentance!
Generally speaking in all this there may also be an allusion to the custom of registering citizens. Their names were entered into books, according to their conditions, tribes, family etc. and when they were dead, or had by unconstitutional acts forfeited their right and citizenship, the name was BLOTTED OUT, or ERASED from the registers (see Exodus 32:32).
Note: v.6: “He that hath an ear, let him (or her) hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” The usual caution and counsel carefully to attend to the things spoken.
Revelations 3:4 says that “A few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white…” Sinning (on purpose) stains one’s Christian garment (fig.). In II Esdras 2:45-47, a later document, speaks of, “These are they who have put off mortal clothing and have put on the immortal, and have confessed the name of God…” This concept of a special reward may have originated in Daniel 12:10 = “shall purify themselves, and make themselves white.” This is also suggested in 1 Enoch 62:15,16, where they are called the “garments of glory and life” given by God. (See how Paul uses the words clothed/garments in 2 Corinthians 5:4; 1 Corinthians 15:53-54).
According to the description in the Ascension of Isaiah 9:9, in the 7th heaven the saints stripped of their fleshly garments, are given garments of the upper world and one like angels in their glory (see II Baruch 51:5). Can one LOSE his/her white garment? Certainly! The O.T. priesthood – shadow and type of the N.T. – proved this could happen. “One has to enter into the spirit realm of sidereal determinism and eschatology,” as one scholar put it, to grasp Biblical truths. There IS a “Book of Life” (Revelations 3:5) where names of the saved and faithful are written. One has to get determined and STAY DETERMINED to keep his/her garments clean/pure and stay determined to FINISH their FAITH unto the END! Psalms 139:16 (ASV) states “… and in thy book they were all written, even the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was none of them.” Pure determinism by God. Even in our informed substance our course was determined. A modified determinism is shown in Jubilees 30:20-22, where the deeds of the righteous will be recorded in a book of life, while those of the unrighteous will be written down in a book of destruction (see 1 Enoch 81:4 also; see Ascension of Isaiah 9:22 as well). 1 Enoch 104:1 speaks of the good the righteous did and is recorded. Even Jesus mentioned names being written in heaven (Luke 10:20).
According to a Talmudic passage, one book listed the names of the righteous, another of the wicked, and a 3rd of the undecided (see Rosh Hashanah 1:49). Although a name might have been written in the book of life, it could be REMOVED/BLOTTED OUT!! (See also Jubilee’s 30:22). Psalms 69:28 recorded this: “Let them be BLOTTED OUT of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.” That tells us something. (See also Exodus 32:32 and Ezekiel 13:9).
Similarly, in the 12th benediction in the Babylonian recension of the ancient Jewish daily liturgy, the 18 Benedictions, God is asked to REMOVE/exclude the heretics (including believers) from the book of the living.
So
It is against this background of thought that the disciple John assures the “overcomers” that their names WILL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT of the Book of Life. John’s apparent martyrdom will be an absolute guarantee of immortality, as opposed to eternal damnation. One must confess His name, not deny His name. The key to remaining in favor with God is repentance, Revelations 3:3.
Examine/Test
Pt.2
2 Corinthians 13:5: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves…”
The Greek word is peirazo/ “πειράζω” = to scrutinize, discipline, test, prove. There are several Greek words for examination and examine: anakrisis, anakrino, anetazo, dokimazo, and peizazo, the last refers to our text, 2 Corinthians 13:5, to tempt, try, is rendered “examine” in 2 Corinthians 1:5, A.V. (R.V., = “try”).
Paul writes to the Ekklesia at Corinth about incorrigible behavior: he exhorts them to EXAMINE themselves to see if they truly are in the faith or have LAPSED from it? He uses the feared word “reprobate” in the same vs. (v.5). Paul challenges the Corinth believers to examine/test/try themselves: they were challenged to search their hearts. This still goes on in some churches today, but less and less.
Paul is challenging them to PROVE to themselves that they are walkers and not just talkers – “put yourselves to the test!” … See if you’re in the Christian faith or are you a mere churchgoer full of adulteration.
If it were true, as some believe in churchianity, that “once saved always saved” why does Paul use that awful “R” word – REPROBATE? And, if it is true as some believe, “once saved it is impossible to sin again,” why does Paul write, “Now I pray to God that ye do no evil” (v.7). Again Paul uses that awful “R” word, “reprobates,” (v.7.).
There is no doubt that the apostle preached the unadulterated Word to them. He tells them, “But I trust that ye shall know that we (co-laborers) are not reprobates” (v.6). Paul and his co-workers were approved of God.
Paul is warning them to abstain from sin (whatever kind it was; see v.2). There would be no need of warning IF “once saved always saved.” There would be no need for him to use the “R” word (v.5,6,7).
Reprobate: Greek, adokimos/ “άδόκιμος” = “signifying, ‘not standing the test,’ ‘rejected’ (reg.): dokimos, approved, was primarily applied to metals (see Isaiah 1:22,23); it is used always in the N.T. in a passive sense, of things, (Hebrews 6:8), ‘rejected,’ of land that bears thorns and thistles; of persons (Romans 1:28), of a ‘reprobate mind,’ i.e. a mind of which God cannot approve, and which must be rejected by Him, the effect of refusing ‘to have God in their knowledge’; (1 Corinthians 9:27 – see cast/rejected).” In 1 Corinthians 13:5,6,7 (our texts here), where the Revised Version rightly translates to the adjective “reprobate” (A.V., “reprobates”), the reference is to the great test as to whether Christ is even in a person. I believe he uses it in a mocking way. In 2 Timothy 3:8 Paul puts for an example of those who RESIST the truth, e.g. Jannes and Jambres, two men who had “corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith” (NKJV). Paul in 1 Timothy 6:5 uses the words, “men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth”; in Romans 1:28 Paul uses words like “debased mind” (in reference to homosexuality). So then, so now! Look at how the LGBTQ plus/woke/politically correct perversion has infected the body of Christ – like a plague/virus of the WORSE kind! I have dealt with many of these “christian” REPROBATES over their twisting (“pink trans-magnifying”) of God’s truths concerning moral/immoral conduct. Yet, this “pink perversion” prevails. REPROBATES, REPROBATES!!!
In Titus 1:16 the apostle Paul uses the word, “disqualified.” Why so? Because he was writing about two kinds of “believers” the good (v.6-9) and the bad (v.10-16). He sums it up in v.15: “To the pure (good) all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving (bad) nothing is pure; even their mind and conscience are defiled.” He finishes up with, “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being ABOMINABLE, DISOBEDIENT, and DISQUALIFIED…”
The word, “abominable” means “detestable.” (See all my articles on these words, ADD = adding up = REPROBATE!
If the current church does not start contending for the faith (see Jude 3), this ABOMINATION (see Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13) will destroy the body of Christ or what is called the body of Christ.
In short, it basically boils down profession vs. possession – do we merely talk religion or do we actually posses Christ???
We need to heed what the “wise” men wrote in Proverbs 25:4: “Take away the dross from silver, and it will go to the silversmith for jewelry” (NKJV). And Isaiah 1:22 adds, “Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water.” He further adds, “your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards…” (v.23).
It was once said by a wise man, “It is useless to hold standards that we do not apply.” It is fatally easy to make the acceptance of the Christian faith a substitute for living by it. Like Jesus said, “Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). It is the Holy Spirit that CONVICTS, but if we quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19), it is easy to go along with the carnal mind. If we throw water on the fire (HS = fire) we are putting out the flame that enlightens, that purges, purifys, and redefines us. It is the HS that leads/guides us into truths. It is the “Sword that cuts and the fire that BURNS” … cutting off and cutting out what is carnal/fleshly… burning the HELL out of us!!!
Paul writes basically the same thing in Ephesians 4:30: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…” Are we guilty of such things? Honestly, at times in my walk I have done those. I have also been guilty of wearing (being wearisome) God. (See Isaiah 7:13). We can’t go on living in our own (carnal) fantasy world of “make believe,” i.e. “I’m a good Christian,” when we inwardly rebel like HELL, not against HELL! There comes a time we must examine ourselves – see if we truly are in the faith. It is too easy to judge our flesh as “approved.” Self-examination need not be morbid – it needs to be honest. It is a SAD FACT that today’s church is not doing this (with few exceptions I say).
We, back in the day when we started ACMTC (“Missions” Army), we called it “Whoredoms Hunting,” i.e. seeking out, striking at, and destroying idols in our lives, we lost a considerable number of recruits when we went on our SSD ops. Many were not willing to give up their idols/whoredoms (could be inward or outward things). I know the church has pretty much STOPPED this radicalized Christian ops, instead it has become a BLOATED, over weening institution of the worse kind, “red light district” where sex-sins/murder (abortion)/graff of all type rule! Once faith-based denominations have become Christ-less whorehouses. These PC/woke/liberal/progressive churches expel lots and lots of BAD GAS (eating from the trough of satan). If one dares call them piggish, get ready for ALL HELL to BREAK OUT AGAINST you!!! Yep! They will label you a “cult,” a “back-slidder,” a “reprobate” and worse. They will without any remorse tell you, “You are out of control, General Jim and General Deborah!” Yep! True! We are out of their CONTROL over us. They want us to go back under their laissez-faire system/policy, “let the people do as they please… without any conviction.” Today’s church (a good portion) has become lethargic, lewd, rude, crude, and nude (lacking white raiment). Listless and Christ-less, she has become a SHAME to His name. She has become cluttered and fettered with the things of the world. Talk about reprobate, she is feckless/worthless, having a XLAX moment (movement) everytime a Biblical doctrine is stricken from her beliefs. Faithless fecal matter matters (FFM)… content wearing “pink” pampers full of stinking stuff!
The LOSS of Biblical/Christian beliefs has serious effects on moral conduct: it has serious effects on the lost world around us. The days of allowing the Sword/Fire to do their inward work, all we have today is a fading afterglow when the sun (Son) has set.
Theoretical belief can exist along with practical atheism… which the latter is growing as fast, if not faster, than Christianity.
Pt.3
“πειράζετε, δοκιμάζετε”
Examine yourselves! (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Test Yourselves! (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Both times the word “yourselves” stands first in the Greek; with great emphasis the apostle Paul is saying: “You keep looking for faults in me; you keep suspecting my motives and belittling my work; yet it is yourselves that you had better be testing; it is your own position before Christ that is in danger.”
There was a prophetic Word given to us (December 13, 2024) in which it said (in part), “There are multitudes who love to be victimized and have the drama and trauma of trouble because such is what gives them attention. Others prefer to quietly REBEL against Me and do things according to what they assume to be their own will but in fact they are following the dictates of demons. Both are subject to the consequences of their choices and you are not to have false compassion on them… as they are self-assured and self-appointed rulers of their own lives, they will attempt to convince others of their ‘greatness.’ … Do not fall in the ‘fleshly comfort trap,’ find comfort in My Spirit’s directives…”
Has not today’s church become more and more “fleshly?” … “Reprobate?”
By using the present imperative Paul is saying: Keep examining and testing yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. There are those who have joined some Christian church who believe they are “Christian” … without repenting of their sins and finding eternal salvation.
Are we in the faith? It is not a matter of believing in some church doctrine (which is important after salvation), but actually being born again as Jesus taught (John 3:3,5). Paul declared that “Christ LIVES in me… I LIVE by faith in the Son of God…” (Galatians 2:20). He also wrote “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Both Jesus and John the Baptist taught repentance, e.g. Matthew 3:2 and 11; 4:17 etc.
Fall Away
This is another term we use to describe leaving the faith. Some may “fall away” for a season but repent and come back to the faith; others can and do “fall away,” apostatize, meaning they have become an apostate for good.
If one looks up the words fall, fallen, falling, and fell (noun and verb), one will encounter 3 Greek words as nouns and 16 verbs. Greek scholar W.E. Vine, in his “An Expository Dictionary Of New TestamentWords” uses the English word “lapse” in his comment on (1) ptosis (Greek “πτωις”) (noun), where he refers us to Luke 2:34 in reference to Jesus, “This child is destined for the FALL and rising of many in Israel…,” used metaphorically of the spiritual fall of those in Israel who would reject Christ Jesus – the FALL would be (and was!) irretrievable; Vine says “Such a LAPSE as Peter’s is not in view,” meaning Peter repented and kept faith till death, as opposed to the multitude of unbelieving Jews who faced destruction and death;
(2) Paraptoma (παράπτωμα), primarily a false step, (para, aside, pipto, to fall), then a LAPSE from unrighteousness, a SIN, a moral trespass, misdeed, is translated “fall” in Romans 11:11,12, of the SIN/DOWNFALL of Israel, hence the Gentiles received salvation;
(3) apostasia (άποστασία), a revolt, apostasy, used in the N.T. of religious apostasy; see Acts 21:21 = “to forsake” (NKJV) et al.), lit., “thou teachest apostasy from Moses.”
In 2 Thessalonians 2:3 we read about “the falling away,” meaning apostasy, lapse from the Christian faith. In papyri documents it is used politically of rebels. Revelations 18:21 speaks of “mighty fall,” (R.V); the V.V. uses “with violence,” also R.S.V. and N.I.V.
Verbs:
(1) Pipto: Of persons, in falling morally as spiritually, as in Romans 14:4;
1 Corinthians 10:8,12; Revelations 2:5 et al;
(2) apopipto: used in Acts 9:18 et al;
(3) ekpipto: used in 2 Peter 3:17/Galatians 5:4;
(4) empipto; used in 1 Timothy 3:6; 3:7; 6:9;
(5) epipipto: used in Romans 15:3;
(6) katapipto: Luke 8:6; Acts 26:14; 28:6;
(7) parapipto: Hebrews 6:6;
(8) peripipto: James 1:2;
(9) prospipto: Matthew 7:25 et al.
(10) hustereo: Hebrews 12:15; Romans 3:23;
(11) epiballo: Luke 15:12 et al.
(12) erchomai: Philemon 1:12 et al.
(13) ginomai: Acts 1:18 et al.;
(14) aphistemi: to apostatize, 1 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 3:12: see various translations;
(15) parabaino: Acts 1:25: see various translations;
(16) katabaino: Luke 22:44; Revelations 16:21. Note there are other Greek words to describe this Greek word. One must consort a Greek lexicon/Dictionary for better info because Greek words take twists and turns depending on what text is being researched.
Let it be said that not all Greek words for “fall”/ “fell”/ “fallen” et al., means to apostatize. Content and context are important when under study. Also, with the above words (N.V.), one must consider the word “perish,” “apollumi” (άπόλλυμι), to destroy, signifies, in the Middle Voice, “to perish,” and is thus used (a) of things, e.g. Matthew 5:29,30; Luke 5:37; Acts 27:34, R.V., “perish” (in some texts pipto, “to fall,” as A.V.; Hebrews 1:11; 2 Peter 3:6; Revelations 18:14, R.V., “perished” (in some texts (Gk) aperchomai, “to deport,” as A.V.; (b) of persons, e.g. Matthew 8:25; John 3:15,16; 10:28; 17:12 R.V., “perished” (A.V., “is lost); Romans 2:12; 1 Corinthians 1:18, lit., “the perishing,” where the perfective force of the verb implies the completion of the process of destruction; 8:11; 15:18; 2 Peter 3:9; Jude 11. (See “Destroy”).
One can fall/stumble, yet not become an apostate – never to return to the faith, hence, will be destroyed and perish. (Note: nowhere does Scripture teach annihilation (see my “Hell” articles).
If one falls away from the faith forever, that one will live Christ-less in Gehenna, aka, “lake of fire.” Perish does not mean to disappear, but to die spiritually, lost out with God. Mar (apollumi), apo, a prim particle, denotes separation, departure, cessation etc. Cessation deos not mean annihilation.
(1) sunapollumi – Hebrew 11:31;
(2) apothnesko – Matthew 8:32;
(3) aphanizo – Acts 13:41;
(4) diaphtheiro – 2 Corinthians 4:16 (“perishing,” NKJV), the R.V. = “is decaying” (see corruption). Colossians 2:22 (“perish,” NKJV) is a translation of the phrase (Gk) eispthoran, lit., “unto corruption.” For “shall utterly perish,” see 2 Peter 2:12. Peter is writing about false prophets/false teachers, meaning men who ACTED like true P/T but were fakes, flakes and snakes. Maybe they were true in the beginning we do not know; what we do know is Peter is exposing them for what they are. We also know “the Lord bought them” (2:1). Were they totally saved or were they putting on a religious act? Whatever the case may be, Peter didn’t hold back on what he thought of them.
One scholar/author says concerning 2:1, e.g., “Even denying the Lord that bought them”: “Denial of the Master who bought them constitutes the nature of the heresy secretly introduced by false teachers (see Jude 4). The denial could be a rejection of orthodox Christology in its entirety. More probable it represented repudiation of specific tenets.”
Peter, in writing this “master who bought them” obviously is referring to what he had penned, “… you were not redeemed (lit., “purchased”) with corruptible things… but with the precious blood of Christ…” (1 Peter 1:18,19). (Note: some argue over the two Greek words “άγοράζω” (verb), used here in 2 Peter 2:1, “bought,” whereas “λυτρόω” is used in 1 Peter. Some say there are conceivable differences between “purchase” and “redeem” (some translations are “bought”). They say illustrations from the papyri suggest that the terms had become synonymous (see Moulton and Milligan, vocabulary of Greek Testament.). Conceivably Peter preferred the word Paul used (see 1 Corinthians 6:20 = “bought,” NKJV); 7:23). The frequency of “άγοράζω” in Revelations might also have figured in its use here since the false teachers also scoff at the idea of Jesus’ 2nd coming: see Revelations 5:9; 14:3,4; 3:3,4).
Bought
(άγοράοαντα)
This Greek word describes Christ as having made men the private property of His Father. But, as Peter et al show, may although “bought”/ “purchased”/ “redeemed” will not let go of their own ownership fully. Hence “destruction”/ “perish.” The doom of apostates/heretics is certain. If one LAPELS into full apostasy, HELL will be their reward – not WAY OUT!!! Peter makes his point that God did not spare the sinning angels, “but cast them into chains of darkness,” neither did He spare the old world, but flooded it, burning up those homosexual cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, he will not spare all those who sin against Him – they WILL UTTERLY PERISH! (2:12), for they are irrational in the sense of lacking the “Divine Life” implanted by the Spirit. Did not David Cry out, “Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me” (Psalms 51:11). It is God who gives the H.S. (see Luke 11:13); he can take it from us and men/women can give it (the H.S.) back – no such thing as “once saved always saved!” Men/women/children who LAPSE into apostasy bring upon themselves the same destruction of those we read about in Scripture. Read all of 2 Peter chapter 2.
I’ll end this article with this:
“For it had been better for them not to have know the way of righteousness, than after they have known it, TO TURN FROM the holy commandments delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb: “The dog is turned to his own VOMIT again; and the sow that was washed to the WALLOWING in the MIRE” (2 Peter 2:22, NKJV/Proverbs 26:11).
Proverbs 26:11 is found among the rabbin’s (see Midrash Ruth, in Sohar Chadash, fol.62 = “Orphah is returned to her mire, Ruth persevered in spirit; and again, Ibid. fol.64 = “Orphah, which is the bestial soul, is returned to her mire.” The Greeks have something like it (see Arrian, Dissent. Epict.1. iv.c.11 = “Go and reason with the swine, lest he be rolled in the mire.”
So, what do we take away from 2 Peter 2:22? I see and believe that the lost sinner, having heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ, believed but later was led (by demons!) to loath and reject the very one who saved him/her; being washed by the blood of Jesus, later went back to the mire of the world… taking up AGAIN what he/she had LAID DOWN, hence, defiling himself/herself in that from which he/she had been CLEANSED!
Can we not see that the Bible does not teach “once in grace always in grace?” These were once saved but LAPSED back into SIN, entangled with their old sinful lifestyle (death-style). Can one return to his/her Master/Savior once apostatized? I personally don’t’ know – what I do know is a person can recover from stumbling/falling but from apostasy? I’ve seen men/women repent and return from deplorable conditions… only to fall away, LAPSE into a worse condition (we had an ex-homosexual on our radio program (KFIA Sacramento, CA) back in the 1980’s who gave his testimony. We nearly started a city-wide WAR over this, for we had cast out many sexual perversion demons. Sadly, this same man fell back into that old lifestyle and became WORSE off. Last time I saw him he was on drugs and running wild with the LGBTQ plus crowd. I felt that he would never get back to God after we worked so hard to expel his demons.
Pt.4
In my last part (4) I want to cite early church fathers/Christians, what they believed and wrote. The “lapsed” were those believers who denied Christ, sacrificed to other gods/goddesses, or compromised in one way or the other during persecution (mostly). One can “fall away,” apostatize without persecution as well.
Matthew 10:33, Jesus speaking, states, “Whoever DENIES Me before men, him (or her) I will also DENY before My Father…” (NKJV). Paul, the apostle of Christ, echoes what Jesus said, “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him (Christ). If we DENY Him, He will also DENY us” (2 Timothy 2:12, NKJV).
OK, denies/deny, what do they mean? There are 3 Greek words: (1) arneomai/“άρνέομαί”, the Greek word used in 2 Timothy 2:12 and Matthew 10:33, meaning to DENY by way of DISOWNING (see also Luke 12:9; John 13:38), by apostatizing (see 2 Peter 2:1; Jude 4). One can look up this word in a Greek Lexicon/Dictionary for further and deeper meaning.
The other 2 Greek words are aparneomai (άπαρνέομαί) and antilego (άντιλέγω).
Before Jesus made His truthful statement (v.33 = DENY) He stated, “Whosoever therefore shall CONFESS Me before men, him will I CONFESS also before My Father…” There has been extreme persecution against the followers of Christ – then and now! Confess vs. deny!
In a letter from the church in Rome to Cyprian (250 A.D.) it read (in part) “The church stand in faith, even though some persons have been driven TO FALL by very terror! … if in any way they may receive pardon from Him… Perhaps if they are seized once more, they may confess (Christ)…” (5:281).
The letter continues, “If any of those [i.e., the Lapsed] who have FALLEN into this temptation begin to be taken with sickness and repent…” (5.281).
As already stated, one can fall/stumble without becoming an apostate. But the reality of such a state is certain if one does not repent and return.
Cyprian himself (d.258 A.D.) wrote:
“… So they profane the sacred body of the Lord, although it is written, ‘whoever will eat the bread and drink the cup of the Lord unworthily, will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.’” (250 A.D. 5:291)
How many in this hour and generation do just that? I shutter to think of the judgment awaiting those of the LGBTQ plus/abortion camp who take communion knowing full well what the Word says about those sins/abominations.
Cyprian continues:
“Indeed, pardon may be granted to the lapsed in respect of this thing… But it is the duty of those placed over them to keep the ordinate… For to concede those things that tend to destruction is deceived. The lapsed person is not raided up in this manner. Rather, by offending God, He is more urged on to ruin.” (5:291);
“Cherish also by your presence the rest of the people who are lapsed, and cheer them by your consolation – that they may not fail of the faith and of God’s mercy.” (5:293);
Therefore… (the lapsed) must be purged with words true penitence (repentance). And the spirit must be renewed and consecrated in the recesses of the faithful heart. Let the frequent groaning of the penitents be heard.” (5:304).
“… we felt that hope of communion and peace should not be wholly denied to the lapsed, lest they should fail still more… repentance should be long protracted and the paternal clemency be sorrowfully sought after…” (5:328, 29).
This reminds me of what Paul wrote in his epistle to the Ekklesia at Corinth: “Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:10,11 NKJV).
Paul is referring to the sinning brother, that committed incest (see 1 Corinthians 5:1-5), he, if repented, should be forgiven (I’ve written in this in other articles). While some who’ve committed grave sins did not repent/return, others have: the latter are to be forgiven/received back into the Ekklesia.
There are some that sin (lapsed) that took them into satan’s camp forever; others have lapsed but repented, hence, received back into the fold of the sheep and lambs.
Cyprian explains: “We must not place on the same level one who has at once leapt forward with eagerness to the abominable… and one who, after long struggle and resistance, has reached that fatal result under compulsion.” (5:330);
“Do not think… that either the courage of the brethren will be lessened, or that martyrdoms will fail for this cause – that repentance is relaxed to the lapsed.” (5:332);
“I wonder that some are so obstinate as to think that repentance is not to be granted to the lapsed.” (5:332);
“You, O Novation, judge and declare that the lapsed have no hope of peace and mercy…” (255 A.D., 5:660).
Novation was Roman presbyter and author of several Christian theological works (in Latin). He later led a revolt against Cornelius when he was ordained bishop of Rome (251 A.D.).
Peter of Alexandria had several things to say concerning PPP (persecution, prosecution, and prison): “In the case of those who have been arrested, thrown in prison… endured torments… stripes… yet afterwards have been betrayed by the frailty of the flesh… However, as for those who have suffered none of these things… have shown no fruit of faith, but of their own accord have gone over to wickedness…” (310 A.D. 6:269);
“… slaves… being threatened by their masters… and having lapsed, will during the year display the works of penitence, learning… to do the will of Christ, as the slaves of Christ…” (310 A.D., 6:271);
“It is not right either that those of the clergy who have deserted of their own accord and have lapsed, but have taken up the contest anew… ceasing from vain glory…” (6:274);
“Let us be mindful of the many labors and distresses that the lapsed have endured for the name of Christ. Since they have themselves also repented… let us pray together with them…” (6:276).
These last two quotes are from Dionysus of Alexandria (d.264 A.D.), a pupil of Origen, later head of the catechetical school in Alexandria, later became the bishop (note: there were 2 others with the name Dionysus, “D” of Corinth (2nd century), and “D” of Rome (d.268 A.D.):
There was with us a certain Serapion (one who believed in Serapis, myth god of the lower world, whose cult spread to Greece and Rome, but started in Egypt), an aged believer. He had spent his long life blamelessly, but had fallen in the tie of trial… He had sacrificed to the idols… an injunction had been issued by me that person at the point of death, if they then requested it… should be absolved in order that they might depart this life in cheerful hope.” (262 A.D., 6:101);
“Let us not thrust from us those who seek a penitent return (after a lapse). Rather, let us receive them gladly… let us restore again what is defective in them” (262 A.D., 6:120).
This last statement reminds me of what the apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians: “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1, NKJV). Paul goes on to write, “let each one EXAMINE his own work” (v.4). He goes on to make his point: “For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (v.7). If we sow to the flesh we will reap corruption! (Gk. phthora, “ruin,” lit. or fig., “destruction.”)
We’ve learned that one can LAPSE but by repentance, be restored; one can LAPSE by failing to repent, which will lead one into eternal apostasy, which will cause eternal ruin.
There are times when we must bring the “Sword that CUTS and the fire that BURNS,” i.e. harsh condemnation against sinning members in order to prevent lapsing into sinfulness; other time we must offer sympathetic help, depends on the circumstances. This false notion of “Don’t Judge!” Is not Scriptural (I have articles/DVDs on this). We’re not to make hypocritical judgments but non-hypocritical ones, (better study Romans 2:1-3 where Paul deals with the H.J.). (See 1 Corinthians 5:12, 6:5; John 7:24 et al.).
Fin
I want to close with what Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 1:18 and 19: “This charge I commit unto thee… thou mightest WAR a good WARFARE; Holding faith… which some having PUT AWAY… have made SHIPWRECK” (NKJV).
In short, if one does not “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12), one can end up shipwrecked! To reject “faith” is to reject “Christ!” To reject “Christ” is to invite disaster! [Note: We’re not certain what sin or sins caused Hymenaeus and Alexander to lapse into a shipwreck condition (v.20). Whatever the cause was, Paul delivered the both of them unto satan (v.20), was blasphemy the cause? It appears that Paul did not expect a repentance. “Delivery to satan” recalls where Job is handed over to satan to suffer bodily suffering… short of death. But unlike the two Paul mentions, Job’s trial was for his personal growth/refinement. (See Job 2:6). We’ve already spoke about 1 Corinthians 5:5, incest punishment, which later caused the person to repent and be restored.
Turning one over to satan could mean excommunication, misfortune, or whatever, we do know that believes Ananias and Sapphira DIED because they lied to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:5,10). Both heresy in belief and opposition to church authority would be blasphemy against God.
Shipwreck
Greek: nauageo/ “ναυαγέω” signifies (a) lit., to suffer shipwreck (naus, a ship, agnumi, to break), 2 Corinthians 11:25; (b) metaphorically, to make shipwreck, 1 Timothy 1:19, concerning the faith, as the result of thrusting away a good conscience (both verbs in this verse are in the aorist tense (i.e. past tense of Greek verbs, denoting an action without indicating whether completed, continued, or repeated); signifying the definiteness of the acts.
We might look at “shipwreck” as abandonment of the Christian faith/confession/possession. The idea of shipwreck by Paul no doubt meant these 2 believers (who abandoned the faith) were like a ship being tossed to and fro by every WIND of doctrine, and, getting among shoals, quicksands, and rocks, had been broken up and insulted. I’m sure Paul saw plenty of shipwrecks in his day (actual ships).
So, don’t tell me that a believer cannot lapse into a shipwreck condition; if one does not hold onto faith and a good conscience, one can be wrecked and rescued or wrecked and drowned. Need more proof? Paul gain alludes to being shipwrecked/drowning in 6:9 where he talks about falling into temptation and a snare, hurtful lusts, “which DROWN men in DESTRUCTION and PERDITION.”
The apostle likens these men like mariners in a terrible storm – winds, waves violently driven among the rocks, the vessel DASH to pieces… engulfed in the great deep to DESTRUCTION!