Guard against Apathy

November 2

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle bablings, for they will increase to more ungodliness, and their message will spread like an evil disease. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some,” II Timothy 2:15-18.

In this era of the church we have many problems with troubling doctrinal matters similar to those the first century believers had to deal with. The initial quandary that they faced had to do with justification by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.

This was a new concept, so God commissioned the apostle Paul to write at length about it. Paul emphasized that it is not by earning justification, but by faith in what God said and what Jesus Christ did that brings any man to salvation. This doctrinal instruction is elaborated upon at great length in Paul’s books to the Romans and the Galatians.

The second doctrinal quandary they faced regarded the law and grace. These two principles are inseparable but Christians often cannot embrace the veracity of both. The apostles had to convince the people that law and grace are not opposed to one another, but work in harmony to complete the process of justification and sanctification. God not only forgives us, but He also gives us the gifts of His Spirit by which we can be sanctified and made holy.

The third thing about which there is much disagreement regards the second coming of Christ. As time passed, the return of Jesus Christ became of paramount importance to believers. The fact that the Lord did not return immediately after His ascent into Heaven led people to believe that they had plenty of time to overcome their proclivity to hold onto the world at the expense of Heavenly things, so they remained adrift. This led to Paul's concern that some believers were neglecting their salvation.

Jesus had also anticipated this problem (see Matthew 24:42), because He understood human nature. He knew that having to face such ponderous points of doctrine would cause believers to become weary with facing them. He understood that many would become apathetic and determine that their concern in the matter is useless.

We need to stir ourselves up! We must recognize that this kind of complacency can happen to us and be diligent that apathy will not rob us of the truth the Holy Spirit has revealed to us!